Free Derry Tours

These “dark tourism” ads for Derry walking tours and taxi tours feature the hunger strikers memorial and the Petrol Bomber mural. “Explore the past, present & what the future holds for Ireland’s oldest city “, “Authentic tours of the Bogside delivered by those who helped shape it”.

Glenfada Park, Derry

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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Tour The Murals

Murals are featured as part of an invitation to explore/taiscéal and take a tour/turas of west Belfast, on the office of Fáılte Feırste Thıar (in its second location: moved from 221 Falls Road to 243 Falls Road – and later again to 217 Falls Road). This BBC article describes a 1999 Fáılte map to help tourists get around.

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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Gateway To West Belfast

The power station below Divis tower, rather than the so-called International Wall a little further up the road, is becoming the starting point for (republican) west Belfast. Visitors from around the world are greeted in a variety of languages. The board is sponsored by Gort Na Móna Historical Society. Above it is a Fáılte Feırste Thıar [Welcome To West Belfast] tarp: “Promoting west Belfast tourism”.

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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Coıste Political Tours

“Over 40 years ago, the presence of this flag on this street unleashed a vicious campaign of discrimination and violence against this community lasting decades … 45 years on this flag can flow freely from every corner… all flags are welcome on this road and so are you … fáılte go dtí west Belfast .” The incident referred to is the “Tricolour Riots” of the 1964 Westminster election campaign, in which the IRA’s Billy McMillen (shown in the middle) stood for office. Armed police raided his Divis Street headquarters and removed a Tricolour in the window. An Phoblacht has an account of the election and events. Here is news video from 1964 of charges subsequently brought against 70 people. The US Stars & Stripes is included prominently in the array of flags, but the Union Flag is absent. Coıste’s website is now coiste.ie rather than .com.

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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The One Stop Ulster Shop

Fulfilling all your marching band and Orange Order needs: the One Stop Ulster Shop in its former location half-way down Sandy Row (before becoming Living Tradition and then Sandy Row Marching Band Supplies). The Royal Banner of Scotland is included alongside St Andrew’s Saltire. Bands included along the awning for the shutters are Clydevalley Volunteers Glasgow, Millar Memorial Belfast, Ballynahinch Young Loyalists, MYC Newtownards, Skeogh Flute Band, ? Liverpool, Clydevalley Volunteers Larne, Crumlin Young Loyalists, Steeple Defenders Antrim, Ballee Blues And Royals, Pride of the Shore North Belfast, Ballysillan Volunteers, Pride of Shankill, Somme Volunteers Flute Band, Glenhugh Flute Band Ahoghill, Bridgeton Loyalists, Lower Ards Volunteers, Rising Sons East Belfast, Rising Sons Of The Somme Carrickfergus.

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Copyright © 2009 Peter Moloney
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