Inside Belfast's Infamous Troubled Neighbourhoods

I have felt compelled to visit Belfast as I learn more about The Troubles, an ethno-nationalist conflict that was raged in Northern Ireland between the late 1960’s and 1998. I felt ignorant, because I was more educated about conflicts further afield in the world yet I understood relatively little of this situation on my doorstep. This is not a video that suggests any level of expertise on my behalf. It is simply a documentation of my visit to Belfast and the people I met. Those within neighbourhoods on both the Catholic and Protestant sides of the dividing peace walls were incredibly friendly and welcoming to me, despite the horrific past events. Join me as I learn from the locals of Belfast themselves about the troubles, and find out what life is like in these areas today in 2024.

#belfast #northernireland #thetroubles #conflict #religion #catholic #protestant #britain

[chrismate]

I'm 31, born and raised in Belfast. My da is 68 and rarely talks about his experiences throughout. Thank you for going out of your way for this video and for making it respectful and also tasteful.

[Ambofrisk]

That bloke just described the troubles more clearly than any documentary ive even seen. Thank you

[albin]

I'm Scottish.
When I first went to Northern Ireland I didn't know what to expect.
The people are wonderful.
Belfast is amazing.
Too many positives to list.

[MZophiel]

I am a Belfast man and have to say this is a pretty good representation of our city. One point I would make though. I think it's an over-simplification to boil the whole thing down to religion. Yes, it is an important part of the identity of much of the people on both sides, but by no means the only part.

Many Protestants were high profile figures on the Irish nationalist/revolutionary side. Robert Emmett, Henry Joy McCracken, Theobald Wolfe Tone to name a few were leading figures. Douglas Hyde founded the Gaelic League for the advancement of Irish language and culture was also the first President of Ireland. All Protestants. The United Irishmen were formed with twin goals of severing the link with Britain and of eradicating sectarian divisions between Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter.

In many ways it was the outbreak of the Troubles that actually served to cement people in the categories they were in, rather than just the category determining the "side". It caused people to retreat into their insular communities much more primarily through fear. My da was in Bombay Street the night it was burned and I never tire of learning our history from him. I do his head in!

Like I say, I enjoyed the film and it was very good, just thought I'd add a bit of context to it, it isn't simply Catholic v Protestant!

[ladysilvermoon]

I'm an American who has been living on and off in West Belfast for the last 2 years because my husband, who is Pakistani is attending school in Belfast. I have found everyone in Belfast to be friendly but I have found that the Wonderful people in the Catholic community to be super accepting and hospitable to everyone from every culture and religion. It's been a great pleasure to be part of their community.

[exlibrisross]

Thank you from a survivor of The Troubles, in my 60's & I can assure you that an entire generation has been left with PTSD, myself included. Blessings from Belfast.

[PeterPsn-zo]

Belfast is a great city full of lovely, gentle, kind warm people, I would love to see the walls come down before I die, that would be amazing.

[MULV]

I enjoyed Belfast and the Giant's Causeway. I also enjoy Dublin. Irish are top people in general. Being born in Liverpool, we tend to get on well with the Irish as most of us come from Ireland originally.

[rickyprice]

My son lives just outside Belfast and I've been visiting there twice a year for the last 6 years and the city is amazing and the people I love. From watching old videos of Belfast and the troubles it's a completely different place. I'm not saying there's no issues at all but as a visitor ive never seen any. Top place top people. What i will say is it takes generations to make a difference

[cristionacristiona]

Well done. Your video brought back so many memories of growing up with the troubles in the 70's and 80's... Thank God we're in a much better place now.

[yourbeautybaby]

I visited Belfast and drove through Northern Ireland in July 2022. We took a black taxi tour and we were with a man who once fought for the IRA. It was truly eye opening and horrible at the same time, seeing and hearing all his stories. He took us to the memorial wall and showed us photos of folks he once knew and loved. Told us their stories and what happened to them. Driving through the countryside you know what each town is immediately based on the flags and signs, it looks surreal. Belfast is a haunting city, you can see the destruction on each corner. However, the people were so wonderful. I hope to visit one day again.

[ballotellitubbie]

Wendall i am from catholic west belfast i watch your videos all the time on YouTube as it allows me to see parts of the UK and more that ive never heard off, great video keep up the good content👍

[MJ.]

I've learned more about the troubles from this short video than from anywhere else. Good to see you go to places with an open mind and don't get influenced beforehand by what others have said. Keep it up, great work.

[cryptoqueenie]

My dad is from belfast and i can tell you he was several effected by the troubles in belfast and he 85 this year . He left in 68 and never went back . To this day he still talks about what he saw as a doctor in the emergency room. As does my mum who was a nurse.

[Bobby]

Thank you Wendell for coming to my city. I’m from Protestant community. We are a friendly city. Some of the nicest people in the world live here. Take care and God bless. 🙏🙏🙏

[chili_phil]

Wendall, you really knocked it out the park with this one. Really enjoyed it. What a channel this is mate! Bostin!

[michaeljordan]

*Fantastic documentary!! I was born on the Ormeau road in 1968, to a catholic Father and protestant Mother. They eloped to England to get married as that kind of marriage was taboo back in the early 1950's. We moved to the republic when I was around 3 after a failed assassination attempt on my Father's life. But we went back to Belfast regularly, almost every weekend, as my Father's business was there until he finally folded it up. I've been to both sides of both communities, had catholic and protestant Grandparent's, Aunt's, Uncle's, cousins who I loved dearly. The troubles in the north of Ireland were such a terrible tragedy and period in history of our island, because northern Irish people are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. I'd love to meet, shake hands and have a pint with the taxi man. He seems like a great guy. When he shared what his Father told him, "don't let hatred have a home in your heart", it hit me to the core. I left home for the U.S in 1989 and it's on my bucket list to go home for a holiday. Maybe I'll get that chance to buy him a pint and have some banter and craic one day. God bless and thanks for the video*

[Youtpremium-kc]

Welshman here, born in the early 90s.
Recently been watching and learning all about the History of Ireland and you summed it up perfectly in the first 5 mins of the video on how we learned more about conflicts from much further overseas when we had these atrocities that our very own neighbours were living through. This was a fantasticly put together video. Even from what I have watched (mainly BBC made stuff) this was extremely eye opening and a much more honest approach. Many thanks for educating us.

[TravellingTorunn]

Great and informative video. And the taxi driver was really a find. It is horrible that the conflict is still going on. Thank you for enlightening us 😊

[RandallSlick]

Beautifully done, my friend. You're coming to be a national treasure.