Northern Ireland

Giants Causeway

I have gotten the chance over the last five days to tour Northern Ireland. Before going to Northern Ireland I learned a lot about their history and their conflict. I learned about different murals on their walls representing both nationalists and unionists. It was amazing to learn about the troubled history of the north and then go and actually experience it for myself.

              

Titanic Museum in Belfast

  Touring Northern Ireland in five days was exhausting. We were constantly on the go, moving from one town to the next. However, it was well worth the drive. On our tour we got to see Belleek Pottery, Strokestown, Giants Causeway, Ulster American Folk Park, Portrush, Derry/Londonderry, Belfast, Titanic Museum, and more. The Ulster American Folk Park was very interesting and educational. I would compare it to our Pioneer Village but much bigger and better. The Park had forty-three different sites and took about 2-3 hours to go through. Each house or cottage had a person dressed up from that time period standing and talking about that exhibit. It was really neat to be interactive with the history. To get from the Ulster Plantation to the American side you had to cross a boat. Crossing the boat gave a sense of what it might have felt like for those Irish Immigrants coming to our land.

Ulster American Folk Park

 My favorite part of the Northern Ireland trip was going to Belfast. Belfast was a perfect example of the conflict still going on in Northern Ireland today. Throughout the entire city there were murals on houses and walls showing the sides of both nationalists and unionists. Even walking down the streets you could tell when you switched over from different neighborhoods. You would be walking with Ireland flags beside you and the nest thing you know they were British flags. Walking down the street people would ask you where you were you from. They wanted to hear your accent so that way they knew what side you were on.

             

Touring Northern Ireland was an eye opening experience. Seeing conflict still affecting people today, and people of my age was astounding. There is still so much tension between Catholics and Protestants.