PEACE WALLS AND MURALS IN BELFAST

An article written by Louis R. Thibault R. and Raphaël O.

PEACE WALLS AND MURALS IN BELFAST

In 1970’s, northern Ireland fell in a period of troubles. In fact the country had been divided in two principal political parties.

The republicain who wanted to create a united republic of Ireland and the loyalist who wanted to be part of the UK.

The peace lines are a series of border barriers in Northern Ireland that separate Irish nationalist and unionist neighbourhoods. They have been built in Belfast to separate Catholics and the Protestants. Some of them have gates kept by policers; they are open on daylight but closed on night and when violence increase. People have painted these walls to protest against segregation between catholics and protestants communities. The main paintings represent messages for peace and tolerance or anger against the government.

In the same way, the murals remind past of Ireland and the rebellion for freedom between loyalists and nationalists. They are painting on the side of the houses; we can see a lot of message like ‘’you are now entering loyalist sandy row ‘’ or ‘’ you are now entering in free derry’’.

QUESTIONS:

1) When did the peace line built ?

2) Why was it build ?

3) What type of messages were painted on the murals ?