Dublin or Nothing: September 2012

My luggage ready to leave for Ireland

After months of anticipation and planning, I have finally arrived in Ireland. It took a bit longer than planned (delays, missed connecting flights, etc), but around 17:30 on Thursday, Sept. 6 I landed in Dublin. I met the wife of my Rotary Host, Jennifer, and she drove me to the Dublin Connolly bus station to catch a train to Belfast. I was in a rush because I was planning to attend a Young SIETAR (http://www.youngsietar.org/) conference that had begun earlier that day.

While on the train to Belfast, I had my first real taste of The Troubles (in case you are unfamiliar with this conflict: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Troubles). I was greeted by a man who was intrigued by my accent. He offered me a cider and started asking about my political affiliation. Having traveled a bit before, I know that I have to be careful about who I talk to about American politics. I quickly turned the conversation around and asked him who he thinks I should vote for? He assured me that he was a Republican and would support the Republican candidate. He proceeded to tell me that he was a Republican in Ireland (aka Unionist, Catholic, etc) and assumed that it would mean the same in the US. Having had a few drinks, he vehemently told me about his distrust of the Protestants (aka Orange Order, Protestants, Loyalists) and how they had killed so many of his people at the Battle of the Boyne in the late 1600s. I assured him that while in Belfast I would be open-minded and not become "brainwashed" by the Loyalists. I arrived in Belfast and took at taxi to my accommodation (on the Protestant side of town).

Edgehill Theological College, where the conference was held.

The next few days were filled with information about The Troubles and great workshops and conversations about conflict. I particularly enjoyed a workshop I attended entitled, "Conflict: An Engine of Change." In the workshop, we discussed types of conflicts and the ways in which they could bring about positive change. We also, discussed techniques for dealing with conflict such as utilizing a "third" space and interviewing techniques that help people who express racist views think more about what they are saying and why it may be wrong.

Following the time I spent in the conference, I stayed in Belfast for an extra day to meet up with Louise. Louise stayed with my family over 15 years ago as part of an exchange program that helped get children out of Northern Ireland and away from The Troubles for a summer. I had only dreamed of ever being able to see her again!

Belfast City Hall

We met up in the City Centre near City Hall. She and I grabbed a bite to eat and rode one of the bus tours. It was amazing to hear more of the history from a pure facts standpoint and she admitted that she even learned a few new things. I particularly enjoyed seeing the shipyard where the Titanic was built.

A memorial for a girl killed in Shankhill

After the tour, she took me to her neighborhood called the Shankill. It is the most heavily Protestant area in Belfast and is divided from the most heavily Catholic area (Falls Road), but a Peace wall. She and I toured her neighborhood and she showed me where she went to school and the store where she worked. After our tour, we went to her mom's house where I met her mom and her two boys, Corey and Caleb. We had a great time catching up and sharing old photos from her summer in the US.

Corey, Louise, Caleb and I

Finally, she took me back into the City Center where we had dinner and said our goodbyes. It was nice to know that this time, I probably would see her again!

Louise in front of the Peace Wall

I stayed in a hostel that night with a friend I had made at the conference. I got up early this morning and toured the Belfast Botanic Gardens and the Ulster Museum before heading back to Dublin. Tonight I am staying with my Rotary Host family in the lovely village of Castleknock. Tomorrow I move into Trinity Hall!

Lots of Love,
Sarah

Here are some of my favorite pictures from Belfast!