A tour of the peace walls in the Falls and The Shankhill Roads in Belfast have left some young people more confused than ever about the past.
As part of a project exploring sectarianism, peace and reconcilliation 20 young people including those from ethnic minorities and Catholic and Protestant communities enjoyed an eye-opening tour of these historic areas in Belfast.
Many of the young people, while familiar with Derry’s political history, only knew of Belfast’s from what they saw on television and read in the news. The peace wall between the Catholic Falls and the Protestant Shankhill communities left the young people shocked and confused.
Karen (16) stressed: “I don’t get it. A ‘peace’ wall. Surely that’s a contradiction in terms. A peace ‘bridge’ I can understand but a WALL? How can building a wall between two communities promote peace among them?!”
Ciaran (16) said: “When I actually saw the peace walls and the murals around the Falls and the Shankhill I was totally shocked. I never realised for one minute that the two areas were so close together. Another added: “I can’t understand why the peace walls are still there if the troubles are really over. It’s obvious there is still conflict in these areas. I know from living in Derry that sectarianism hasn’t gone away.”
Rachel (15) insisted: “I didn’t even know there were walls between the two. I was quite shocked to see them.” Shannon (16) agreed: “I really didn’t realise there was such a division between Catholics and Protestants in Belfast.”
“I have been to Belfast for concerts a few times but I never knew about the violence between the peace walls,” said Stephen, (16). Tourists now flock to Belfast and Derry to look at the murals, damaged buildings, and peace walls that are remnants of the long history of conflict between the two communities.
Young people who were on the tour had divided opinions on whether the murals and peace walls were a positive force, if we are trying to move on. For those from Derry, murals were a familiar sight, but for those from across the border murals were a rarity. Nathan (16) felt that the murals help people understand the conflict: “Visiting all the murals and having them explained helped me understand the conflict and why there is conflict.”
Shannon was of the same opinion: “I know a lot more, especially about the murals, they were class.” However, Grace (15) said: The conflict in Northern Ireland has always been a really hard thing for me to understand because I’d be friends with people from both communities but I keep hoping the more the history is explained maybe I’d have a better understanding. To be honest I’m still pretty confused.”
Grace’s experience was shared by many. Although most appreciated the murals as ‘interesting’ and ‘lovely’ pieces of art, making sense of history as a full picture was more difficult.
Whatever a young person’s view is of the murals or the peace walls perhaps what is more important is that young people keep looking at them and trying to understand them if they are to carve out a peaceful future without them.
About this story
This article was written by Clodagh Devine (16)
