Falls/Shankill Tour

Falls/Shankill Tour

Welcome to Coiste na nIarchimí’s original West Belfast bespoke walking tours, delivered by former political prisoners.

By Coiste Irish Political Tours

Select date and time

Saturday, September 13 · 10am - 1pm GMT+1

Location

Divis Tower

Divis Tower Belfast BT12 4QA United Kingdom

About this event

This tour is organised as part of the European Heritage Days programme.

The Falls/Shankill Tour is a unique experience, blending the narratives of local republican former prisoners telling their story of the past decades whilst guiding visitors through the republican areas of West Belfast and then, at the famous gates of the Peace Wall, handing over the visitors to former loyalists activists to hear their narratives of their localities. This gives a unique first hand narrative of experiences across Belfast communities.

This three hours tour allows visitors to explore both the nationalist Falls Road and the unionist Shankill Road areas of Belfast. On the nationalist leg of the tour, the visitor will see the world famous International Wall with its political artworks, the Republican Memorial Garden and the world famous mural of Bobby Sands. This tour tracks the course of the “Peace Wall” and goes through Clonard with its famous Clonard Monastery Church and Bombay Street, the epicentre of events in 1969. The group will be then handed over to the loyalist tour guide who will bring it on to the Shankill Area, to hear the unionist/loyalist perspective on our past and visit local sites of interest.

This 3 hours walking tour starts at the Coiste’s mural at Divis Tower (Divis Street) and finishes on the Lower Shankill Road.

Organized by

Why choose us?

POLITICAL EX-PRISONER TOUR GUIDES

Coiste guides are Republican ex-prisoners whose narrative comes from their experience of our recent history, political activism and political imprisonment. Our story is the story of our communities and their struggles.

COMMUNITY PROJECT

Coiste is at the heart of our community and our guides are advocates for that community. During our tours we promote and engage with our cultural centres, pubs, clubs, restaurants and museums – ensuring you know what they have to offer and how they enhance your visitor experience.

MULTI-LINGUAL

Coiste tours provide tours in Irish, French, Spanish and Italian (subject to availability). As we live in a multi-cultural world we think in a multi-cultural context.