Being part Irish, I decided it was time to visit the land of my anscestors. I am taking a 9-day Road Scholar tour, The Best of Northern Ireland: Past, Present and Future and tacking on a couple of days at the beginning and another at the end for photography tours.
I am looking forward to learning more about the Troubles and how Northern Ireland is coping with Brexit. My timing is fortuitous as I will arrive the day after Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral when much of Northern Ireland will reportedly be closed down for the day.
In preparation for my tour, I’ve been amusing myself with a little Northern Irish literature. I can highly recommend these books.
Belfast Noir is a short story collection that explores the darker side of life in Belfast during the Troubles. It is not without humour, however, and the stories make for a wonderful read.
Reading in the Dark is set in 1950s Derry. The narrator is a Catholic child who grows up in a town where Catholics are the minority. It’s an intimate tale of family feuds, and a fascinating read.
Cal is the story of a young man caught up in the web of the IRA and finding it difficult to get out when he falls in love with a widow whose husband he helped murder.
The Last Crossing is the story of four people who took part in an IRA-sanctioned murder 30 years previously. They travel together to locate the burial place so the family can find closure. It’s a story that switches between present day and 30 years ago, and is spellbinding. It was long-listed for the Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year in 2021. 🙃
Spotlight on the Troubles: A Secret History, which can only be viewed on YouTube, is a 7-part series, a deep dive into the Troubles, how they started, who were the main characters, what was really going on in the background – it might surprise you! Quite a lot of recently uncovered archival material and film make this series very compelling. The Irish Times said in its review of part 1: “… [it] is about as comprehensive, objective and meticulous an introduction to the conflict, and how it began, that it’s possible to imagine.” You can veiw it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3scz1KD9eE
I hope you’ll follow along with me through Belfast, Derry and various villages, with a final day (and my second photography tour) in Dublin. Sián leat!
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