West Belfast’s Falls Road was a violent flashpoint during the Northern Irish conflict. Cultural Tours. The Culturlann on the middle of the Falls is an old Presbyterian church converted into a great social hub of both Irish cultures, with an exhibition space, a bookshop and a café where everyone not only is, but also feels welcome to learn. The official Belfast Tour Bus stops here but you don't have to get out, a lot of sad recent history in the area. The area is detailed in the 1931 Ordnance Survey map of the area. Adams, G., 2017. The east of the city is predominantly Protestant, typically 90% or more. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. This is a must visit for anyone with knowledge of the N. Ireland crisis. This area was considered the heart of the Falls Road and was initially composed of rows of small terraced houses which were constructed in the mid to late nineteenth century. Expand. But keep going. You can find lots of murals on the walls as a reminder of the troubles. (function (d, t) { The Shankill Road is the main street of the Protestant area of town, the Falls Road is the Catholic equivalent, and is designated by several murals like the one in the above picture. Convert the opposition. potential voters) was 65924, of which 58.2% were Catholic, and 41.2% were Protestant. Reading Gerry Adams’ book Never Give Up, for me what represents the spirit of this vibrant community is clearly reflected in his words: “The secret is to persevere. We enjoyed our walk chatting and reflecting along the way. “There is in a Catholic community a degree of cohesiveness which does not exist in the Protestant … I lived in Belfast from 2009-2012, the crisis was hitting in a post-2008 world, and my first academic job took me to this city which I had heard of but have never been to. It just wasn’t done and plenty have been murdered just for sleeping in Protestant territory. A billboard states clearly who can enter and is welcome in this street. Photograph: Antonio Olmos for the Observer To get the full story, it's important to visit the working-class neighborhoods of both sides: the Shankill Road and Sandy Row areas (Protestant) and the Falls Road district (Catholic). Never give up”. He waged wars against major Catholic rulers in the 17th century, including at the famous Battle of the Boyne in 1690, which is celebrated annually by Unionist communities. In Northern Ireland, Catholics and Protestants in urban, working-class neighborhoods continue to be segregated 20 years after the signing of the Good Friday peace deal. An example of that is that no harm came to any Protestant who married into a Catholic family even in the Falls at the very heart of Catholic territory. In the same way, there are ‘Catholic or Protestant restaurants’ – so too there are sectarian taxi companies that can only go safely to specific areas in the city. The peace lines or peace walls are a series of separation barriers in Northern Ireland that separate predominantly republican and nationalist Catholic neighbourhoods from predominantly loyalist and unionist Protestant neighbourhoods. Belfast Political Tour-Conflicting Stories. `Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His justice,' said the Mater, `and all these things shall be added unto you.' This mural on the Falls Road shows Ireland symbolised in an idyllic landscape, ... was a Protestant ruler. The area was also a regular scene of rioting in the nineteenth century, often of a sectarian nature after Irish Catholic areas on the Falls Road and Ardoyne emerged along with the city's prosperity. John Chambers. For me as an architect, it is a masterpiece because it is the ultimate resistant political street. She won the PhD Conference bid for AHRA (Architecture and Humanities Research Association) at Plymouth University and has presented over 20 papers and conferences on peripheral issues. In the past I’m not sure how either off us would have been, or safe; one of us holds a British Passport the other, an Irish Passport. Seen as a tourist attraction by some, whether in the catholic or protestant areas, they are a living tribute to what one side see as martyrs, the other as murderers and while we tourists might sit and ponder the past and hope for the future, unfortunately some … This area, though, was dominated by an Irish Catholic population, while the Shankill … Derek Dougan captained Northern Ireland in the early seventies. Paint every one of them all over the city white with a dove and we might get somewhere. Seen as a tourist attraction by some, whether in the catholic or protestant areas, they are a living tribute to what one side see as martyrs, the other as murderers and while we tourists might sit and ponder the past and hope for the future, unfortunately some people in NI worship at these monuments to 'their side'. A must see from the ground - get off the bus and have a walk. Found a family members pictuure on the wall with Bobby sands. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. To me, they're best seen with a private taxi tour. Image © Alona Martinez Perez, Political Image indicating who is and who is not welcome in the area. Expand. Image © Alona Martinez Perez, Bombay Street Housing. During the conflict in Belfast the two communities at each side of the wall, the Catholic in the Falls and the Protestant in the Shankhill, were part of a war zone, a difficult conflict between two countries: Ireland and the United Kingdom. To the left, there is the new building for the Irish speaking radio station Raidió Fáilte–Lionra Uladh, a modern addition to the traditional fabric of the street by ARdMackel and McGurk Architects. And a Belfast visit wouldn't be complete without a look at the working-class neighborhoods of Falls Road (Catholic) and Shankill Road or Sandy Row (Protestant… During the conflict in Belfast the two communities at each side of the wall, the Catholic in the Falls and the Protestant in the Shankhill, were part of a war zone, a difficult conflict between two countries: Ireland and the United Kingdom. Expand. The street is mainly reflective of the Catholic tradition with important landmarks that reflect this faith alongside the political struggle that defined the West of the city. Strong organisations like Forbait Feirste led by Jake MacSiacais promote Irish culture and on the top of the street, you have one of the biggest Irish speaking schools in Ireland. The Falls Road transformed from a small lane into a heavily populated district in its own right. People feel proud of their community. 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