It is possible that Clara Street was named after Clara Holland, daughter of Joseph Holland of Holland House. This certainly seems to be the case with Clara Park, Clara Road and the various streets named Clarawood which are located in Knock, close to the former site of Holland House. However, Clara Street is in Ballymacarret, one mile to the west, and was named in 1894 while Clara Holland was still alive, so it is thoroughly possible it has a different origin. According to Ros Davies, Joseph Holland was a stonemason, artist, antique dealer, landlord and landowner of 800 acres of East Belfast. He died in 1900 in Cherryville Cottage, Sandown Rd. Clara died aged 18 in 1899 and is buried in Belfast City Cemetery.
On the application of the owners, your Committee have named a ...new street from Castlereagh Road to Jonesborough Street. " Faughart Street. "Northern Whig - Tuesday 02 December 1890.
“Memorial signed by all the owners of property in Farquhar Street asking to have the name of that street changed to Clara Street having been read.” (14th November 1894).