Peace lines
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Peace line in west Belfast. |
The
Peace Lines are a series of
separation barriers ranging in length from a few hundred yards to over three miles, separating
Protestant and
Catholic neighbourhoods in
Belfast,
Londonderry/Derry and elsewhere in
Northern Ireland. The stated purpose of the barriers is to minimize intercommunal
sectarian violence between Protestants and Catholics.
The barriers themselves consist of iron, brick, and steel walls up to 25 feet high, topped with metal netting. They have gates in them manned by
police, which allow passage by day, and which are closed at night.
The first barriers were constructed in early 1970s, following the outbreak of "
The Troubles". Originally few in number, they have multiplied over the years, from 18 in the early 1990's to 40 today; in total they stretch over 13 miles. Most are located in
Belfast.
In recent years they have become locations for tourism.
Black Taxis now take groups of tourists around Belfast's Peace Lines, trouble spots and famous
murals.
The most prominent barriers in the past few years separates the mainly Catholic
Short Strand and the mainly Protestant
Cluan Place areas of
East Belfast, and also the predominantly nationalist
Falls Road and loyalist
Shankill Road areas in
West Belfast.
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Separation barrier*
Peace Lines*
Guardian - Peace Lines in Belfast increase segregation*
Ethnic Interface in North Belfast*
Belfast's Peacelines: An Analysis of Urban Borders, Design and Social Space in a Divided City
