Cuimhnigh I Gconai
How Irish Nationalists Safeguard Their Catholic Heritage
eBelfast is a divided city, as Nationalist and Loyalist neighborhoods are separated by peace lines. The territorial conflict began in the 1960s, when Nationalists became inspired by the American Civil Rights Movement, igniting a period known as the Troubles. From 1969 to 1998, Protestants and Catholics ruthlessly fought each other. Most of the victims were innocent civilians. Loyalists were Protestants who were faithful to the United Kingdom, and Nationalists were Catholics who supported a united Ireland.
Murals and gardens are examples of visual communication and a means of preserving Nationalists’ strong social identity in this area, as they are adorned with Celtic designs, the tricolor flag, and phrases from the Irish language. Nationalists preserve their strong social identity through art , and what it means to be Irish is represented by the community’s murals. The area upholds the notion that being Irish is possibly one that is an ethno-religious identity. These murals, gardens, a boundary, and a motorway depict the Nationalists’ crusade to sustain their Irish heritage and to separate themselves from Loyalists.
Peace lines can include gates and walls. In West Belfast, a motorway is the barrier between the Nationalist side and Center City, almost resembling a moat. The police and army manage tensions by blocking the roads, along with searching and identifying cars. In the image above, the house on the left is on the Protestant side, and the house on the right is on the Catholic side. While Nationalist murals cultivate Irish culture, a motorway signifies a physical separation and how Nationalists distance themselves from the other community. Additionally, the motorway reflects Bruce Lincoln’s explanation of a narrative, as two stories are being told. On a positive note, the motorway keeps the Catholics together on the right side and they can reinforce their identity. On the other hand, the motorway deeply divides two groups.
Irish identity is apparent when one sees St. Mary’s Primary School when walking into West Belfast. The sign “Failte Go Duibhis” illustrates the region’s Irish heritage and presents a disconnection from the United Kingdom. It fortifies the region’s social identity as ‘Catholic.’ Irish identity runs deep in other schools. St. Comgall’s Primary School is named after St. Comgall, a teacher who established a monastery in the Northern Irish city of Bangor. A small painting depicting young boys playing Gaelic football discloses how this town is Nationalist. The painting is a testament to personal identity, as playing Gaelic football is a talent that individualizes these athletes, differentiates them from other Catholics, and makes them distinct individuals that are part of a larger group. Nationalists maintain their identity by learning Irish history, speaking the Irish language, playing Gaelic football, engaging in dances, and playing Irish music.
They maintain a link with their culture. Nationalists are under less demand and feel less pressure than Unionists, as they have a whole island and can enrich their identity from the Republic of Ireland. Compared to Unionists, Nationalist experience less pressure given their occupation of an entire island and their national pride. It is as if the regional identity in Belfast is divided between Nationalists preserving the Irish language, while Loyalists speak English. A Nationalist can proclaim their regional identity by saying they are from Falls Road, while a Loyalist can say they are from Shankill Road.
As the Troubles commenced, civilians were slaughtered, including primary school aged children. With no guards to protect people, the British army got involved. While residents greeted the soldiers warmly at first with tea and biscuits, residents witnessed the army shoot as they were coming home from school and work. Children, who ironically learned British history in school, were innocent victims, and it was conventional to kill people walking on the streets.
The army never fully left Falls Road until 2006. The sign pictured above reflects the area’s national identity. The first crossed-out sign references the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Many officers are Protestants, and Sinn Féin, a political party with strong ties to the IRA, advocates for more Catholics in this force. The second is of MI5, which additionally aligns with Northern Ireland. The crossed-out signs indicate the national struggle of referring to oneself as British or Irish and the antagonism between Irish and British identities. These signs show how Nationalists perceive the “other.”
Cupar Way is a boundary that was meant to be a temporary measure lasting for 3-6 months. In the late summer of 1969, the British army invaded to erect a more secure fence. It is utilitarian and does not sustain longer periods of time. It broadcasts the message that people on the other side are different. Since people threw objects across the fence to harm private property, another green barrier was extended again to prevent objects from being thrown over. Since people cannot extend the height of the boundary, the current weapons used are catapults. The barriers function like national borders and are territorial boundary markers for Protestants and Catholics.
A prominent boundary results in the creation of a strong development of social identity, as natives of Falls Road affiliate themselves with this Belfast region. This boundary also reflects a communal identity. This boundary communicates how Nationalists view West Belfast as their territory. This strategically distinguishes them from Loyalists. West Belfast transforms into a symbolic landscape, as it reveals Irish identity. The barrier expresses the region’s Irish nationality, Catholic religious affiliation, and Nationalist political affiliation. There is still fear among Nationalists, and they do not feel secure without a border.
