Is Belfast over its Troubles? | Growing up in Northern Ireland

For around thirty years, Belfast was shaken by The Troubles: an armed conflict between the Irish and British communities of Northern Ireland.
25 years after the Good Friday Agreement, which ended most of the violence, these divisions live on in people's minds and in the city's architecture, where catholic and protestant districts are still divided by walls and gates.
We met Catherine, 24, an Irish nationalist, and Joel, 22, a British-Irish unionist, who told us how they live with the legacy of the Troubles today.
00:00 - 1:28 Intro
1:28 - 2:25 Two communities, one city
2:25 - 3:18 The impact of the past
3:18 - 5:49 The trauma of the Troubles
5:49 - 7:24 The 'walls of peace'
7:24 - 9:03 The legacy of the paramilitary
9:03 - 10:30 The peace baby generation?
10:30 - 11:08 What future for Northern Ireland?
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More from this series:
• The "last colony" in E...
• Living in Europe's las...
• What Europe Means To G...
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[@IrishTechnicalThinker]

My father was murdered by loyalists during the troubles in the early 90's and my girlfriend is protestant, love conquers all and good always wins.

[@cedricliggins7528]

Love is overrated

[@rburns8581]

Your one of many victims in Northern Ireland and with the shootings still being done mostly by republican terrorists there is still no peace in Northern Ireland. FYI a PROTESTANT is a person that reads God's Word, believes God's Word, follows God's Word and lives by God's Word. There are few protestants in Northern Ireland but there are many logs which are a different types of people. You didn't day but I'm guessing you're a Roman Catholic. I can't see peace coming to NORTHERN Ireland any time soon.The loyalist paramilitary s are now nailing people to fences or gates.

[@johnsometimeswrong8742]

Much respect to thst young man for embracing his Irish heritage while stating his unionist heritage. Common sense...its people like him that lead the way From John in Dublin.

[@barrylynch5906]

The " I am british and not Irish" came in during the troubles and will probably go with next generation. Most young people in the rest of Britain use english, Scotish or welsh only as their national identity.

[@johnsometimeswrong8742]

@@barrylynch5906 Jesus ..Barry lynch...most Irish name ive ever heard...☺️

[@omearacian]

It's an interesting identity question that solidified as the social fabric divided. At the turn of the 20th century there were many Irish identifying Unionists or Anglo-Irish unionists. Best example is Edward Carson, a foundational figure in Northern Ireland, signature of the covenant and founding member of the UVF, yet a fluent Irish speaker, had played GAA, and described himself as "proud to be an Irishman within the British Empire" Then on the other end of the spectrum was Douglas Hyde, from a strongly protestant background but a central leader in the Gaelic Revival, a proponent of Irish language and culture, and first president of the Irish republic. Sadly it has tended to be in working class communties where the entrenching of Them and Us as went on. Which to some way is understandable, if your struggling to get by as it is, having the potential for sweeping political/economic/social change is something to be worried about and its easy to see the enemy at the gate when in reality its just your neighbours struggling like you are but with a different sense of the way forward

[@hey12542]

​@@barrylynch5906Thats very true, most people I know if you ask them will identify as English. I myself am English (Not British) England is in Britain and England is the part of the Island im from. I have no interest of affiliation with Scotland or Wales and to say im British would mean I could be from any part of Britain. Im from the country of England and so I am English. The British identity should be removed really.

[@johnsometimeswrong8742]

@@omearacian Thanks very informative...

[@hrmfa]

I'm from Denmark and I visited Belfast and Londonderry/Derry this summer. I must say it was kind of a shock to see how far the peace process is ahead of the people living in the area. I hope that future generations can overcome the problems from the past and live in peace and harmony, and please fight on the political battlefield, not the real one. English and Irish people are some of the nicest, funny and caring people I have ever met.

[@matthewkent5212]

The whole of Ireland was part of Britain until not that long ago.

[@laoch5658]

@@matthewkent5212 the whole of Ireland was never part of Britain it was part of the UK. and the south never was part of the UK it was taken over..and the republic has been independant for over 100 years.

[@DublinMarc]

This Dubliner is very impressed with the maturity and decency expressed by both of these young people. Your elders could learn from you

[@dan-860]

One of the best and most unbiased documentaries on KZbin about Northern Ireland. Thank you!

[@ATroubledLand]

Great video - “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” - George Santayana

[@jamesthejoker7415]

A lot of unionists have zero problem calling ourselves Irish. We view ourselves as Irish and British the same way an English guy might say he’s English and British.

[@arthurgoodness7865]

But most Irish people would not consider you to be Irish, you are British.

[@jamesthejoker7415]

@@arthurgoodness7865 I couldn’t give a toss. I’m from Northern *Ireland*

[@arthurgoodness7865]

@@jamesthejoker7415 aye, British.

[@COUNCILOFFIGURES]

Yous isentifiy as british

[@laoch5658]

you're not Irish

[@PS-ru2ov]

Being from Northern Ireland watching this I would like to point out to outsiders that not every one in NI has a peace wall I live 55 miles outside of Belfast in a medium sized town that is mainly unionist but most people live along side each other peacefully, is there sectarianism? yes but its not visible and to be honest outside of Belfast most people do not care, I am from a Unionist background but i have catholic nationalist friends who i love and whilst i disagree with their aspiration to a United Ireland, i respect them as people and human beings so the line of all unionists and nationalists hate each other is a grey area their are many examples of the two communities living together in NI

[@michaeloconnor9809]

Is there sectarianism. Yes. But most people dont care. Hell of a statement sfter all the trouble. Have a think to yourself.

[@andrewk9037]

​@@michaeloconnor9809 He is Talking About Now ...

[@sharonrose5349]

Raised in NZ but I have been back twice as an adult, for 9 months approx each time. I would like to point out that this comment is right. Also, there are a lot of mistakes in the journalism. Were they amateurs? NI was never part of Britain. As the passport clearly states. Great Britain AND Northern Ireland. So...this piece is rubbish

[@jdfiend]

​@@sharonrose5349 who rules us? The British lol

[@hey12542]

Do you think theres any chance you'll all unite soon though? Then all your fellow citizens can move back from England and we can restrict movement of the Irish here. We are not asking them to stay so why are there so many here?

