My brother got married at St. Patrick's Church in Belfast, No. Ireland in 1987 (or thereabouts - sorry TJ). This is sorta what Belfast was like when we were first there...
IRA 'soldiers' searching for British
troops in West Belfast.
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An IRA soldier takes cover while
protecting school kids.
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Road signs warning of
IRA snipers in the area.
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At one point in it's history it was said to be
the 'most bombed building in all of Ireland'.
This is where we stayed while we were there.
The building was surrounded by British armored troops.
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the IRA - search a man in the street.
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Graffiti like this is still present
in most Belfast neighborhoods.
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It's getting close to crunch time for gift buying, guys...
There's still time to get her something really special...
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Click on this banner to see all she has online today.
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I know a guy who is American born but raised in Belfast. He is about 60 and vividly recalls the Troubles. British troops kicking down his family's door, his dad telling everyone to sit still and not move, friends and family being murdered. He lost an aunt and cousins in the Casey Bottling Plant murders committed by a really psycho group called the Shankill Butchers. He is really glad to be here in Seattle.
ReplyDeletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shankill_Butchers
It was really fucked up back in those days. Much better now...
DeleteThere was a time every year when the troubles would quiet, when the strife would cease. One man would visit. Rory Gallagher, with his band.
ReplyDeleteBest rocker to come out of Ireland. Great guitar slinger. RIP Rory...
Delete