Northern Ireland: Belfast and Derry

I spent this past weekend in Northern Ireland and what a new experience that was! We left the DCU campus at 8am and made it up to Belfast around 10:30. We checked into our hostel, had a few minutes to rest and then we were off for a bus tour around the city. A Ph.d student at Queens University guided us around Belfast. Although the Armed Struggle is a thing of the past, it is still alive. Belfast is literally divided into two parts by one peace wall. During the day there are many gates that open and allow cars and pedestrians through, however the gates do close at dark to separate the Catholic area from the Protestant area.

Here (to the left) is part of the largest peace wall dividing Belfast city. As you can see there is a great amount of graffiti on the fence. Many tourists come and write inspirational, peaceful messages on the wall but sadly many young teenagers litter the wall with derogatory messages regarding either the Nationalists or the Loyalists. Although this is called the peace wall, there are 82 other walls and barriers that divide the city to eliminate violence and protect the people, there are great debates about these walls. Are they protecting people or keeping the vicious past alive?

The history of the armed struggle and the violence live in the very political murals throughout the town. Unlike murals and graffiti in the states usually found on abandoned buildings in run down areas, these murals are fine works of art that are

painted right onto houses and gates (private property). The murals are mostly political, supporting the IRA or the UFF (or subgroups of the armies). They are also clearly supporters of either Britain or Ireland. More recently, the city has chosen to redo the murals, making them more friendly and less political. As you can see by this image, the murals are very striking and upsetting. Although I do acknowledge them as art, many images like this are harsh and act as a reminder of the armed struggle and the violence. Many murals feature masked men, armed and looking very fierce.

The murals in Derry are very different than the ones we saw in Belfast. The murals we saw in Derry are all designed and painted by the same artist. The one here is comprised of three different photographs taken during the events of Bloody

Sunday. In the foreground, the boy is being carried by a group of men, one of which is his father. This mural is facing the exact area where the shootings on Bloody Sunday took place. There are a series of murals surrounding this area commemorating the events that happened in 1972. Go have a listen to "Bloody Sunday" the very famous and good song by U2.

Ok, now onward to something a little more light-hearted!

From Belfast we headed to Carrick-a-Rede bridge! This a rope bridge connecting the cliffs of the northern coast to a small "rock" island. The rope bridge was originally constructed by local fishermen who wanted an easier way to fish the salmon down below. I don't know how they sat and fished off the bridge considering I barely made it across! Although I'm not a fan of bridges, I'm all about the adventure! This photo does not do it

justice, it is much scarier than it looks! I promise! The walk up to the bridge is spectacular! and once you get onto the "rock island" you feel as though you're in a new version of the Sound of Music! In which you're roaming around in Northern Ireland rather than Austria! The view of the north Atlantic is unbelievable! I'm not sure if it was the sun shining specifically onto Scotland off in the distance, or the sheep and horses roaming around the cliffs, but whatever it was, it was perfect!

From here we headed to Giant's Causeway! UNBELIEVABLE! Literally, this rock formation, formed when molten lava cooled, they look as though they were specifically placed. Nope, completely natural! Another beautiful place, one direction you

see nothing but the ocean, and the other direction nothing but large cliffs. It's not super clear, but the rocks have 4, 6 and 8 sides. They look just like stepping stones, and they are perfect for walking on because they don't move a bit!

Both of these sights are large tourist attractions but luckily they have not been very busy so we really have had time to enjoy the scenery and ourselves!

I'm so amazed with Ireland. It's scenery, the people, the attitudes, traditions, culture...All of it! I never thought I would see a more beautiful place than the Maine coast, but there is nothing comparable to driving along a narrow road, with such luscious green fields all around you filled with sheep and horses, rolling hills, and the land then just dropping off into the dark blue ocean. It's hard to believe I've been in Ireland for exactly a month! One part of me feels as though I have just arrived, while another feels as though I've been here for years. There is still so much to do and so much to see! That is why I'm off for another excursion this weekend! It's my last tour with Caroline :( but it shall be just as good, if not better than the last two! We're off to Glendlolough (PS I Love You was filmed here), as well as Co. Kerry, Cork ect.