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(511)
We really enjoyed this political tour of West Belfast. It provided valuable insight into the history and perspectives of both the nationalist/republican and loyalist communities, and our guides were knowledgeable and engaging throughout. It was fascinating to hear from guides who had lived through the conflict and were willing to share their personal experiences and stories with us. I especially enjoyed the part of the tour in the nationalist/Irish area and could easily have spent more time there, simply because I found it so interesting and our guide Paul did such a great job. This is simply a reflection of my personal interest rather than a criticism of the loyalist section, which was also informative and important for understanding the broader context. Overall, it was valuable to hear both perspectives, and to me the tour provided a mostly balanced introduction to Belfast's complex history. Both guides were respectful about the other guide and their stories. The guide also warned us that an Orange Order march would be taking place after the tour. Seeing it in person, immediately after everything we'd learned, was quite a surreal experience. It wasn't part of the tour itself, but it really highlighted how the area's history continues to be part of daily life. I found it a bit unsettling to be honest. Overall, I'd still highly recommend this tour to anyone!
Excellent walking tour and first hand education from people who lived through this conflict and try to make a positive impact for their community now. I wanted to learn as much as I could from both sides to help me understand the situation and I feel this tour helped me immensely. Highly recommended to any who want to learn and see for themselves what's happening in Belfast.
Absolutely fantastic insight into the history by guides who actually lived through the troubles. Definitely recommend this tour. Thank you to both guides. Well explained!!
Both tour guides were excellent. One pulled us one way for 90 minutes; then the other pulled us back the other way for 90 minutes! We learned so much, a lot of eye opening facts and stories, all highly informative. Thoroughly absorbing; even though it ran just over three hours, I found myself not wanting it to end! Superb tour, one of the best.
Fantastic tour where getting the two perspectives is an excellent way to protray the troubles in Northern Ireland. I learned so much on this tour and was so surprised by the physical and political divides that still exist. The tour guides were so informative and told their stories with a mix of genuine emotion and humour, the three hours flew by. We could have stayed on, on both sides, to listen to the stories and to discuss the various viewpoints. A must if you are in anyway interested in learning about the history of Northern Ireland.
This was a unique experience to better understand not only The Troubles but also Irish history overall. The formula with 2 guides from different background is great and provides for the points of view and sentiments of each party. This was one of my best guided tours, if not the best, in my life.
We pre-booked via the BelfastLad website for the black taxi tour. Our first driver was an ex army soldier with a fascinating backstory, swapping cabs halfway our second driver was a loyalist ex-political prisoner. Their stories were fascinating and heartbreaking in equal measure. We spent a couple of hours exploring various sights including the murals, peace wall, Divis tower, Clonard monastery and the locations of various events. This is the only tour of its kind and I would totally recommend it to get both sides of the troubles from those who were directly involved in this piece of modern history.
Using their personal stories was an interesting way to learn about the history of the Troubles. Both tour guides were knowledgeable. It was a solid three hours with a break halfway through for about 10 minutes. if you can’t walk for three hours, pick a different tour. At times, it was a little hard to hear because you’re on the streets of Belfast and there is a lot of traffic and noise. Both tour guides were open to questions.
An amazing insight from our guides to show how it was on each side of the wall. The personal experiences and the desire from all to move to a better future came through strongly. A huge thank you!
Extraordinary. I am amazed by how they can put together this tour. I have not experienced anything similar in any place before: a first hand experience of a still latent two-sided conflict. A must if you come to Belfast. Be ready for tour guides with strong Irish accent. In particular, guides of the nationalist side.
