Yesterday we had a couple lectures on the conflict and integrated schools (here, integrated means that both Catholic and Protestant students have classes there). It was really pretty interesting. We also got to dig into some of the political implications of the Troubles and the lasting effects the crisis still has on politics in Northern Ireland. We didn't get too much into that, because 99% of the class is youth min, not poli sci. It would have been fun to be able to get a little more into that.
After lectures we went to the Ulster Museum to see an exhibit about The Troubles - it was very sad. There were a lot of pictures, videos, and just a lot of information to take in. It was a very heavy afternoon.
The H Blocks where Bobby Sands (an IRA hunger striker) died
Bomb explosion on Royal Avenue
I believe these are IRA men
The aftermath of the Ormagh bombing (the most deadly single attack of the Troubles)
Definitely a huge subject to tackle right after lunch...after the museum we went back to our meeting room deal and talked about what we thought about the exhibit.
After that we had dinner and then about 8 of us went out for dessert at this little pub/restaurant down the street from the hostel. Massive brownie with walnuts in it, vanilla bean ice cream, chocolate sauce, 87,000 calories...yum. Then we went back to the hostel and hung out for a while, and a couple of us had a really good conversation until we had to sleep or risk not waking up on time!
Today was a long and emotionally draining day. I cried somewhere in the neighborhood of 7 million times. Or like 5, same thing. We started off the day with a couple of lectures and talked for a little bit. After that we had lunch, and where we went next started the tears a-flowing.
We went and walked around the Belfast City Hall and as soon as I walked in I turned to my left and saw this:
YES, that is the LAVERY ROOM! The guy in the painting above the door is Sir John Lavery (1856-1941). He was an artist who did a bunch of the paintings that are currently in City Hall, and apparently he was good enough to name a room after. I couldn't get into the room though :( Super lame. So I cried...apparently just seeing Lavery in writing is good for tears with me. Not cool...
Here are some more shots from Belfast City Hall:
Stained glass memorial to the Great Famine
So THEN, we got on a bus and headed to a Presbyterian church on the Catholic side of a Peace Line Apparently whoever built the wall couldn't see the problems that might be presented by having a Protestant church in Catholic territory...now the Presbyterian church does a lot of outreach and reconciliation work in the local Catholic community, even though it has 11 people at services each week, not counting employees and children.
After that, we headed over to a Catholic Church and Monastery (Clonard Monastery) to talk about reconciliation work they are doing in Protestant communities. Here are some shots of the Church:
One of the priests told us about how, from his office window, he sees right down the peace wall and on both sides are schools, one Catholic and one Protestant. On both sides, there are playgrounds, and every day he sees kids playing on each side of the wall, separated by several feet of concrete and brick and barbed wire, oblivious to the other side's existence. That story made me really sad for the state (not State) of Northern Ireland now. The divisions are so deep that kids really aren't even free to choose their own friends, people don't feel safe walking in neighborhoods with certain flags flying, and people can even tell which side you come down on by what newspaper you read in the morning.
The other thing that made me cry today (and keep crying every time I thought about it) was that apparently Joy Street, the street Grandma Terry lived on, is apparently right around the block from the place we meet every day for lectures (Ormeau Avenue). Dad, you said that whether I realize it or not, at some point I would be walking in the exact place Grandma did years ago, and I have been, every single day. Every time I think about that now I start crying. This whole emotion business is really getting to be a lot to handle!
Anywho, I hear the music starting downstairs so I should go. This will be it for tonight, but I'll fill you all in tomorrow on the events of tonight.
Love you all,
Amanda
Is there any way you could take a detour to see Joy Street?
ReplyDeleteyou made me cry again. thanks. lol but Joy Street? can you take a picture of the street sign or down the street or something?
ReplyDeleteI'm with the sisters. I'd love to see a photo of the street. Another place to see during your free time might be the Giant's Causeway - not to far from Belfast. That would be fun from a photographer's point of view. Another place that was recommended that you visit (if you can venture a little over an hour from Belfast) would be the small city of Portrush on the North Coast. Their website bills them as Northern Ireland's Favourite Holiday Destination. It looks pretty neat and sounds like somewhere you'd like.
ReplyDeleteJohn Lavery was the son of a (failed) wine merchant. His paintings can be found all over Ireland. He was somewhat the "painter of record"; all the MPs and Generals and whatnot of his period were painted by him; but it was his wife Hazel who was his favorite subject. When John was asked to design the first Irish 1 punt note, it was Hazel he dressed as Ireland and put in the center. She later appeared as the watermark of later notes, all the way up to the adoption of the Euro. She was a very dramatic woman; born in Chicago. She may or may not have had an affair with Michael Collins- but she certainly seemed to want people to believe she did, even going so far as to try and throw herself into Micheal's grave. Not, the world's most stable type. Fair to say?
ReplyDeleteThe people of Ireland were not fond of her.
John and Hazel may be relatives; the family is small, but they certainly aren't directly, as far as I can find. As for Bobby Sands, if I recall your great-Aunt Grace, I believe the family either knew him or the family. It's a small place Belfast, really. Grace worked with what we'd call county services, by the way, working with impoverished families and so on. She was awarded an MBE in 98 or so for her work. However, Grace never flaunted it about, that was just how she was. She and Uncle Harry lived in Twinbrook, a very tough part of town. She and your Uncle John were very close; I think as well, that John spent time in Joy Street and Covent Gardens.
You are, in fact, surrounded by family memories.
I hope you see Joy street; your great-great grandparents, and great-grand parents were there. I love the idea of you getting to walk that street, even a little.
Love you,
Uncle Kyle
Okay, clarification on my part: Portrush and Giant's Causway would be a fine trip - assuming you have a big group to go with and reliable transportation to and from. You don't need to be stranded or waylayed by roaming dirtbags, of which any area has plenty. I'm just sayin'. Even though you're across the Atlantic, I'm still your dad.
ReplyDelete...another spot to visit in Belfast is the Botanic Gardens; when you see the building you'll understand why your Grandmother loved Como Park's; the two buildings are very, very similar. And there's these:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nmni.com/Home
Oh, and Grace Lavery's listed as Grace Stewart (Harry's last name, of course). 1997.
ReplyDelete