Need a Peaceful place in Northern Ireland

Melissa5 · Guru

Need a Peaceful place in Northern Ireland

Michele Erdvig · Host

Melissa,

Sorry to hear you couldn't sleep all night because of past problems in Belfast. I know what happened there and it was distressing to read the news at the time, especially because the trouble spread out to near Bangor. It did impact public transportation as well as nearby roads and motorways at times. Unfortuantely things like that do happen on occasion. The political situation in NI is still not entirely stable. I wouldn't have wanted to be in the thick of it either.

However, things like that don't happen often. I drove through Belfast when they were having some problems a few years ago and didn't see a thing. Of course, there is no way of predicting these things with the exception of Orange Day on July 12 which is always a hot spot.

If that has put you off from staying in Belfast City, then I would recommend the Hillsborough area and also Edenvale. As you know, Edenvale is not in the town of Newtownards but in the countryside outside town overlooking Strangford Lough. If you get your map and locate Mount Stewart on the Ards Peninsula, it is near there. Hillsborough is about 12 miles south of Belfast and is a quiet, cute village. Either place is in the countryside and would assure you of peace of mind. I actually don't think there is much chance of a problem in Belfast but if even a possibility makes you uneasy, perhaps a country location (but near Belfast) will suit you better.

On the whole NI is perfectly safe for tourists. But it is always scary to read the news. Similar things happen in other cities (like the recent rioting and car burning in Paris) but I doubt if they greatly impact tourists.

Hope that sets your mind at peace.

Michele

Melissa5 · Guru

Michelle, thanks for understanding about my troubling thoughts on safety in Northern Ireland. I neglected my duties today and spent several hours trying to settle my panicked thoughts! I went to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch and indulged in a lemon raspberry slice of pure cholesterol. My waitress was sympathetic

It was her lucky day, she got a good tip. I said to myelf, now Melissa, think of all the days of the year when Belfast didn't have any riots! However for me the problem is that if I booked a hotel in Belfast, between now and July, I would be likely to have more sleepless nights as I thought about the days in September when there WAS rioting!

One of the unsettling things is the realization that what touched off those riots isn't solved, and in fact is highly likely to get worse next July, because the Orangemen march again on July 12, and we would be in Belfast (if we go to Belfast) just one week later!

I knew you would have kept on top of things and would be aware of the news. When I mentioned in my post that if you wanted to know what happened you would have to see nuzhound.com, I meant your other readers, who might be reading my post. It occurred to me hours later that it sounded like I was telling YOU that if you wanted to be informed you would just have to read the news, but honestly I think you are probably better informed than some of the politicians of Ireland! (I just didn't think I should load up your fun Ireland travel site with crime details.)

So while stuffing down cheesecake and sipping on coffee and neglecting my duties, I organized my thoughts and my piles of papers. I put all of the hotels and b&bs within the city of Belfast in an orange file, feeling very conflicted about whether orange was an okay color to use and fearing somebody would be offended.

In the yellow file, I put the hotels or b&bs which make me feel safer because I hope they are in the peaceful countryside. As usual you have already guessed my thoughts, and have recommended Edenvale and the Hillsborough area as well.

Also what do you think of Holywood as far as placing me in a peaceful spot not likely to be affected by outbreaks of The Troubles? Rayanne House in Holywood sounds quite nice, although Holywood is only 6 miles from Belfast, perhaps in my case it's better to stay in Edenvale near Newtownards on the lapping waters of the Strangford Lough, or in Fortwilliam in the countryside outside of Hillsborough where I can have tea and cakes and chat with Mavis.

So I had narrowed it down to those 3, Edenvale, Fortwilliam, and Rayanne House, and tried to concentrate on peaceful thoughts!

I just get a kick out of the fact that when I have reached a decision, before I tell you what it is, you already are advising me just what I was thinking to do anyway, we seem to think alike, it makes me feel like I must be doing something right!

I like to think that Ash-Rowan house in Belfast didn't ever answer my e-mails because it is a sign I simply wasn't meant to stay there in July.

While occasional violence in Northern Ireland doesn't impact most tourists, unfortunately news of violence greatly impacts me since I am convinced if there was one burglar in town, he would choose my window to break into.

Hubby and I have had this philosophical discussion where he logically and patiently explains that even if there was a burglar in our neighborhood (we live in a low-crime neighborhood) it is statistically highly unlikely that he would happen to choose our house to break into, while I explain to him that of course he would choose my window to break into!!!