[@vinstyles]

I love Belfast and the folks from NI. I am from Dublin and my wife and I love travelling to Belfast as it's a beautiful place to travel to. People thee are fabulous too.

[@tonyedwards2693]

My mate left England to move back to Ireland with his parents in 1980, he was crying so much ( we were only kids ) because he didn’t want to go back. Can’t imagine how terrible it must have been during the troubles, so happy things are better now. Still think of my friend from my childhood and hope things were ok for him

[@2DNoodles]

His parents might have been forced to move back. Ive heard alot of storys of Northern Irish people living in england being force to move back because of all the racism. (I know the word racism comes with alot of baggage but i cant think of any other word to describe it) The english didnt care if you were catholic / protestant, Republican / Unionist, if you had a funny accent you were a target. I recall storys about "Go Home Paddy" spraypainted on the side of their car during the night, rocks thrown through their windows, rubish thrown at their front door etc etc etc.

[@mcsuibhne005]

Good to see the attitudes of these young people. Not forgetting their past, but looking to the future. Kudos🎉

[@brianhardrada1297]

The troubles was not their passed they were not born.

[@alaintremaine3302]

It was informative watching those two 'peace grandchildren' and their understandings of the past/hopes for the future. I would gladly sit down for a pint with either, or both!

[@colinbrown7305]

The Good Friday Agreement didn't end the troubles, it just put them on pause. The irreconcilable issue over whether there should be a united Ireland has and will never go away. Not without a return to some form of trouble. The girl who thinks that the IRA no longer exists, is absolutely kidding herself on.

[@az1758]

Nobody wants those times back. With each generation, attitudes have got to change.

[@josoapification]

I live in a nationalist rural area. Even during the troubles I lived peacefully beside my protestant neighbours and still do to this day. But my neighbours mother was a hardcore William mc crae DUP supporter. Betty was a nice lady but she lived with an element of fear . This story I will never forget. Over 30 Years ago myself and a friend were walking up The road one summer evening to go for a beer at our local bar. Betty’s house was on a bad blind corner. Someone stole our other neighbours wheelie bin and left lying in the middle of the road on a tight blind corner. It was dangerous so I stood the bin upright and set it on the grass verge. I came home from work the next day and my mother said. You missed the commotion here today. Betty didn’t know how the bin got there. She thought it was a suspect device. She called 999. Cops closed the road helicopter and the British army were flown in then the bomb squad. To defuse an empty wheelie bin. I just laughed 😂 . The road was closed for nearly 6 hours. Think of how much the logistics of this operation would have cost because some idiot stole a bin and left it in the middle of the road. I had to move as it would have caused an accident. But i couldn’t say it was me for fear of being prosecuted for doing it on purpose. Which could have happened easily. So i am responsible for indirectly causing a bomb scare because of a paranoid neighbour. That’s how it affected some elderly people.

[@enentr]

Wow, thanks for sharing this.

[@RazorMouth]

😂😂😂😂 mad story but I'm sure all so common back then.

[@hey12542]

And I lived in London England and remember being jumped out my bed when the bomb they (Not unionists) planted went off at Monument near Bank in London. I was sound asleep having cosy dreams one minute and got a very rude awakening the next. The windows were shattering, I had to make a coffee and compose myself to try and make sense of what happened. Then it was all over the news and they knew who did it 'Irish'. I remember people shunning the Irish communities after that and saying they would like them to go back to Ireland. I remember talking to an Irish neighbour and she was apologising for what happened. I told her she isn't to apologise at all, we had a chat and she was fine. What is funny is here we have so many people who are mixes Irish-English, I remember my friends dad was English and her mum was Irish, I had another friend and her mum was from Republic of Ireland and her dad was a NI unionist. I remember thinking how odd it was when he said he was British and I used to laugh thinking he was just taking the p*** as thought everyone there was just Irish citizens. Now I know why they both came to England. It's just ashame that this isn't even confined to history cause theres still tension today.

[@user-ku8qs3qj3k]

in NI i don't think that's paranoia.

[@sharonrose5349]

read back over this things comments if you think I am being angry for nothing. These are lies. He is here to confuse people. racist dick@@hey12542

[@ragnarironspear1791]

Being born here in 71 I'm a Unionist I've nationalist friends I don't have republican friends. It was never a religious war . It was a political war .

[@kingofswing8935]

Exactly.

[@Progressive-ce4vl]

Born 1969. Spent the first 20 years of my life and a lost childhood in the heart of Belfast.

[@rhosymedra6628]

"all the opportunities and support that was promised to us...where is it?" Excellent question from the young woman interviewed.

[@SimonCowie86]

As a person who has lived in Northern Ireland for37 years we have moved forward in peace away from the days of the troubles. It was not just Belfadt it was the whole country of Northern Ireland that was involved. Our only problem is in political circles mostly caused by the DUP acting like spoiled children cause they don’t get what they want politically & we have a few small groups around who think they can drag us backwards to them dark days but they all fail.

[@georgebrowne5935]

My advice to all the Children of the Six Counties is to get on with life, and respect democracy and equality. If any adult don't agree with these two most important life factors, they are telling you Lies, and leading you on the Wrong Path of Life.

[@edwardandrews4087]

The problem with that is there is no democracy in the north and there never really has been. Best learning to do without it and get along anyway

[@georgebrowne5935]

@edwardandrews4087 The Statelet was always doomed to fail, solely because there was no Equality or Democracy since its undemocratic foundation in 1922 The main Unionist Party today and its Loyal Supporters have proven to the Western World just how undemocratic the Statelet was and is. Unionists are really their own worst enemy, and can't hide their failings today in front of the Media World. Their Culture is Hatred of Ireland sadly. How was that ever going to work out??

