From Barriers to Bridges: The Tale of Belfast’s Wall and the Quest for Peace

Jim White, now 69 years old, was just 14 when he lost his best friend due to an eight-meter-high wall that separated the Protestant north from the Catholic west of Belfast. Despite the passage of time and the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, which brought peace to the city, White still prefers not to revisit Springfield Road in west Belfast. He acknowledges that a lot has changed since the days of conflict known as “the Troubles,” but he appreciates the presence of the Peace Wall gate on North Howard Street to prevent any potential resurgence of violence.

Just 500 meters away from Jim White, Michael Culbert works with an association called Coiste to offer political tours along the Peace Wall. Culbert, a former member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), brings visitors to key locations in Belfast to shed light on the history of the conflict. He believes in standing up for politically condemned individuals like himself, as he reflects on the events that led him to join the IRA in his early twenties.

The tour guide, James Ellison, takes tourists on a journey through Belfast city center to explore the sites that were significant during the Troubles, such as the location of the Abercorn Restaurant bombing in 1972. Despite the dark legacy of the conflict, tourism in Belfast has grown into a billion-euro industry since its signing. However, as James Ellison notes, peace remains fragile, as demonstrated by recent acts of violence in response to Brexit.

While older generations reflect on their pasts and appreciate efforts made towards reconciliation and peacekeeping measures like those represented by North Howard Street’s Peace Wall gate, younger residents like Gemma Gabbie and a group of teenagers advocate for opening these gates for longer periods or even permanently. They believe that physical barriers create a stigma between communities and emphasize fostering relationships rather than maintaining them physically divided. The next generation of Belfast residents looks towards a future where walls do not stand as barriers between friends and neighbors but seek unity and peace amidst their city’s history scarred by conflict.