Day 11 - Troubles & Truce

Delicious breakfast at our hotel in Galway this morning. We head north through Sligo to Donegal. We pass by amazing scenery of hills and cliffs and mountain streams.
Peter said if we were interested, he'd phone ahead and say we would be in Donegal to see the weaving demonstration and there'd be complimentary Irish coffee. So we are happily guided to the Irish Shop with the Donegal tweeds. The weaving demonstration is interesting with a young weaver who has spent several years in training already. I am keen to buy a sweater or coat and try a few on. In the end, I purchase a lovely soft blue-grey sweater for $201 so far, and more later if they get to include the vat tax! I need to take forms to the last European airport.
In Londonderry we walk along the 17th century walls with our Local Guide, Rohan, and see the streets and murals of the Bogside. Known as the People's Gallery, the murals show the history of what

they locally call 'The Troubles'.
Rohan surprises us by being half Chinese and yet being full Irish legally. He is a great guide who takes us on a walking tour of Derry, in pouring rain, and we learn much about the plantations of people from England and Scotland in the 1600's. The land grab of Northern Ireland by the English was intense at this time, and the flight of the Irish Earls, particularly the O'Neills and O'Donnells, the Earls of Ulster, to Spain didn't help the situation at all. They left a power vacuum for the English to step into.
Rohan says that the war is over however the scars run deep. He says that on both sides, Catholics and Protestant Loyalists, close family members, fathers and brothers have been murdered, and to this day very few have been brought to justice. Even young children on their way to school were caught up in the fighting and killed by gunfire.
In Derry, a number of large signboards depict the past conflict. On the Free Derry signboard is an additional 'We have the rainbow' that the Gay Rights activists have put up.
Rohan says he sends his three young children to the Anglican school, even though the family is Catholic. He believes this is part of the peace process, making sure that the children learn to mix freely and peacefully with everyone. He also tells us that every day in the local newspapers, there are issues to be read about which cause tensions,
but as long as it can just be debated and not fought out,

then this is progress for Northern Ireland.
We find a great little hotel where we can rest our feet and order fish and chips and a Guiness for Tony. We need this break.
In the afternoon we walk upon the Peace Bridge bridging both sides of the river in Londonderry. It is an experience we appreciate as we are hearing first hand of the conflict there.
Tony and I decide not to attend tonight's dinner and show and so we relax in our room, then go down to the Library Bar and have a beer and sparkling. We order toasted sandwiches - smoked salmon and cream cheese - and they come with salad and slaw. So nicely presented. And our barman is so welcoming and friendly and can't seem to do enough for us. My gf needs are handled with ease. It is a sad and confronting day but ends with a lovely evening in Derry.