[@sharonrose5349]

lol who are you to give advice

[@edwardandrews4087]

who are you to laugh at others for giving advice. @@sharonrose5349

[@georgebrowne5935]

@sharonrose5349 It's never about who you are in life that matters, but what you are in your Soul.

[@jimmercer3885]

Unfortunately, I was 18 when the violence started. I was working in the RVH, and the majority of my friends at work were Catholic. I was born but not practicing Protestant. We socialized together after work at the Falls Road bars and the town center bars. We all witnessed the carnage of the troubles and it had nothing to do with religion, it had to do with political beliefs and other outside bodies fueling ancient so-called troubles. Unfortunately, the young people of Ireland didn't see the violence and carnage of all the recent troubled years. It's not the hundred-year war it's the thousand-year war.

[@sharonrose5349]

yes. The world has really fallen for the religion facade. Britain set that up to minimise the importance.

[@RazorMouth]

​@@sharonrose5349the tory ilk. If they didn't exist there would never have been any trouble between the two islands.

[@sharonrose5349]

i know x @@RazorMouth

[@hey12542]

I can still remember when the bomb went off in Monumement in London, I was asleep one minute and there was this loud noise and the windows shattering the next and it jumped me out my bed. I thought it odd my dad never speaking to the irish neighbours again. Ever since all I heard was 'I wish the Irish would all go home the way they want the British in Ireland to leave'. And to this day theres still parts of English society that have anti Irish sentiment. All we here is what the Irish want, what we want is for the irish to leave our country and end movement of them in our country. Were English so why have we got half the population of a hostile country here?

[@sharonrose5349]

aw. that was very traumatic for you. :( x@@hey12542

[@blinkinyourarea244]

Peace and Prosperity will never be fully achieved until the Island of Ireland is united, as it rightfully should be.

[@jintsfan]

Careful what you wish for.

[@wboyle9721]

I've know loads of people from the North of ireland some are protestant and catholic great people I hoping for peace to continue and good communication by everyone for a better future 🙏

[@weezersthebluealbum9479]

The victim complex on “British” unionists cannot be believed, and I was born and raised in a loyalist household. Literally colonised our country, committed both cultural and actual genocide, they killed millions of us and yet the IRA kill a few thousand and unionists act as if it’s the worst thing to happen on this island. Really just links back to Brits not being able to recognise their country was responsible for the deaths of over a hundred million people from Belfast to Bengal, because it would hurt their feelings too much to actually grapple with that guilt.

[@MWBlueNoodles]

Appreciate your take on it. Agreed - it does not end in Northern Ireland. It extends to all of the British colonies.

[@raymondhaskin9449]

Speaking of colonising. When are the 20 million Irish giving America back to the natives? Irish generals like Phil Sheridan wiped the natives from that continent using scorched earth policies.

[@biggiesmalls3096]

Ya that’s what always confused me. Surely this isn’t up for debate, if Britain didn’t come here with all the planters years ago we wouldn’t have had all the violence and troubles. I don’t say that aggressively, I just don’t know how I’ve never heard unionists mention this point. It’s either not true, or you own up to being on the side of those who take over a country.

[@danielcastano6893]

brave young man... I hope he doesn't get in trouble for openly speaking about paramilitary still being active (and basically the bad guys) in the community

[@laoch5658]

the only paramilitaries active are in lyalist neighbourhoods

[@hugmc]

Went too England once for a weekend asked one off those part ps police man for directions gentleman said I am going that way walked with me. Another man asked me were was I from I said Derry Ireland he said were is that I said beside Londonderry Ireland I will let work out his next question. They wouldn’t take my bank off Ireland notes either but I had a good weekend but we Irish understand each other we are a rare breed 😊

[@edwardandrews4087]

The term peace babies seems to be use to create a generation gap to split the communities generationally. War babies are judged harshly by some peace babies, as well they should be, but to judge without understanding is wrong. We grew up in different times and acted according to those times. Friends being killed shaped are judgement and the decisions we made on both sides of the conflict.

[@enentr]

Thank you for your sharing. As Catherine said, the experiences between generations are night and day -- communicating this is essential to move forward.

[@edwardandrews4087]

I was a war baby. Born into the thick of it, in a working class interface area. My future was set by the generation before me. Blamed the middle class for starting the Troubles, asking for a vote that was no good to anyone, in what would have been a Unionist lead parliament anyway. Housing rights I could understand I would have marched for those rights, if I had of been old enough. The right to vote was a waste of time as democracy has been so easily denied this part of the U.K. In my opinion it was just jobs for the boys and the working class paid the price

[@darnellbiggumsthe9th658]

i personally find it as a “peace baby” born in in 2006 i get an awful lot of flack from my parents, teachers and even friends my age for having such a keen interest in irish history and of course the troubles, it feels as if i’m looked down upon for seeking further education about the conflict and drawing modern day comparisons with now and the times during the conflict

[@martha8517]

Absolutely. I'm a peace baby but I can understand why young kids joined paramilitaries back in the day. They targeted young working class men who had significant grievances and twisted them to be sectarian. Even today I see grown adults encouraging young kids to riot or make trouble. It's not the kids fault

[@edwardandrews4087]

If you ever went into a classroom and seen an empty seat, where one of your friends use to sit but was killed in the troubles, you would know how hard it was to stay away form violence. Those people encouraging kids to use violence today are not adults, they are just old people who never grew up. The working class got the worst of it from the start. they always do@@martha8517

[@gerarddeegan1164]

Ireland is great🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@lewisbell776]

Northern ireland is just better

[@gerarddeegan1164]

@@lewisbell776 no ye mean anywhere is better than.disfuntional northern ireland🤣

[@gerarddeegan1164]

@@lewisbell776 theirs nothing in northern ireland and it has nothing to offer theirs a lot more to see and do in the republic of ireland🤩🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@curlitlikecurley6604]

@@lewisbell776 🇬🇧 miles better not even in the same realm 😂

[@abbiejack7027]

This helped me because my ... Grandad who was 18 we called him Mick died and l just can't get over it

[@PaulMuzik]

The one fact that everyone on this Island needs to understand is....... This Is Ireland... The Island Of Ireland. You can be Catholic and you can be Protestant . You're Irish.

