Derry

On Saturday, our group visited Derry/Londonderry, the second biggest city in the North of Ireland. Upon arriving, the first thing we noticed was the large stone wall which separated the Protestant “Cliffside” and the Catholic “Bogside.” Large cannons were still positioned alongside the wall pointed down upon the buildings below. As we walked along the wall, we noticed large fences that still protect the wall and churches from attack. Looking down below at the Bogside, we could see the murals painted upon the sides of the buildings depicting the struggle of the community. Although the city was beautiful, the murals were an unsettling reminder of the violent history and struggle the people have endured. The monuments to political prisoners and the victims of Bloody Sunday were particularly powerful. On January 30, 1972, 13 unarmed civilans were killed during a civil rights march on the Bogside area. It was a surreal experience being in the same area of this tragedy and passing along corners once controlled by the IRA. Although the peace process has moved along since then, there are still reminders that there is still progress to be made.