Belfast Political Tour-Conflicting Stories Walking Tour
Description
The opportunity to experience a tour of a lifetime. Understanding Belfast's troubled history with a honestly presented political tour by Republican and Loyalist ex-political prisoners. Discover a side of Belfast you won't find in the Tourist books, We invite you to walk the streets of the city on both sides of the Peace Wall with the men and women who have served time in prisons of Northern Ireland for standing up for their beliefs. Republican and Loyalist ex-prisoners will share their own personal stories and the effects on their communities and explain the murals that tell the local history and culture of each area. The only tour to give you two truly opposing views of 'The Troubles' through the streets of West Belfast. A portion of the tours proceeds goes to working with local children in cross community projects.
Tour Options
Itinerary
This tour is both sides of the peace wall in West Belfast Between the Falls and Shankill Roads. The tours stops at many locations along the wall.
Explore the Murals in the nationalist area of West Belfast, including the International Wall, Bobby Sand Mural, D Company memorial Garden, Bombay Street.
Explore the murals and the stories behind them from a loyalist perspective, Shankill Memorial Garden, Bayardo Bombing, UVF Memorial , Frizzells Fish Shop Bombing, Somme Memorial.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(528)
Brilliant, do it! Really insightful seeing it from both sides. Thought 3hrs might have been too long but it flew by
This review is for the yellow umbrella conflicting stories 3 hour walking tour. I cannot recommend this highly enough. Patricia and John were fantastic, thought provoking guides full of knowledge, first hand experience and also wisdom to look beyond the past and work cross community. I am really glad I did this rather than a taxi tour, you felt more immersed in the area. Worth noting both "sides" of the areas are perfectly safe for anyone worried about that and there's a short break in the middle for a coffee and loo stop.
Excellent tour! Great to hear both sides and perspectives from our wonderful tour guides who've both been through so much for generations of their family growing up in Belfast. For our family this was an emotional tour having family from Belfast as well. Thank you!
An unmissable tour to understand a little about the conflict in Belfast between the Protestant and Catholic sides, the IRA, and the consequences of the attacks. That a wall still exists to separate them, despite the peace, is incredible. The guide was wonderful. It was in Spanish!!! A tour that no one should miss
Very interesting, especially the first guide was nice because she had brought ears for everyone and was better understood, but both stories were very fascinating and made clear how the conflict was viewed.
Really powerful and insightful tour delivered in two parts by excellent guides. The first half gives us the lived experience from Barbara who grew up on the Falls Rd during the height of The Troubles and hunger strikes. She was clearly emotional when recounting some of her stories. We then went through the Peace Wall and continued on the second half of the tour with our second guide (can’t remember his name). This was equally as emotional but with a very different perspective. The tour took 3 hours with a stop for toilet break and quick coffee. The walking is not that far really. You are provided with headsets to help you hear your guide. Well recommended.
It was great to hear both sides of a very complex story. Both told by people that have been through experiences growing up in their respected areas. Highly recommended and a great end to the tour was a couple of pints in Rex bar on the Shankill rd.
Very knowledgeable guides talking about their personal experiences
Very informative. Quite a long tour, not so much walking but a lot of standing. Interesting and entertaining at times.
This was a sensitive and informative tour to learn more about the political situation in Northern Ireland and its impact upon the communities and individuals most affected. In choosing this tour, I wanted to learn more about the troubles but was concerned that a bus or other tour might be disrespectful and voyeuristic. I ended up choosing this one and was so glad I did. The two tour guides, one from each community, shared their experiences of growing up during the troubles with huge generosity and grace. There was also respect for the existence of alternative points of view. They were also very knowledgeable and explained the history and context, leading up to the start of the “troubles”. They shared their hopes for the future of peace and for healing the individuals and communities that have been so impacted. Three days on and I am still thinking about all that I saw and heard. Although, deeply moving and uncomfortable at times (bad things happened to good people) my overall takeaway was a message of resilience and hope. And that humour and lightness and small acts of kindness can prevail even in the darkest of times. Overall, I thought it was great. And good value. In a practical note. Finding the start point was easy. Finding the guide was easy. Communication prior to the tour was good. I felt very safe, accompanied by the tour guides. There is the opportunity for a quick “tea and wee” half way around. It takes about 2 hours. Processing all that I saw and heard may take a bit longer!