[@tombuddy100]

Yes, the Irish culture and music is amazing too. The same should apply to Cyprus. Yet "TRNC" and Turkey do not want to budge.

[@TC-wd8gv]

I've never heard such a strange pronunciation of the word "Protestant"

[@enentr]

Our reporter is Italian so there’s a lot of that happening around here 🥲

[@jimsweep9291]

My first love was from northern Ireland Portadown,Armagh , Sharon was her name and she would come down to Kildare every summer and where the best days of my life, I didn't know anything about religion because to me every one was the same ,well one time me and Sharon was walking around my town and she told me her father was a protestant & her mom Catholic, A long story short she told me her father was a Orange man and was in a band marching season in northern Ireland and me like a tick asked her why does your father paint himself orange and March around northern Ireland well the laugh on her face when I said that I can still see it because she was beautiful and wonderful my first love nobody has ever come close to the love I had for her, well as I got older I learned about everything about northern Ireland , just thought I would share that little story with ya guys, we are all Irish, religion means nothing to me, 🇮🇪☘️❤️❓🕊️💯

[@amysands8925]

Loverly story. my husband came from Portadown. I would love to hear that you married the love of your life. Best wishes to you.

[@NorthernIrishCitizensAlliance]

This is the Northern Ireland that is never talked about, the real one, the one that the vast number of Northern Irish citizens live in. The Northern Ireland that looks after its citizens, that cares. It's not perfect, we still have our share of religious intolerance, but it’s fast disappearing with each generation. This is the foundation stone for the Northern Irish, to build a new country for a prosperous future.

[@strangersnipz]

The chaos of the troubles divided communities so sadly I am still scared to walk through my town in a Celtic or GAA top however I feel safer now as of the peace we live in.

[@theredhairedchild944]

So insightful. It’s hard to move forward where 1 half sees itself as it’s own country within the UK or even on its own one day and the other vehemently will never see it as a country either on its own or part of the UK but as part of a island that was once Ireland and should be still. I reckon they hold a lot of resentment for south if the border and the Irish government for not in the years since the republic was created not to have fought for the inclusion of the remaining north counties.

[@arthurgoodness7865]

I don’t think people in Ireland are too worried about northerners resentment. Can’t change what happened 100+ years ago. Northerners need to work on building a better Northern Ireland and leave Ireland as it is. Unification is a republican dream, one that is unlikely to happen anytime soon.

[@gordonremsey8055]

🇮🇪☘️Erin Go Bragh☘️🇮🇪

[@johnmulligan7853]

No yet some factions still trying to create situations but id say its mostly over dugs power struggles between there own factions both sides with the mindset of the young will come change for the better united ireland

[@christopherfinlay7887]

Catherine’s absolutely delusional if she thinks there no republican paramilitaries 😂😂

[@TheLastAngryMan01]

To be fair, they are a small fraction of what they used to be.

[@colinbrown7305]

I don't know who she's trying to kid. She's either lying to the audience or lying to herself.

[@MWBlueNoodles]

There really are not to the same degree as unionist areas. I grew up in a very nationalist community and do not perscribe myself to that term, and have no allegiance to that group, but I have never heard of these groups continuing on. Maybe some wee hoods playing pretend.

[@zakmartin]

Yes, she is. The Republican movement has more members - by which I mean volunteers - now than it had at any time in the past.

[@edwardandrews4087]

why must see be lying? she could be mistaking@@colinbrown7305

[@rymic72]

The underlying grievances still remain even if it appears peaceful. I remember hearing what my parents and grandparents described life as being like before the Troubles and it sounds much as it is now. Brexit had the possibility of reigniting the violence. This can’t be forgotten.

[@richardmcdougall233]

At the time of the GFA 1998 it was estimated then at least 50 years before a semi normality would exist in Northern Ireland. In other words all or the vast majority of the people involved in the Troubles would really have to have to have died off.

[@thejiggitygiggity90]

richard 50 years from now, northern ireland as a state won't exist, in its place will be a 32 county irish unified indepedent republic

[@richardmcdougall233]

@@thejiggitygiggity90 Yes, Brexit has probably ensured that... Even mainstream Unionist especially younger ones tend to agree . There would surely have to be some kind of special status applied and agreed with Unionists/Loyalists to protect Peace but all that's for years even decades to come.

[@zakmartin]

And the children and grandchildren of those activists are even more militant than they were.

[@RandomBloke007]

​@@thejiggitygiggity90 Keep dreaming.

[@sandrabrowne2350]

Loyalist working class young people have fallen behind nationalist young people in so many ways, demographics rapidly changing throughout " Northern Ireland " Donegal further north unionism has lead their supporters up a cul de sac on protocol/ Brexit politically but not business which thives under new arrangements. The future is a united Ireland part of a progressive EU not a fixation on past wars and an empire gone with the tide of history!

[@arthurgoodness7865]

@@belfastorbustand you forgot to mention that Ireland doesn’t want or need unification. Why would Ireland want to take on the sectarian cesspit that is Northern a Ireland? Why risk all that we have achieved for unification with a region that hates our country? Unionists hate Ireland (even though all the leading Unionists have obtained their Irish passports since Brexit - hilarious). Even the Republicans hate Ireland - they want a “New Ireland”, funny feckers. Unionists and Republicans deserve each other. They need each other so that they can keep passing their hatred on to the next generation. Northern Ireland, unwanted by the British and unwanted by the Irish.

[@hey12542]

​​@@belfastorbustDont tell them, uniting is what us English want so we can offload NI and forget about it. Let Ireland and there bosses at the EU HQ look after and pay for it. Then we can ristrict the movement of all Irish citizens in England. Nationalist in Ireland are 'We're all Irish' until finances come into it and then suddenly they're not so united anymore. Irelands economy is only looking like its doing well cause its being proped up by the EU, if Ireland ever steps out of line we'll soon see that change.

