A long street running through a residential neighbourhood of Shankill. It runs from Snugville Street to Cambrai Street, roughly parallel to Crumlin Road. Nowadays the addition of the word "West" may seem odd and pointless, when there is no "Sydney Street East". However, this was necessary in the mid-19th century, due to the existence of another Sidney Street in the Carrick Hill area (east of Shankill), which was a short cul-de-sac off Park Street. These streets were cleared before redevelopment in the mid-20th century. The duplication of names probably arose due to Carrick Hill being inside the municipal boundary, whereas Sidney Street in Shankill was originally outside and, therefore, under a different local authority. The first mention of the street traced so far is in 1873, when it was renamed Sydney Street West (note the change of spelling, as well as the addition of "West"). It was one of a number streets renamed at this time in order to eliminates clashes. Clearly it already existed for some time before 1873, but at present we have no record of the building of the street.
Given that the original spelling was Sidney Street, it is unlikely that there is any connection with Sydney, Australia. It is more probable that it commemorated a person with the surname Sidney. This could be Sir Henry Sidney (1529-86), Lord Deputy of Ireland; Philip Sidney, politician and soldier (1619-98, Viscount Lisle, later 3rd Earl of Leicester); or Henry Sidney (1641-1704, Viscount Sidney), Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. However, if this is correct, the renaming with change of spelling in 1873 obscured the original intention.
The Surveyor handed in the following names of streets as altered which was approved of: [the newspaper report in the Ulster Examiner and Northern Star - Tuesday 02 December 1873 provided this additional information: “As duplicate names of the following streets at present exist in the borough, the committee recommend the Council to adjust them as follows”: Milford Street, illegally named, to be called Stormount Street; Sidney Street, at Tennent Street, Sidney Street West; Hopes Court, its proper name is Hopps Court; Brook Street, Albert Bridge Road, Calvin Street; Boyds Court, at Nile Street, Nile Court; Chapel Lane, Newtownards Road, Seaford Street; Cross Street, at Hamill Street, Hamill Street Place; Donaldson's Court, Union Street, Union Street Place; Frances Street, Short Strand, Moira Street; Williams Place, Henry Street, Wensley Street. Wheelers Court, Carrick Hill, Carrick Court. Grafton Street, Templemore Street, Thorndyke Street; Church Street, Newtownards Road, Church Street East. (TIC, 19th Nov 1873).