The Peace Process: Belfast

           Belfast is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. It currently holds about half a million people making up 1/3 of Northern Ireland’s population. The site has been occupied since before the Bronze Age and evidence shows Iron Age occupation from forts outside the city. Though the city was not significant historically during the Middle Ages, it became more important during the 17^th century when Sir Arthur Chichester established it as a town to be settled by those coming for the Ulster Plantations from Scotland and England. In the 18^th and 19^th century it became an industrial and commercial center, especially for products like linens. For a while it grew to be the largest city on the island. The Titanic was also constructed in Belfast in 1911.

            In more recent years, Belfast has been riddled with sectarian conflict in the form of the Troubles. The 1970’s saw violence between pro-Irish nationalists and pro-British unionists. Events like Bloody Sunday and other “tit for tat” attacks with car bombs and drive by shootings killed over 3,500 people during this time. The Hunger Strikers, led by Bobby Sands, in 1981 fought for treatment as political prisoners after their title had been stripped from them. Ceasefires began in 1994 on the part of the IRA and the Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998. This began the peace process that continues on today. Tension still exists today under the surface specifically seen in the Peace Walls that still stand up to 7.6m high in areas like Shankhill. Violence is low but still present and more prevalent than more areas of Ireland today.

            On our bus tour of the city, Noll, a former Ulster Volunteer, and our bus driver Brian, a Nationalist, gave us two different perspectives on the peace process and Troubles. For most of us it was the first time we had heard from a pro-British stance, which we all found interesting. Hearing about how Irishman from the north contributed to the British cause as in the Battle of the Somme WWI helped us to understand how the Northern Irish justify their allegiance to the crown. Deanna liked that we got to talk with Noll who participated in the UVF and spent time in jail for it. Kayleigh said it felt eerie to drive through the streets knowing what violence had taken place there.