A Story Charted in Murals
So on the 14th, I went traipsing through downtown Belfast, searching for a shopping center. I instead found myself standing before the entrance to Sandy Row, known in Irish as Rae na Gainmhe .
Sandy Row is a predominantly Protestant area, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Belfast.Originally, it was known as Carr's Row, and is mainly loyalist, preferring to stay with the British crown. The mural that sits at the entrance depicts King William III, known as the Prince of Orange (1650 - 1702), who is mainly known for his victory against James II at the Battle of Boyne. William's victory resulted in the British crown losing the Irish, ensuring the continued Protestant ascendancy in Ireland.
Sandy Row played a main part in the Irish Troubles during the 1960, 70s and 80s, being a hotbed of Ulster loyalty to the British crown; they, unlike other areas of Northern Ireland, such as Derry or the Bogside, reject the reunification of Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland and prefer to stay with England.
There are hundreds of murals all around Belfast, and I hope to explore more of Belfast, and hopefully find more of the murals. It's a beautiful way to commemorate the growth of a city that has so much culture and such a history.