The real Derry girls and the peace walls that divide their city

Northern Ireland still has more than 100 'peace walls' separating Catholic and Protestant communities, 25 years after the Good Friday agreement ended the Troubles.

The barriers were meant to be taken down this year. But despite an enduring peace, many residents are not ready for their removal. As the cost of living crisis brings increased strain to communities in Derry, the Guardian spends time with Kyra and Rachel, two young peace builders doing very delicate work to bridge the divide between the two groups. Ultimately, they hope to gain their consent to reduce or remove the walls

The peace barrier initiative is supported by the International Fund for Ireland.

The Guardian on YouTube: 

#Derry #Londonderry #Protestants #Catholics #TheTroubles

[Hongaars]

The ironies of “the peace wall”. Great initiative ladies. The world needs more women like you.

[UnorganisedChaos]

I’m not from Northern Ireland but I would say it has possibly one of the most interesting and fascinatingly saddest stories in modern history. Some of the fairest people and most integral people in the world on BOTH sides of the fence.

[vimokkha]

Born and raised in Derry but haven't lived there for decades. Kudos to The Guardian for this great documentary and insight into where things are at. Thoughts are with the people of the Fountain and the Bog-side and all those working for reconciliation and a better future. It isn't always easy to find the common humanity when the old narratives, perpetuated by darker forces, continue to persist. Hopefully, the light will prevail so that the suffering may have a chance to abate. Such a noble thing would be for the benefit of the world in the broadest sense.

[theredhairedchild]

The youth doing their best to bring Derry together 🙌

[Marie]

Not many kids around the UK know about the conflict in Northern Ireland, to think it not taught in schoos and it happened untiI the 1990s. I hope something is done, and hope this is the beginning.

[BagenB]

As derry girls never goes into the history, ita really great to learn more about this topic. its overlooked entirely by the english curriculum

[kmallory]

"Two different flavors of same religion" Katya from Derry Girls

[TheLastAngryMan]

Fair play to Kyra and Rachel, a very worthy project they've created to bring people together.

[BrookieWookieBee]

Im in America and the same age as the characters and was in high school in the 90s. I remember a lot of the events of The Troubles and honestly thought everything was settled. I had no idea there are still issues. These women are doing great work trying to resolve what they can.

[matildatillberg]

I love seeing the real people in places depicted on the screen. They’re endlessly more fascinating and something way more to connect to than any thought up character could ever be.

[SeaninoEaghra]

As kids, we played in a wooded area near the Foyle road. Our jungle... I did this myself. This brought back some memories I can tell you

[KanalIndonesia]

This still happening now is mindblowing

[kjam]

I am a Gen X'r, so I grew up in the States watching news clips about the bombings. It was not until I went to Belfast a couple of weeks ago that I truly began to understand about the conflict, how close in the neighborhoods are in Northern Ireland and the immense toll of the violence. Where can I donate to the peace & reconciliation efforts highlighted in this documentary?

[markbeecroft-stretton]

I hadn't appreciated that "Peace Walls" existed outside of Belfast - aka a segregation we British imposed on the people in the North as part of a wider 800 year occupation. I just hope we see a peaceful reunification of the island of Ireland in my lifetime as the north has been largely ignored by Westminster, Dublin AND Stormont.

[theredhairedchild]

I’d love to see a follow up to this @the guardian. To know how the men got on

[cm]

Organized religion and the need to push those beliefs on others has been the downfall of all mankind.

[asiabrew]

I was fortunate enough to visit Derry last year and was made aware by a resident that part of the issue may lie in the fact that only 11% of the schools are integrated. Its one thing to be on the outside of an issue trying to change it and people's minds, from there, its another thing when it grows from within from each successive generation because of people changing their minds and old prejudices fall away from mundane daily interactions with "the other".

[sbor]

Fantastic community work they are doing in Derry. Good luck to you all.

[SoaringWings]

I hope that both communities are able to come to terms with the effects of british settler-colonialism in northern ireland and are able to eventually take down the peace walls and the border itself, so that settler and indigenous can live together in a better decolonized future.

[jennaolbermann]

I’m an American and have some memory of hearing about the troubles in Northern Ireland as a child. I have watched Derry Girls on Britbox and was very impressed by this look at Derry.