For our last night in Donegal, we went to dinner at Teac Jack's and went to my manager's home for the evening (quite a good time). We then woke up early this morning and drove east to Northern Ireland. We passed Derry, stopped at Dunluce Castle, and traveled on to Carnlough. The transition to the north was immediately visible. Besides the British road signs, many towns we passed through were decorated with either Union (British), Northern Irish, or Irish flags. It is currently the marching season, and the visible segregation of Catholic/Nationalist and Protestant/Unionist communities is very visible. For more photos, click here.
After a wonderful lunch in Carnlough with the family that hosted me in Northern Ireland some ten or so years ago, we went to Belfast to meet one of the girls we hosted twice. After shopping (all the season sales are on right now!), we met Zoe and caught up. Then Billy (the dad of the family I stayed with from Carnlough) took us on a mini-tour of Belfast. We drove the Falls Road, which has multiple IRA monuments and several murals, including the solidarity wall (with a picture of Bush entitled "America's Biggest Mistake" and a syphon running from his mouth to an oil field) and the mural of Bobby Sands, the first hunger striker to die. I was surprised that multiple Protestant Churches had been converted into other uses, including the City Centre Tesco and Irish Cultural Centre. I look forward to seeing (and shopping) more tomorrow.
It is really cool to come back to Northern Ireland and reconnect with the children that stayed with us through Project Children and their families. Zoe looks great and the McCambridges (the family I stayed with) are just as I remembred them. Driving through the town we lived in was incredible - so many memories came back. We are in great hands in Carnlough and I'm really glad we were able to swing a weekend up here.------------------------------
Sunday at midnight
So I'm back in Donegal. Visiting the North was definitely an experience I could not have skipped. Although I spent a summer there when I was younger, I didn't actually understand the conflict. I remember viewing murals and wondering what they were, seeing a bonfire and it was just something fun. With more knowledge of the troubles, my experiences have a whole different perspective in hindsight. It was a bit emotional seeing the family I stayed with for a whole summer after ten years. I was also very effected by the tour of Belfast (1 1/2 hours!) through the Unionist and Nationalist communities, the most bombed hotel in the world (the Europa), and the school where the conflicts started (covered in bullet holes and colorful non-political murals).
Belfast is an incredible city. It is rich with culture and notable people in the arts, sciences, and politics. There is a sense of pride (home of a British Prime Minister, the current Irish President, CS Lewis, the Titanic, footballers, WWI heroes, scientists, and musicians like Van Morrison and Snow Patrol) and also a huge division - quite literally with a wall still existing between Falls Road and Shankill Road.
After walking around for a bit, I caught the bus home and settled in. I have visitors in the house this week (exciting!) and the semi-finals for the inter-firm team. Things are going so well, I've finally acclimated (as much as an American can in a month), and I'm having mixed feelings about leaving in two weeks. Cannot wait to see everyone and return to my regular diet, not ready to leave the wonderful people I've met and this incredibly meaningful and effective health program.
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