[@hey12542]

​@@belfastorbustOnly the ones who have mentioned it. If its in the minds of a few then others could be thinking it too.

[@sandrabrowne2350]

@@belfastorbust Reading your response with it's hysteria many young Ulster people working in Dublin not London which I knew in the past it's a global world or are you just a parochial partionist wether it's in Tory universities or even ROI the British/ English taxpayer will support Wales or even Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 with it's substantial amount of prot independence population but not a dismissing colonial population if that's what they wish to be !? Martial bands ,old men marching young marching to oblivion what future except getting new tech jobs in Dublin what hypocrisy go to London and still be called " Paddy's " except in Oxbridge" when middle class protestant join Tories one notable exception and she is " passee" ! Leave Comments no censorship.

[@Sportspenguin77]

​@@sandrabrowne2350Ah the Celtic Tiger economy. The EU turns a blind eye to the Tax Avoidance. But we all know the GDP per Capita masks the reality. Most of the money goes out of the Country and in the long term trouble ahead I am afraid . Good luck the EU and Ireland can be mutually beneficial but respect others who don't see it that way and the fact that your own population didn't always as well as the famous referendum sagas showed who your masters are

[@Scotia6261]

What would these 2 know about the war?

[@highvolumepls]

Peace walls built by British contractors, all the way to the bank, micro borders.

[@laoch5658]

The British have done this all over the world they just started with Ireland

[@official_ashhh]

What is happening ? The chief constable police service resigned. Brexit situation is concerning

[@dirtyleeds5748]

I'm a 22 yr old young person.

[@tiarnola]

Yeah odd way in describing oneself.

[@McConnachy]

Coming from Scotland, and knowing some of the issues from Scotland, I feel like I could make friends or enemies on both side. Scottish, Gaelic speaking, Pro independence and for a Scottish Republic and Presbyterian / Church of Scotland (non practising) I don't support Rangers or Celtic, the sectarianism scared me off

[@wboyle9721]

Good post there are good protestant and good catholic bad apples of both sides

[@hotbeefymcd8162]

I don't think anyone would mind your religion but "I don't support Rangers or Celtic" is the correct answer if you get asked this question in Northern Ireland 😂

[@McConnachy]

@@wboyle9721 Thank you, that's what I think also.

[@McConnachy]

@@hotbeefymcd8162 I support a Scottish club in the 3rd tier, so nobody feels threatened 😂I have one nephew who is Celtic, the other Rangers, but they get on fine, we are not from the SW of Scotland, North East so its a bit different here, but I have seen the issues 👍

[@paulritchie5868]

Celtic and the vast majority of its supporters are not sectarian,we have always been a club open to all,it was the rangers who enforced sectarianism by its insistence of not signing catholics.I know lots of Protestants who support Celtic but no Catholics that support the rangers as we are not wanted or welcomed by the vast majority of their support,to be fair the club its self has moved on but not the fans.

[@Dublinireland5]

The north of Ireland was a member of the European Union until England the British Prime Minister had a vote and taken the north of Ireland out of the, Union the north of Ireland has lost all the benefits of a member of the European Union,, the north of Ireland is without a doubt worse off because of this.. When you look at the south of Ireland the European Union side they are doing very well.. Reunite ireland and bring the north of Ireland back into the European Union.. ❤❤❤❤

[@andrewd1788]

Want to say "the north of Ireland" any more times? 😂

[@shutup2751]

where do you live ? i live down south and house and rent prices down here are extortionist, health service in complete shambles, EU benefits politicians and their mates

[@jimbrown5552]

A Scotsman watching from mount alto Inistioge Ireland

[@paullooney2522]

Do you happen to know what the fishing conditions are like there at the moment?

[@dynamolurgan1132]

Unionists talking about Northern Ireland becoming the best version of itself and they vote for DUP? Can any of them explain how that will help?

[@ahamillphotography]

A significant number of Unionists don't vote for the DUP. The changes made to the GFA in the St Andrew's Agreement meant that they (and Sinn Fein before them) were able to veto local power here. We need reform of the institutions to stop that happening again. Those from either side or none who want local government here so we can stop the atrophying of public services, tackle NHS waiting lists, get proper funding into schools should be able to form a government. The Stormont veto stops that, stops NI from working. And you'd think the DUP of all parties would want NI to be seen to be working. I cannot get my head around the fact that they seem not to realise their tactics are more damaging to the Union.

[@user-te6jq1hz2c]

stop treating everything equally, the orange went crazy , simple as that

[@tevitahaunga4020]

Living about an hour away from Belfast I don’t see much violence 🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@erfansharifi7969]

is it safe to live in NI as a foriegner?

[@ahamillphotography]

Very much so. Over a millions tourists visit every year. The scenery is beautiful, Belfast is safe, and the people are very friendly.

[@utubeballbag]

Of course

[@Success4u247]

A different country is like calling Paris a country different from France.

[@cedricliggins7528]

We need peace walls in US

[@lllleeds]

Britain one of the most diverse countries in the world 🇬🇧

[@MiloManning05]

Unfortunately

[@zakmartin]

Northern Ireland is in the UK, but it is not in, or part of, Britain. Britain (or Great Britain) comprises England, Scotland and Wales. It does not include N.I.

[@lllleeds]

@@zakmartin NI is British mate. Cheers

[@zakmartin]

@@lllleeds How can it be British if it isn't part of Britain? NI is part of the UK. It is not part of Britain (Britain being the island comprising England, Scotland and Wales). Maybe you'd like NI to be part of Britain, but it isn't.

[@FionanOMurchadha]

The Irish question is not answered but thankfully nowadays it has the opportunity to be solved by peaceful democratic means unlike in the past.

