Belfast…Go there!
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After I left Australia, and before I moved here to France, I lived for two years in Belfast in Northern Ireland.
Now, this is one place I never thought I would ever be.
Anyone, like me, who grew up in Australia in the 1970’s or anywhere during that time in fact, will have one image of Belfast - bombs, armoured police vans, soldiers and conflict. And this all came to us via the television news.
It is quite a different story these days.
Recently we had an Australian couple stay with us who were planning a coach trip around Ireland - many Aussies ‘do Ireland’ don’t they?. Most would have Dublin on their itinerary, but how many have considered crossing the border into Northern Ireland and taking in Belfast?. Well, our recent couple had Belfast definately on their list. They were in their 20’s and could not possibly have the view of Belfast that I grew up with. And fortunately they didn’t.
Today Belfast, to me, is a relatively undiscovered jewel by tourists. South of the border, Dublin is now a large city very much like cities anywhere else in the world. Having been there several times myself I found it difficult to ‘feel’ as though I was in Ireland until I left the city and got into the smaller towns.
Belfast, on the other hand has so far resisted the hand of architectural progress. There is no ‘high rise’, many of the buildings are original and for a city it still retains the feel of a village. Albeit a large one. The shopping is fantastic, the atmosphere - a mixture of it’s Irish and Scottish influence palpable, the night life electric and the city boasts restaurants offering cuisine from anywhere in the world you want. Do you like clubbing? then Belfast will keep you busy 24/7!.
Leaving Belfast you have all the beauty that you thought Ireland only possessed and more…the Giants Causeway; Lough Neagh; The Glens of Antrim; Cushendan; Ballycastle - look across to the island where Robert the Bruce watched the spider spinning it’s web and from where Marconi sent the first radio signal; the Bushmills Distillery home of the famous Bushmills Irish whiskey - you can smell it as soon as you enter the town; walk the walls of historic Derry (Londonderry), the last ‘walled’ city to be built in Europe; the quaint village of Crawfordsburn and it’s beautiful extensive park; the Ards Peninsular; Scrabo Tower; Newcastle and the Mournes; Bangor; Portaferry; get the best fish and chip ever in Ballywalter; the village of Holywood, buy a cake in the bakery there; see the statue of C.S Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia/Shadowlands) and the famous wardrobe outside the library on the Newtownards Rd near Connswater shopping centre. He was born in Belfast and his childhood home is in Holywood. Or maybe take a run to the Tyrone Crystal factory and pick a beautiful piece of the world famous Tyrone Crystal as you can see I’m doing.
The list is endless, and so is the friendliness and ‘olde worlde’ courtesy of the people there. I have mentioned previously that France is a ‘family friendly’ society - so is Northern Ireland. The family unit there is strong and children in particular are doted on. You will find your little one’s welcomed just about everywhere.
The people of Northern Ireland are survivors; optimistic and hardy. They are also the best people you will ever meet. This country has a huge future ahead and openly welcomes those who come to visit. The way things are going there now is a step in the right direction…let’s support them in this.
Northern Ireland…go and see it for yourself!.
The beautiful Mount Stewart in County Down.
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