The highlights are of the west side of Belfast and the cabbies, our guides helped us to understand the 'troubles'.
Ireland is a nation with a long history of conflict. From invasions by Vikings, Oliver Cromwell and more the stories and legends of these times past flow freely. The 'troubles' are more recent. Conflict between the Catholic dominated, independence-cantered south and the Protestant dominated, British-influenced north, resulted in hard times and oppression for the Catholics. Denied the right to education, to good jobs, or any work, the Catholics rebelled. The Easter Rising of 1916, was just one of a series of rebellions by the oppressed against the oppressors.
In the 1970's tensions again boiled over. Thrown into prisons as criminals, not political prisoners, the oppressed were denied rights according to the Geneva convention. In protest, men died during hunger strikes, that an unrelenting Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher refused to acknowledge. War broke out on the streets of Belfast as the oppressed fought their oppressors along neighbourhood boundaries and in houses of politics. Until at last, in the 90's, following considerable bloodshed, a truce was formed.
Years of conflict have left scars on the landscape and in the hearts of those living in Belfast.
The Peace Wall divides the Protestant and Catholic communities. We were invited to sign the wall and leave our message for Hope.
Though houses are now rebuilt and the resilient people of Belfast go on their daily lives, the Peace Wall stands as a reminder of the 'troubles' and a divider between neighbours in an uneasy calm. On each side of the barrier wall murals reflect the heroes of each side.
As one of the cabbies indicated, he did not imagine the wall would come down in his lifetime, "Imagine if you looked out your window and could see the people who killed your loved one. There is too much hurt for that."
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