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The Other Ireland



Without knowing, I chose to go to Northern Ireland on the 13th of July, a public holiday which commemorates the anniversary of the shutting of Derry's gates (Derry was a 'fortress' to Protestants, when the city came under siege from King Jame's army).

I took the train from O'Connolly Station to Portadown (30 euros for the ticket!!!), where 2 friends who live and work in a farm near by picked me up. It rained all afternoon, plus we were advised not to go anywhere because sometimes there are incidents in the marches on this day, so we just hung around the farm house, played pool and ping-pong and then went over to some other farm for a BBQ.

On Tuesday, after a quick breakfast we set of for the Giant's Causeway (World Heritage Site- UNESCO), a huge area of interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. Just see for yourself, this place is incredible! (£6 to park).

Natural volcanic formations

Giant's Causeway

Giant's Causeway


We also went to the Carrick-a -Rede Rope Bridge near by, totally over rated in my opinion. I'd been told it was really high over the sea and very wobbly and scary, truth is it's just an ordinary rope bridge, with too much marketing. The experience of crossing it isn't even pleasant as you are herded through it and there's a guy controlling and blowing a whistle when you take too long to cross it. (£4).

On wednesday it was Derry, it's history, the walls, murals and museums in the morning. To understand better Ireland's historic conflict between Catholics and Protestants I recommend you pay a visit to the Tower Museum (it's normally £4 but you can go to an information site and ask for a discount and get in for £2), check out the murals outside the walls and of course, just walk the perimeter of the cities walls (which is really small).

Murales para la memoria

We then set off to Belfast to have lunch and walk around for a while.

Graffiti Wall in Belfast

On Thursday my friends drove me back to Dublin and stayed for the day (and night) and I showed them a bit around, had dinner with my flatmates and took them out partying.

Raf (Confused by Ireland's dualisms. Same name, same marketing items, no frontier control, no passport sealing, different currency, different flag & different conceptions of Ireland-which coming to think of it, is probably the primary reason for their split).

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