Northern Ireland - how do you perceive it?

Love NI! Been quite a few times. Belfast is a great city. Lots to do, see, eat, drink.

The countryside is absolutely gorgeous. Really beautiful.

And I’ve always found people friendly she welcoming!

So yeah, that’s what I think! Love it!

I used to live there. I'm not from there, though. Found it slightly surreal at the time (it was during the Troubles) between the murals, painted kerbs, armed soldiers and checkpoints.

People would guess (or attempt to guess) your religion from your name. So on the rare occasion I booked a taxi, I would use a fake (neutral) name.

The equal opportunities monitoring focused on your religion not your ethnicity/skin colour.

There were whole areas of Belfast that I would not set foot in when I lived there.

I have been back since and Belfast is very much changed for the better.

The regeneration of the docks/quays is great but I do think that CastleCourt was better in the nineties - but may be I am misremembering it to be better than it actually was!

but just about the oddness of this place so close to home, but with a history that's so unlike the rest of these islands

Ever heard of Scotland or Wales?

Did you cut off "history" at 1800?

(And that's not even counting Scotland's recent movement to split from GB/UK).

Smh.

My honest and no doubt unreasonable answer: my attitude to Northern Ireland is still influenced by sectarianism and the Troubles.

When I was a tiny child in England in the 70s, I had a dream that men with guns had got into our house. They asked us if we supported the IRA or... (I don't think I knew who the other lot were...) I knew nothing of Ireland but I'd obviously heard something on the news about shooting or bombing or some terrible atrocity.

As I have grown older I have read history and politics. I've visited Ireland several times but never really wanted to visit Northern Ireland.

Of course, I understand that most people live perfectly ordinary lives doing perfectly ordinary things in perfectly ordinary places. But I honestly think I have been turned off visiting by the strangeness of those groups of people on both sides of the conflict who have so recently been so completely and violently divided. It makes me uneasy. Not about anything like my personal safety, but just about the oddness of this place so close to home, but with a history that's so unlike the rest of these islands.

I don't think Mr or Ms "Stolen from us", "Brits", and "genocide" is on the same page as you.

Things were relatively moderate until their appearance.

I worked with someone from Belfast in the late 80's/early 90's that had lived there during the troubles, she said she was drying her hair in the front room one day when a bullet came through the lounge window and hit the back wall. Her Dad was an Orange man. She said I could go on holiday with her to see her parents but in those days people were always searched - and she said it would be best if I didn't speak in the pub.

My daughter now lives in Belfast with her boyfriend, she is very happy.

Much as I would absolutely adore nothing more than to pander to your consistent, and bless you you are consistent, taunting I must go to bed as I have to drive from Dublin to Belfast in the morning like I do failry regularly as my children often go to west belfast to see their father but sadly I am far too tired and honestly all I did was answer a question. Clearly you didnt want a response you just wanted a tirade and you go for it. I have full faith you will eventually find someone to argue properly with. I wish you well. I wish your opponent even better.

Oh lads could we maybe try for a thread on NI that doesn't rake over this old ground? It doesn't do us any favours and no one will change their minds. Could we maybe do as we do in real life and respect our differences and move forward?

Had a visit to Belfast about 18 months ago, the taxi driver from the airport was ok, but my god, he launches into a history lesson about the troubles, It was heavy going. Then the next morning the breakfast room in the hotel was facing this giant mural about King Billy.
I don’t think NI has moved on as much as some people think.
However, I would return to visit a more rural area, which I think would be more relaxed .

and we learn the facts of the genocide that happened and not refer to things as 'the famine'

The two are not mutually exclusive, you know.

Try thinking in something other than black and white.

Spain and Greece. Obviously prods do go to Portugal but from my observations with friends it is definitely more popular with Catholics

I am from London. Went to visit a friend there a few years back, and had one of my best holidays. Welcoming people, great beaches and scenery and lovely eateries.

What did the "Brits" colonise?

Have a wee think now.

Interesting thanks. The Algarve is very popular with Irish people alright.
Where are Protestants more likely to go? Maybe Costa del Sol, I think it's quite British?

but no my history is fine

It's as good as your punctuation.

urgh sorry its an English term I actually shudder

Yes your views were obvious enough in your use of the word "Brits", without your performative shuddering at a perceived British term.

Not been yet but I’d love to go

The 6 county country you are talking about. Obviously.

I used to do it as a commute, now just to visit home.

Myself and the train conductor looked at each other almost emotionally once, when the train exited the tunnel beside Downhill beach, and agreed it never gets old.

I hope your DD gets on well.

Mate.. urgh sorry its an English term I actually shudder at but no my history is fine. I was born and raised in Ireland which is where we learn the correct terms for things on both ends of the island which has now two countries on it and we learn the facts of the genocide that happened and not refer to things as 'the famine'. Perhaps I misquoted you or the other way around but while we are on opposite ends of the island here I think we are on the same page technically.

Portrush VS Ballycastle
Santa Ponsa and parts of Algarve also very popular with Catholics more so than Protestants

Yes of course it is. It was colonised by the Brits

What was colonised by the Brits? What's "it"?

This is one of the things that had me wtd'ing about your understanding of history.

the journey on the train from Castlerock is beautiful

Michael Palin ranked it as one of his worlds best train journeys, I think.

Yes of course it is. It was colonised by the Brits and is now and has been for a verrrrrrrrrrry long time been known (well for most of us) as a country. One island, two countries, Northern Ireland and Ireland. Not Southern Ireland, not Republic of Ireland and not Eire, just Ireland cos we also are a country in our own right. Similar you would think and assume anyone with a logical brain and an education sees Wales and Scotland who are directly connected to England as different countries yet one island but the there is a clearly small amount of knowledge about this - outside of the countries of Northern Ireland and Ireland who were directly affected by the colonisation.