Northern Ireland - how do you perceive it?

[TheBelleOfBelfastCity]

Genuinely just curious. I was born and raised in NI, opinions on MN seem to vary wildly from no go zone to friendly and welcoming. Trying to got a sense of what the most common thoughts are.

Have you visited? Maybe even thought about doing so? What was your opinion?

The Giants Causeway is one of the most beautiful places I've been, it was breathtaking and we didn't want to leave.

One of my children settled in Belfast almost 10 years ago so I'm over a lot. Objectively I recognise that some parts of the city are a bit rough, but I feel comfortable there. I also like the small scale of the country. You're not far from the sea, the mountains, or a beautiful green park no matter where you are.

I love it there. The coastlines are amazing. I used to visit a lot in the 90s as my cousin lived there and I feel it’s a much more chilled place now. The vibe was always a bit tense in the cities back then. I’m going again next year all things being well.

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board used to have fab adverts that really sold NI as a vibrant and fun place about 10 - 15 years ago.

We went 5 years ago, ferry from Birkenhead, a week; Airbnb Belfast and Derry.

I am 61 so I recall The Troubles well. But I'm also aware that I perceived them from a southern English, Protestant viewpoint.

But I've learned a lot.

As such, I have a far greater understanding of the complexities of the civil war. I also read 'Trinity' 30 odd years ago. Also, tbh, 'Derry Girls' increased so many people's understanding, like of the Good Friday Agreement. Brexiteers didn't grasp that!

I see NI as a country reconfiguring itself. The Catholics' hearts go Republic; but their wallets go 'er, UK!'

But, I now believe it can live in a Belgium-like state, ungoverned yet functioning, for the time being.

So much blood has been so needlessly been spilled on both sides.

NI is a fascinating, beautiful place, with so many welcoming, clever people.

I hope it can go forward, carefully.

Yes, I love how close everything is. We live in the suburbs of south Belfast. Within 15 mins I can be in the city centre, at the beach, in the countryside or up a mountain. It’s amazing to have all of this right on your doorstep

Home, I love it here. I'm from Dublin originally and moved to Belfast almost 20 years ago to be with northern DH. I wouldn't move back.

I think NI should be prouder of itself for how far it's come, it's remarkable really.

Yet, to be fair, in 2 minutes you can cross a 'peace wall' where those on the other side live by a very different ideology. I gather there are dozens of them across NI?

Not dozens, no. Only two that I know of are still in existence. The vast majority of us live in perfectly mixed and peaceful areas.

Yes more of our friends are in mixed marriages than not.

Went once, it rained a lot ...I have the same answer to Cornwall...it rained a lot.

That’s quite an outdated view. It’s not unusual at all for marriages to be mixed these days - younger people don’t even take religion into account. It would never even cross DD’s mind, all of her friends are just friends, not catholics or protestants.

Lived there for a couple of years, truly stunning countryside and coastline and generally very friendly kind people, just a few areas of Belfast that were a bit edgier than I was comfortable with. Also my employer was mad which coloured my experience somewhat 😂

You’re a brave woman for taking a trip to Lisburn 🤣 The ‘city of life’ has nothing in it anymore!

Yes, I don’t get the obsession with murals tours to be honest and agree with you on that point. Quite a lot still have messages of terrorism painted on them and it’s certainly not something I’d want to see or support. You can delve into the history of NI in much more educational ways

I'm in Ireland and have never really had cause to go to NI until recently. I've had a few flying visits to the general Derry area in the last year. My flying visit impression was that it seemed poor. The roads were dreadful and it seemed quite rundown. From my first impressions it wouldn't be somewhere I would rush back to to spend my free time.

Having said that dh and I are planning to visit Belfast soon and I have high hopes for that.

That’s so lovely to hear! What are your plans? Always happy to give recommendations 😁

We've booked a couple of restaurants and are also meeting friends one of the days so will take that day as it comes. Also want to do the Titanic museum on this trip. I really enjoyed waking around and exploring so more of that too!

I love it. Although when a relative of dh's told us we should move (when I was looking at a fabulous house in Enniskillen online because we'd just driven past the For Sale sign), it was immediate no. But that's for complicated reasons I think. Dh's grandfather was killed in the Troubles and his death left a long shadow.

I've always felt perfectly safe though. Dc1 is Titanic obsessed and both my dc love Fermanagh (which is where my mil is from). Must admit I do too. Always had a thing for water and islands. Could spend forever messing about on a boat.

Highlights of our last trip would be Giant hunting in the Sperrins, spending a very wet day on Lough Erne with extended family and eating poutine of all things next to the Big Fish.

I moved here 8 years ago. I found everyone very welcoming and friendly. My kids are loving school too. Lucky to live in a nice community.

Glasgow and most of Scotland feel very much like a second home to me, both in the environment and the people

I'll add my husband is from here too, I'm from England x

I disagree, I live in Belfast and in a mixed marriage. We live in the area my husband grew up in and I still tell people I grew up in a different town that would be more less contentious, I come from a very nationalist town so a bit outing that I was raised catholic. It would be lovely to think that people don't care but many do unfortunately, but it's definitely way more accepted now a days that when we first got together (in late 30s for context). I think N.I in general is still way more segregated than you perceive although lines are more blurred and people less prickly, this may be due to where you came from and now live. The country has come so far, Belfast has turned into such a lovely place than when I first moved here for university, but there is still a long long way to go.

I’d say that is largely because you flew into Derry, it is west of the river Bann and therefore a historically underfunded area. The divide is slowly getting better and the government is finally beginning to acknowledge that investment outside of greater Belfast is desperately needed

I will say, this is a lovely thread to read. I'm so glad to see so many nice views on N.I, it's come such a long way in the last 25 years

I've visited Belfast and surrounding areas and absolutely loved it. Felt very safe in the city centre and the people were very welcoming.

I remember my dad having to travel to the outskirts of Belfast regularly with work in the 80's though and my mum was always very tense whilst he was away, although he always said it was a lovely place and wished he'd had the chance to go back and visit in later life.