[@charliebridges3584]

Well I lived for 10 years off the Ormeau Road in the 2000s, coming from the Republic of Ireland and I'll tell you this: got some odd reactions to my accent and the occasional piss-take but basically, it was fine. There was a excellent Indian takeaway on the Ormeau Road and a very good vegetable shop. Its been years since I've been back but I remember a very good old-fashioned eatery that served a superb fry-up that I enjoyed on occasion: sausages, black pudding, fried bread, eggs, bacon and toast. I'm not really sure what these young people are moaning about. I hear that the Ormeau Road is full of fancy coffee-shops now and Belfast is definitely a lot safer than parts of Dublin at night on the weekends, completely overrun now with people from all parts of the world.

[@Azog150]

You've made a fundamental mistake at the start of the video in explaining the origins of the Troubles. You have said "between the Irish and the English". Northern Irish Unionists consider themselves "British", not "English", and want to stay part of the "British" state. The majority of Northern Irish Protestant Unionists are descended from Scottish settlers, not English. "English" and "British" are not interchangable words.

[@jamesbarbour8400]

Absolutely correct. The so called 'Ulster Plantation' was a mixture of English and Scottish people, put there to suppress the indigenous population in what is now Northern Ireland. A bit of a land grab to be honest. As an aside, the well known historical event, known as the potato famine, didn't just have the consequences it did, due to the failure of the potato crop. I'm led to believe that cereal crops were also grown but were given to English Lords etc, to keep them fed. The landlords in Ireland didn't want to fall foul of their British 'masters' in regard to land ownership, and so sent most of their harvest to the Mainland, at the expense of the local population, who went without. One can see why so many people upped sticks and relocated to the USA. The British, throughout History, have an awful lot to answer for. And I say that as an Ulster Scot, (Protestant obviously). Many years of living on the Mainland have enabled me to have a more objective view of Northern and Southern Irish History. Had several Catholic friends growing up, and no different to me, apart from the religion they followed. We're all human beings at the end of the day. I'm pretty much Athiest, as I believe all religions are hugely divisive in nature.

[@utubeballbag]

Both of these people werent even born during the troubles. You would need to speak to people twice their age to know whats changed Saying that, both of these young people are dignified and reasonable and im proud to call them fellow irish men.

[@enentr]

Agreed, and that's what we wanted: to have the perspective on young people, born in the aftermath of the troubles, who have a different view of what NI is today!

[@utubeballbag]

@@enentr good work guys. Would be great to see how each of the older generations each view the troubles through the lens of the present. Each group i suspect have a different view 80 60 40 20. Anyway youve gained a subscriber

[@kingofswing8935]

Never, Never, never, Never!

[@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf]

I`m a Republican and i`m Australian mate

[@xragdoll5662]

“What would you like the north to know about ROI?” “IT’S NOT CALLED THE SOUTH!!!”

[@mcnally3568]

Wasnt this man done for rioting a year ago

[@hammer9547]

Honestly every single young person within the Republican community must be Sinn Fein trained. Does the IRA or paramilitaries exist in your community? Nope, disbanded. Yet police, intelligence etc all state the Ira army council runs Sinn Fein lol

[@icemanire5467]

As an old skool Irish Republican, that hates Sinn Fein with a passion, that is bollox.

[@tonyclifton265]

the northern irish accent is easier to understand than western scottish so why dont they have more bank call centres there than in bloody glasgow?

[@WheelieMacBin]

Our payroll call centre is in Belfast, it can be a challenge 🙂

[@Dan-eq6po]

Posh accent

[@jintsfan]

Britain being a Net Contributor to the EU, to the tune of some £12 BILLION per year clearly means “funded by the EU” ACTUALLY means “funded by the British Taxpayer. As usual.

[@gourkernow5694]

British colonialism in its many forms and guises created so many lasting problems and damaged or destroyed so many cultures, a legacy that endures to this day and beyond.

[@tonybee2684]

Get over it move on, England was invaded by the Romans, Norman's, Vikings, French and Dutch. Don't hear the English whining like 🐱

[@gourkernow5694]

@@tonybee2684 yep the English are the biggest whingers in the world mate.

[@DidYaServe]

NI needs to get out of the Tory/Starmer UK.

[@matthewkent5212]

When will they give people in northern ireland a vote on weather to join the rest of ireland or remaine part of the UK?

[@robocopleextraordinaire4148]

When will they tell the people of Northern Island that there is a living world outside...

[@arthurgoodness7865]

Unlikely to happen anytime soon. Northern Ireland is not mature enough to deal with such an important issue. The political representatives remain entrenched and have no intention of ever meeting the other side halfway and discuss what is best for Northern Ireland. Brexit has shown us this. The legacy of the troubles is another issue that needs resolving before Northern Ireland can move forward. A border poll would be too divisive. Loyalists would not accept it and the possibility of violence would be very real. But as an Irish man I would vote against unification. There are no benefits for Ireland, only financial implications and increased security issues. A border poll in Northern Ireland and a Referendum in Ireland could set this island back decades. A United Ireland is neither necessary or inevitable. Just let sleeping dogs be.

[@matthewkent5212]

@@arthurgoodness7865 Northern Ireland is better off as part of the UK. The Republic of Ireland is almost a vassal state of the UK anyway.

[@arthurgoodness7865]

@@matthewkent5212😂😂😂 if that’s what you think of Ireland, then that doesn’t bother me. Just so long as Northern Ireland remains within the United Kingdom then I am happy. If it was somehow possible to sever that infected part of our island and float it over to England or Scotland, then I would be more than happy with that too. 👍

[@CheGuevara110100]

@@arthurgoodness7865 You're about as Irish as king kong

[@Success4u247]

The six countries of Northern Ireland isn’t a Country separated from The Republic of Ireland. It’s a dominion of the old british empire. Please get your facts right.

[@TeddyWillson-nb2bx]

Constitutional country within the UK

[@Success4u247]

@@TeddyWillson-nb2bx FYI the uk doesn’t have a constitution. Six countries is always been part of Ireland and nothing will ever change that. Just like in woke politics a man is a man and a woman is always a woman. The the unionists can identify as British, but you lot will always be IRISH born in the six countries of Northern Ireland. End of .

