Cairo, founded in AD 969, is the capital of Egypt. The Arabic version of this name can be transliterated as Al-Qahirah , meaning "The Vanquisher" or "The Triumphant". Although this is the official name of the city, it is also commonly known in Egyptian Arabic as Masr, a name which also denotes the country
of Egypt as a whole.
The motivation for the street-name is explained by Marshall as follows: "Holy Land: About 1890 Sir Robert J. McConnell, estate agent, and James Rea, a builder of small house property, went together on a trip to Egypt and Palestine. Upon their return James Rea commenced building on a still unoccupied portion of the Plains. With his Oriental tour fresh in mind he named some of the streets after places he had visited, viz. Carmel Street, Cairo Street, Damascus Street, Jerusalem Street, and Palestine Street." (John J. Marshall, Belfast Telegraph, 24/01/1941).
On the application of the owner of the property, your Committee have named a new street between Beechfield Street and Madrid Street, Edgar Street; also new streets off Deramore Avenue Blackwood Street, Walmer Street, and Kimberley Street; a new street off Shankhill Road Glenvale Street, and a new street off Agincourt Street Cairo Street. Northern Whig - Tuesday 03 November 1891