Due to the troubles in Belfast during the 70's, 80's and early 90's there has been a series of walls erected separating parts of the city, separating the protestants and the catholics. These walls are still functioning today, the gates close every night, they open every morning, there is one gate that is automatic and operates all night (but it closes at night and will open upon request), there are no guards at the gates. The tensions are still there, I was taken by one pub on the catholic side of the wall that still requires a person to be "rung" in via a bell, if they don't know ya' or you are a known protestant, you probably ain't getting in.
The murals of Belfast are better at telling two-sides of the story of the Troubles than what I saw in Derry. The Unionists (protestants) murals may depict the effects of the Troubles on protestant families, Single Parent Families is an issue that resulted from the Troubles, homes being destroyed (this occurred to both protestant and catholic homes). Cromwell is the hero to the protestants and hated enemy to the catholics. Both sides have murals of their heros thru the years, most of those that are depicted in the murals have perished as a result of the conflicts. Many of the deaths have been the result of tit-4-tat reprisals between various organizations within the UFF or UDA or UDU (protestant) or IRA (catholic).
I wrote on the wall a request for Peace, Peace is the only Solution - Participate in the Peace.
The Troubles in Belfast
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| Belfast Murals & Wall |
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