[@TeddyWillson-nb2bx]

@@Success4u247 that's not what the world map says

[@gawa1976]

Ira doesnt exsist she said thats the funniest thing ive heard in a while

[@eoin3853]

The troubles only ever seem to happen in Belfast in these documentaries. 🙄

[@enentr]

Hi Eoin, everything that was discussed regards the country as a whole - we filmed in Belfast because it’s the most neutral ground for discussion, and because the heritage is still visible, more so than elsewhere.

[@krugerfuchs]

I'm a West brit

[@nelvaldo.4850]

Working class people will never be allowed to have a education they deserve. The powers will never allow it. If it did happen the ordinary jo will be free .

[@krugerfuchs]

I'm from county meath hello belfast

[@patrickkeaveney9472]

Ask them anonymously

[@robbiewright9145]

I'm an Ulster Loyalist, I'm British Irish, I'm an Irish Unionist 🇬🇧☘️

[@arthurgoodness7865]

You are a Northern Ireland loyalist, not an Ulster loyalist. Ulster is an Irish Province. Northern Ireland is not Ulster and Ulster is not Northern Ireland, never was and never will be. In the eyes of most normal thinking people, a loyalist is a terrorist. Did these terrorists represent the people living in Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan? Did any of the Unionist politicians represent the people living in Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan? Like I said, you are a Northern Ireland loyalist, not an Ulster loyalist. As for being an Irish Unionist, is that not a paradox? What is a Unionist? You want to preserve the Union between Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, there is nothing Irish about that. You may be “Irish” due to the fact that you may have been born on the island of Ireland. But no one considers you to be Irish, you are British.

[@robbiewright9145]

@@arthurgoodness7865 Sorry mo chara, David Ervine was wrong then ?

[@arthurgoodness7865]

@@robbiewright9145 I am not sure what David Ervine said, but he was a Northern Ireland loyalist and a convicted terrorist. If you give that description and ask anyone in Ireland was Mr Ervine Irish or British, I would expect that a significant majority would say that he was British. I had a lot of respect for Mr Ervine for his input into the Belfast Agreement. But I never considered him to be Irish, just as I would never consider any Unionist to Irish. Unionists are British by choice. They are not forced into making that choice. Yes, Unionists can hold Irish passports and many have applied for and received shiny new passports since the Brexit debacle. But that will never make them Irish. Loyalists have crossed the border and brutally murdered innocent men, women and children in this country. That will never be forgotten nor will it ever be forgiven. Terrorism committed in this country by Northern Ireland loyalists. You want to call yourself British-Irish and an Irish Unionist, then that is your right and no one can stop you. But don’t be surprised when Irish people challenge that because in my eyes you are not Irish and will never be considered to be Irish.

[@ambrosecoyle8482]

Haven’t been there in 47 years don’t message it🤘

[@whitetroutchannel]

very nice, what price was paid? no nothing and an enviromental mess, remember holding hands this winter when weve no electric and the toilets are over flowing in our houses, DEVOLUTION WAS A MESS

[@angusmckenzie9622]

If all the Peace Babies have to worry about is that moniker, they are blessed, no bombs in bars or squaddies toting guns around the streets. In my part of the World, sectarianism thrived as a boy growing up but has disappeared now. My old mates, from both sides, bring up the old sectarian taunts then we all laugh. I hope the folk in NI get to be something like that.

[@chrisklitou7573]

Northern Ireland isn't a country it's a Province

[@amazinggermany8431]

Maybe as a German European I don't have the necessary background, but the name Northern Ireland already says where the country belongs.

[@Bernaren60]

In the UK. Otherwise it would be the north of Ireland.

[@amazinggermany8431]

Blödsinn.@@Bernaren60

[@fyrdman2185]

@@amazinggermany8431 Just think of it as if Prussia or Silesia still existed and it was a contest on whether it belonged to the Germans or Poles then the situation in Northern Ireland will start to make sense to you.

[@amazinggermany8431]

Interesting, but I don't think you can compare them. There was the First World War, the Second World War, many migrations of peoples in the centuries before... There was one conquest by the English on the Irish island, right?

[@fyrdman2185]

@@amazinggermany8431 Yes just like there was a German conquest on Slavic lands, there's a reason why there was always a significant Polish population in Silesia, even after WW1 and a conflict also arose there during the interwar period akin to the Troubles in NI with the Freikorps being involved. It's the same thing with Northern Ireland, centuries ago after the conquest of Ireland the King sent Scottish and English settlers in what is now Northern Ireland who would have a strong British identity and that's why the conflict persists till today.

[@harrywebbwebb346]

A sad situation! Coming from Dublin i would like to see Ireland a united country!

[@ButcheryTapes]

It’s not Northern Ireland anymore, it’s Northern Romania.

[@zakmartin]

Is Belfast over its Troubles? No, is the answer. The very fact that we are introduced in this video to a Unionist and a Republican is proof that there are still two sides and two distinct cultures. And despite all the fudging and creative ambiguity that allowed both sides to declare victory over the Belfast Agreement, the fact remains that six of the nine counties in Ulster are still under British occupation.

[@Mike-ew8nj]

So unionists don't have rights is what you're getting at. Sounds like you are part of the problem.

[@zakmartin]

@@Mike-ew8nj Of course Unionists have rights. I never suggested otherwise.

[@bullsonparade-kv7cc]

​@@Mike-ew8nj you clearly read what you wanted to hear. They never said that once

[@heronblue3577]

The battle is over the English won along time ago.

[@Dave-yv7tg]

Belfist

[@simonmc78]

its not a country thou

[@johnnyjumpup859]

The Protestant unionists should create a city in England and move there... problem solved...

[@MiloManning05]

They’re descended from Scot’s

[@bernarddorrian973]

Why don't we accept that we are all rowing the same boat? Working men with working class families fought and died. Religion killed most. Ignorance killed all !!

