Northern Ireland - BelfastApr 23, 2012
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Political Wall Murals Area
Political Wall Murals
Political Wall Murals
| 19th April 2012 (Bed No 19) Arrived in Belfast and went straight to our accommodation. We had planned to take a “Black Cab’ tour. After a few phone calls, we found a company that could take us that same afternoon. The tour took 1 ½ hours around the political districts of Belfast which had bore the brunt of conflict over the last 30 years. Our first stop took us to a large open area surrounded by two story block apartments. There were murals at the end of each building, painted by local artists, which have become symbols of Northern Ireland, depicting the regions past and present political and religious divisions. Paul our driver explained that the murals on the walls today commemorate those who have died in the bloody war. They have a more positive message unlike those of the past. What gave us an eerie feeling was that the wall separating the Catholics & Protestants still exists today. The gates crossing the roads from this fence are opened during the day but still close at night. The scary thing is that neither side want to remove the fence due to fear of possible violence reigniting. It was an amazing tour and it opened our eyes to how the Irish lived during this turbulent period. Overall, I think that the people of Belfast feel positive about their future, but it may take one or two generations for the memories to fade. Thank Adam & Dan for suggesting the tour. |
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