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Published: September 11th 2007
Ireland
A warm welcome at the local traditional pub.Their couldn't have been a better timing for Ireland as far as I'm concerned, it was summer which means it's as sunny as it'll get and peak tourist season which meant a full bus load of like-minded travellers from around the world, of course the majority of them Ozzy!
This was probably the best situation for me to jump on the 10 day paddywagon green monster tour bus, having lost Malka, this forced me back in the swing of it all. We became a great little family in a short time, it was a wonderful feeling!
We left Dublin and headed straight for the border to Northern Ireland and the city of Derry!! This was a great place to start our tour and introduction to the still current situation in Northern Ireland. We went on a walking tour with a local guide, explaining the murals describing the social situation and anguish that still lives on in the cities in the North. It's funny to try and explain but you litterally feel the difference in the air when you cross the border.
Now let me try and explain something that i can't even myself comprehend.....In order for Ireland to become
Belfast
One of the many wall murals around the city. Republican and seperate from the British rule it was agreed upon that 7 counties in the north would remain part of the UK as long as the rest of the country would become free. As you can imagine this would cause a lot of hurt between the country. The british government started giving land to Scottish and Brittish famillies....In the end it created Northern Ireland where half the population wanting to be Ireland free and the rest proud members of the UK, creating a still standing ever present devide.
It really hit us in Belfast when we took a "black cab" tour of the city, our cab driver braught us around the fenced in "proud to be English" area where they lock the walls at night to protect each other from bottles beeing thrown seggragating themselves. They paint murals on the buildings explaining the history and commemorating those who faught for "freedom".
Although the media doesn't print the hurt that still lies in Northern Ireland we got the impression that it's still a part of everyday life, deffinately not as bad as 15years ago but still something that shouldn't be present today.
Some associate the British with
one of the wonders
Stepping stones at the Giants Causeway, don't even begin to understand how they got there..... the Protestant believers and the Republicans as beeing Catholic, now whether this is a religious devide or a devide of patriotism, it's something that i have a hard time justifying in today's society.
On a bit of a lighter note some may say that Northern ireland has one of the 7 wonders of the world at their fingertips....not gonna lie about it, the Giants Causeway blew our mind with a fantastic coastline trail. Having a few hours here to explore i went a bit snap happy surely no surprise!! Different rock formations along the coast, it's just amazing to see nature work such beautiful marvells and lucky for us we had another great day of sunshine when it mattered!!
We finished Northern Ireland in the city of Galway, and talk about timing we were there during the biggest weekend of the year for the city the Galway Races! It's a great young university city and of course that means that the night life was superb!! Blocking off the streets, going to the local Spar (like our 7/11)for a cheaper drink that we enjoyed on the streets and queing outside in the rain to get into the pubs didn't
Giants Causeway
What a beautiful Coastline! stop us from singing in dancing and enjoying the most of the festivities!!!
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Joe
non-member comment
Nice one!
Hi Bridge! That's a nice summary you're giving here - reading it brings back the good days :) Go on that way! Joe