|
 useful
websites abot 'The Troubles'
BBC The ceasefires
1992 - 1998 |click|
BBC: The Good Friday agreement 1998 - 1999
|
click |
BBC Quick Guide: Northern Ireland conflict |click| BBC
Profile Gerry Adams | click
| BBC: Provisional IRA |
click
| BBC: Northern Ireland Timeline |
click
| BBC: The Troubles - Fact Files |
click
| BBC: The Troubles
- Mural art |
click
|
PBS (USA): The IRA
& Sinn Fein |click
| CAIN-project:
Background to the peace process
|
click
| An index of
deaths from the conflict in Ireland | click
| back
about
West Belfast
West Belfast
Click
here to see
Pictures from West Belfast
West Belfast better known as the Falls and Shankill Road areas. Bombs,
guns, shooting, rioting, burning buildings and
the list goes on. This is what the worlds media would like you to
think about West Belfast. The truth is none of the above. We are in
these areas every day, so we have a first hand view and its nothing
like what the media would like you to believe.
Sure from time to time there are tensions, but again a lot of this
stems from media reporting. There is a sort of romance and
for a lot of the people bitterness you pick up from these areas.
Everyone will have a story to tell you and they will only be to glad
to, if given asked. Mind you don't take them all as gospel, the
Irish have been known to tell you a yarn or two.
When to visit? Well Peace Line Tours travel these areas everyday and
some people will tell you to stay away from Belfast during the
Summer Months but these are the most colorful months, especially on
the Shankill Road where you will see a sea of red white and blue
bunting and flags leading up to the 12th of July
celebrations. Again August you will see the green white and orange
flags and streamers in Falls Road areas and again a tremendous site
to see, but all things considered we recommend a trip at any time of
the year.
The main attraction you will be coming to see in these areas are the
wall murals and the peace line, a 30' high wall separating the two
communities. These where once frightening roads to drive up and
down, but for the past 10 years tourists have been coming to see
these sites and where it was once strange to see people standing
next to these sites getting their photograph taken, now no-one gives
it a second thought.
In the future as with all tourist attractions these sites will not
be shown in their true sense and will be more tourist orientated, so
if you want to get a sight off these murals etc. in their natural
setting you should plan a trip now. See West
Belfast now .
Source:
http://peacelinetours.g2gm.com/belfast.html
back
Rober
McLiam Wilson about 'The Troubles'
Rober McLiam Wilson in an interview on
"Ripley Bogle" about the influence of the Troubles
on 'his' generation:
Q:
Even though the conflict between the English and the Irish, and
the Troubles, are present throughout the novel, Bogle doesn't seem
very interested in politics. He seems more involved when talking
about the effects, how it has influenced the people around him. Is
this how his generation feels? Does having grown up with this
never-ending conflict leave a person ironically apolitical?
RMW:
I hope you don't think I'm rude, but describing what is happening
in Northern Ireland as a conflict between the English and Northern
Irish in inconceivably foolish. The English are not really
involved. It is between us. It is the best and most enjoyable kind
of war--a war between brothers.
By
accident (I was only twenty-two and almost incapable of any level
of thought, profound or otherwise), in Ripley Bogle I illustrated
the beliefs of a large and ignored portion of the Irish. Those who
do not care whether Northern Ireland is Irish, British, or
independent. There are thousands and thousands of people for whom
those terms have no real meaning and whose lives would be little
affected one way or another.
People
don't spend a lot of time thinking about their nationality. They
think about love, money, sex, football--all that stuff.
Nationality is way down the priority list.
Q:
Is it strange still living in Belfast after commenting on the
place and the people in such a personal way?
RMW:
Not really. Few read my books and almost no one cares. The BBC
recently had a four-part drama based on one of them, which I
suppose, was stranger. But people here have a sense of humor
mostly. They quite like to be teased.
Anyway,
people have complicated private feelings about their city or
country where affection is laundered with criticism. It is not
compulsory to have some kind of brand loyalty to your birthplace.
Source:
http://www.readinggroupguides.com/guides/ripley_bogle-author.asp#bio
back
|
