Belfast has a sad and tragic history when it comes to intercommunal strife ,sectarianism and violence.north belfast has suffered more than its fair share of this burden than any other part of this city.

In the working class areas of belfast the population is polarised in two opposing and suspicious communities.the geographic reality means these communities co-exist side by side in an uneasy truce which all to often in the past has been broken.

The result is what we call the peacelines ,built to separate and protect the two communities from each other.While germany had its berlin wall. We in belfast have our Merlin walls ,named after the then secretary of state for the north of ireland,Merlin Reece who gave the order to have them built.circa1976

If you would like to see this part of belfast and be given some local historical background ,Walking tours can be arranged,of the local area!see the wall murals,peacelines and visit places like Ardoyne and the Oldpark.Living history. back to front page

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