Now here is a slice of the history lesson we were given on the tour...
Shankill Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shankill_Road
The area is predominantly Protestant and unionist or loyalist in political orientation. The Shankill is separated from the neighbouring Catholic, nationalist, Falls Road area by peace lines. Greater Shankill has a population of around 22,000. The two areas were focal points of the civil conflict known as The Troubles (1969 – 1998), and many lives have been lost in thesectarian violence. Several loyalist paramilitary groups, such as the UDA and UVF have a presence in the Shankill. The road has been the focus of several power struggles within the loyalist paramilitaries. In 2003 one of these incidents resulted in UDA leader Johnny Adair being evicted from his lower Shankill Home
Murals in Northern Ireland have become symbols of Northern Ireland, depicting the region's past and present divisions.
Northern Ireland contains arguably the most famous political murals. Almost 2,000 murals have been documented in Northern Ireland since the 1970s. The murals more often than not represent one side's political point of view.
This mural depicts a Ulster Freedom Fighters UFF member (Protestant) pointing his gun at the Catholic side of the city, so every time they look out their windows, they will remember. It's also an optical illusion, because no matter where you stand, it looks like the gun is pointed at you. Scary!The Ulster Defence Association (UDA) is a loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in September 1971 and undertook an armed campaign of almost twenty-four years during "The Troubles". Most UDA attacks were carried out using the name Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF). It is classified as a terrorist group in the United Kingdom.[4]
The UDA's declared goal was to defend unionist areas from attack[5] and to counter Irish republican paramilitaries. However, about 80% of its 259 known victims were civilians.[6] The majority of these were Catholics,[7] killed in what the group called retaliation for attacks on Protestants.[8][9] High-profile attacks carried out by the group include the "Milltown massacre", the "Castlerock killings" and the "Greysteel massacre". The UDA declared a ceasefire in 1994, although sporadic attacks continued until it officially ended its armed campaign in November 2007.[10]
Gates and walls depicting the dichotomy in Belfast
The Peace Lines are a series of separation barriers ranging in length from a few hundred yards to over three miles (5 km), separating Catholic and Protestant neighbourhoods in Belfast,Derry and elsewhere in Northern Ireland. The stated purpose of the barriers is to minimize intercommunal sectarian violence between Protestants and Catholics.
The barriers themselves consist of iron, brick, and steel walls up to 25 feet (7.6 m) high, topped with metal netting, or simply a white line painted on the ground similar to a road marking. Some have gates in them occasionally manned by police, which allow passage by day, and which are closed at night.
The first barriers were constructed in the early 1970s, following the outbreak of "The Troubles". There were built as temporary structures because they were indeed meant to be temporary, lasting only six months, but due to their effective nature they have become more permanent, wider and longer. Originally few in number, they have multiplied over the years, from 18 in the early 1990s to 40 today; in total they stretch over 13 miles (21 km). Most are located in Belfast.
In recent years they have become locations for tourism. Black Taxis now take groups of tourists around Belfast's Peace Lines, trouble spots and famous murals.
The most prominent barriers in the past few years separate the mainly Catholic Short Strand and the mainly Protestant Cluan Place areas ofEast Belfast, The Protestant Fountain and Catholic Bogside areas of Derry and also the predominantly nationalist Falls Road and unionistShankill Road areas in West Belfast.
In 2008 a public discussion began about how and when the barriers could be removed.[1] Many of the residents who live in the communities beside the peace lines have expressed their anger at any suggestion that they will be taken down.
My cousin's message!
I took pictures of some really good quotes...this was in my top 3!!!
Another in my top 3!
The Troubles (Irish: Na Trioblóidí) was a period of ethno-political[3][4][5][6][7] conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast "Good Friday" Agreement of 1998.[8][9][10][11][12]Violence nonetheless continues on a sporadic basis.[9][13][14]
The principal issues at stake in the Troubles were the constitutional status of Northern Ireland and the relationship between the mainly-Protestant unionist and mainly-Catholic nationalist communities in Northern Ireland. The Troubles had both political and military (or paramilitary) dimensions. Its participants included politicians and political activists on both sides, republican and loyalist paramilitaries, and the security forces of the United Kingdom and of the Republic of Ireland.
What I find the most intriguing is that this only happened in recent history! This is our generation!!! It was such an interesting tour, I learnt so much and am still taking it in. Crazy.
I have a list of at least 5 films you need to watch when you get home as well. Did you run into Seamus Heaney while you were in Dublin? I understand he lives there now (moved from Northern Ireland). His poetry totally doesn't rhyme.
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