[@bernarddorrian973]

@peadarrock12 How can you dismiss religion from "ethno religious communities ". I don't understand your logic?? Are you from a different planet? The Irish nation was divided on religious grounds. North Eastern protestants , British puppets and Defenders of the British Imperial butchers. How is that working out?

[@barryb90]

Literally all the founders of Irish Republicanism were protestants as well as some of their greatest heroes, hence the Orange in the flag. Was there sectarianism? Yes. The Orange Order and Loyalists definitely encouraged hatred against Catholics, but the conflict is mainly about culture and identity

[@sharonrose5349]

exactly@@barryb90

[@sharonrose5349]

you are ignorant if you believe it is about religion. All classes fought and died. In fact the IRA was basically set up by wealthy Protestants, or their forefathers were. :) peace

[@edwardandrews4087]

some are rowing the boat forward and some are rowing it backward. No wonder it is sinking

[@jgg59]

We have to go back to the beginning of the statelet NI. Catholics were denied the right to vote. Where there were Catholics that could vote it was gerrymandered. and there was job and housing discrimination. 40 years of being a second class citizen is what triggered it. Yes, there was republicanism in unionism, but we had to go back to what happen when the state was created. I think one of the biggest fears is the protestants think if there’s a United Airlines and they will be treated as badly as the Catholics were. Most people in the republic cultural Catholicism, the Catholic Church, think God has lost its hold on the republic. The republic is a thriving democratic state which has issues

[@shutup2751]

well said mate, thankfully british and church control is gone down south now we just have brussels control

[@jgg59]

@@shutup2751 circumstances, very different with Brussels. Ireland still controls the borders and her affairs. FF & FG need to step aside.

[@shutup2751]

@@jgg59 look how much we were bailed out by the IMF, a country in that much debt is not in control of anything

[@LeonVEKH]

​@@shutup2751The IMF bailed out both national and international institutions, mainly international which the Irish government said they were not going to bail them out as they have their own institutions to sort out which led the IMF consolidating half of the bailouts which happened to land in Ireland. The IMF bailed out foreign institutions inside Ireland that wrote bad mortgages and bad monetary policy, not Ireland or its people. The bailouts that Ireland did get were paid back well before it's due date well ahead of any other country that also received bailouts. The UK to this day has not fully recovered from the financial crash, why? Bad policy, austerity measures and quantitative easing, which is some of the reasons as to why the GB economy is not doing as good as it could.

[@carpoman]

Don't worry. United Airlines will treat everyone just as badly.

[@biffgate-ii7od]

そうかね？紛争何て知らない新しい君たちが未来を築く頼むよ

[@robertscahill7987]

If your a unionist your not irish

[@TheMan-np3on]

You both know what your told , as for growing up in the troubles, you know nothing and seen nothing To young

[@mikewingert5521]

Ask the people in Israel…😂😂😂

[@raymondhaskin9449]

This poor lad said he’s irish. A truer name for him is an Ulster-Scot. His people are descendants from English and Scots border families. These are British people. The same people who settled Appalachia and conquered the American frontier. The Irish are descended from the Gaels. Totally different tribes with very different stories.

[@murpho999]

So following your logic, are the descendants of the Ulster Scots who settled Appalachia and conquered the American frontier also Ulster Scots and therefore British people? Did they claim that their lands should be part of UK and not America ? I don’t think so. They’re all now Americans and they are not claiming that they are British. They may be proud of their heritage but that’s no different to other ethnic groups in the US. In Northern Ireland however, the unionists are claiming the rights to remain British from an historical event that happened over 200 years before the Ulster Scots conquered the American frontier. They need to let it go, move on and do the right thing. They need to accept they they were born in Ireland and are Irish. They have more in common with the people of Ireland than they realise. They go to Britain and the real British hear their accents and label them Irish. The British know very little and understand less about their backgrounds, history and current day situation and they are not really interested either. It’s not much better at British government level and that’s why Northern Ireland is a stagnant economic backwater depending on Westminster subsidies whilst the rest of Ireland’s economy is thriving and dynamic. In fact the unionists really have much less in common with the British people than they will actually admit. It’s just fear and ignorance that keeps them in denial and clinging to the past. The mentality is slowly starting to change and it will inevitably lead to the realisation that a better future lies within a new United Ireland. One they voluntarily join, will have a larger voice and influence in. They can still keep their traditions but politically, economically and socially they would be much better off in a new Ireland, free of the shackles of a bitter history and looking to the future not the past.

[@raymondhaskin9449]

@@murpho999 Yes, the people who settled Appalachia were British. That’s why they named their areas, like “Cumberland Gap, after places in Britain. You could quite easily join Americans, Brits and Australians together into one nation. Because they all share the same British heritage and language.

[@curlitlikecurley6604]

@@raymondhaskin9449RIP your education

[@jamiemohan2049]

Tbh there was a lot more inter marriages between the groups than people wanna admit. One of his nannys could be a catholic irish person. My last name is a scottish one and so i presume my paternal family were originally ulster scots as my name is a common protestant name up north. But most of my ancestors are irish Catholics and I'm irish catholic too.

[@robocopleextraordinaire4148]

Northern Ireland - at the bottom of my bucket list of countries to visit. They have not learned from the past, all they do and say are politically motivated, based on their family and heritage.

[@uuw_]

theres nothing to do here anyway as well, as much as id like to say visit here and spend your money, there aint nothin to do here lol

[@TheShepTV]

I always laugh when I hear the North described as a country

[@killabollyjoxford344]

Why?

[@edwardandrews4087]

Because it has never acted as one country perhaps

[@sharonrose5349]

because it isn't and that is not his personal view...look it up@@killabollyjoxford344

[@sharonrose5349]

no, because it never was. not even technically @@edwardandrews4087

[@pfc4156]

Wether you like it or not it is a country. That's just a fact

[@darrylmagee4026]

You’re born on the island of Ireland you’re Irish you’re a British occupation not by choice