The Troubles in Northern Ireland have had a profound impact on the history of Belfast and continue to impact the daily lives of its population. Catherine and Joel, two young people from the city, give us their perspective on the impact of the past on their lives and their aspirations for the future.
Catherine, from a historically Catholic community and in favor of a reunification of the two Irelands, grew up in the heart of an Irish neighborhood where commemorative frescoes and green, white and orange flags are numerous. For her, elders who experienced the Troubles represent a valuable source of information. They can tell her how things were before and she, in turn, can tell them how things are today.
Joel, on the other hand, comes from a community attached to the British crown and Protestant, who identify as unionist or loyalist. In the British neighborhoods of Belfast, Union Jack flags fly proudly and the sidewalks are painted in the colors of the United Kingdom. Like Catherine, Joel is aware of the importance of Northern Ireland’s history in people’s minds and wants people to understand that his country is more than just bombs and clashes.
Despite the official end of the Troubles in 1998 with the Good Friday Agreement, the city of Belfast remains divided by separation walls between certain unionist and nationalist districts. These peace walls, built in the 1960s and more recently in 2013, symbolize the persistence of divisions within Northern Irish society. Catherine and Joel both recognize that politicians don’t seem really interested in their vision of peace and are personally working to promote intercommunity exchanges and deconstruct these walls, both physical and symbolic.
The challenge for this new generation in Belfast is to overcome the tensions of the past and build a future where Irish and British-Irish identities can coexist harmoniously. For this, it is essential to promote dialogue, mutual understanding and reconciliation between communities. Catherine and Joel, through their commitment, show that the youth of Belfast are determined to build a better future, overcoming the divisions of the past. Proof of the resilience and hope that animate this ever-changing city.