Thank you for listening and giving me the benefit of your experience. I think I should choose Edenvale or Fortwilliam, because then Diane or Mavis would chat with me, and I could rely on them to either inform me to hide under the bed for 2 days, or else they would let me know it was safe to venture out the door and where I could safely go. In fact I am pretty sure that Mavis' home-made cakes, and Diane's scones, give some immunity to trouble, I have heard that.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Melissa,

Any day that includes cheescake at the Cheescake Factory can't be all bad!

Northern Ireland has really calmed down from the way it was decades ago with stops at border crossings, British soldiers in the streets with machine guns, no parking in towns, security searchs and helicopters constantly overhead everywhere. Today there are no border crossings. In fact probably the only way you will know you are in NI will be better roads! I haven't seen a soldier in years and the incessant helicopters are gone. I think the only signs of the troubles you will notice is the police stations are fortified with fences and razor wire. And I have to admit that there was more security at the Atlanta Aquarium than I have seen for quite a while in NI.

I was in NI in Sep/Oct shortly after the riots and it was peaceful and gorgeous. I went eveywhere I wanted with no problems at all. I think by the time you arrive it will be just the same. As you know the news sources always report on trouble and bad news. Good news is not reported because it just does not sell newspapers or air time. Hence what you hear about most places - including NI - is the bad news. It is perfectly okay to mention it on the forum as it is a fact of life. Many people have had similar questions and have returned from their trips to report good experiences and no problems. Now, I don't think I am better informed than an Irish politician but thanks for the vote of confidence!

I think what you should do is email the places you are interested in and see what is actually available. Then you can make a decision. Holywood is closer to Belfast and more urban than either Hillsborough or Edenvale. Beechhill is also near Holywood: http://www.beech-hill.net/ It looks lovely too but I haven't been able to inspect it yet.

Michele

P.S. No more sleepless nights! Count a few fluffy Irish sheep and they will put your right out.

Melissa5 · Guru

Michelle, you just told me my bedtime story for the night:
Now I lay me down to sleep
Counting many fluffy sheep.
No more 'copters in the sky
Off to dreamland I can fly.
Well since you told me Holywood is a bit more urban than either Edenvale or Hillsborough, I will narrow my choices down to Hillsborough or Edenvale. I vote for rural...haven't yet heard of anybody bothering to harass the cows.

You are right I should just e-mail them both, especially now that the choices are down to 2, before they both get all booked up.

I am for sure NOT going to research any hotels tonight before I go to sleep (eek that's how I got into trouble last night!) Goodnight.

Thanks for the bedtime story.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Melissa,

I hope those Irish sheep put you right out last night. What a cute poem! I'm looking forward to hearing about your final choice.

Michele

Melissa5 · Guru

Michelle, I think I am recovered from my panic...almost. Except for when I find myself reading the map for Northern Ireland, and trying to pick out all the names of any towns which I remember appearing in news stories about the recent troubles. Stop that! Did you really visit Northern Ireland when all those scary things were present, like the hovering helicopters, and Brittish soldiers in the streets with machine guns?

If so you are brave!

I'm pretty sure I am more likely to be safe in Northern Ireland than I am driving on our southern California freeways with ever-increasing traffic and crazies with road rage.

I do think I will do better staying in the countryside in Northern Ireland, like at Craig Park, and hopefully I will get either Edenvale or Fortwilliam. (Yes, I e-mailed them both, and am waiting for an answer, as I mentioned to you in the County Antrim post.)

Thanks for the support and suggestions and all the links full of info.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Melissa,

Yes, I have been visiting NI for decades, well before the peace process happened and the troubles were at their height. At the border crossings they used to look underneath your car with mirrors on long poles to see if there were bombs strapped underneath. You also had to take all luggage out of the trunk (boot in Ireland) and the car was thoroughly inspected before you could enter the country. Many towns and villages had huge razor wire barricades because people were not allowed to drive into the towns or park inside town. You had to park outside town and walk in. Purses and bags were inspected before going into shops and museums. The British soldiers wore camo gear, boots and helmets and would do maneuvers through towns with machine guns. I felt sorry for them because they were so young and obviously didn't want to be there. They were doing their duty in a place where they were between a rock and a hard place. They didn't know who was friend or foe. Of course the Irish hated their presence as an occupying army so there were two...no three...sides to the story. It was a very unsettled and complicated time.

You will see none of that now unless an unforseen incident occurs (not likely). The change is amazing and very welcoming.

One thing you may see in the Republic is the army with guns at banks when money is taken away. They don't have Brinks in Ireland!

Michele

Melissa5 · Guru

Michelle, your story illustrates how far Northern Ireland has come. Surely they will keep moving forward, I don't think anybody wants to go back to those days. I remember way back when I was a teen reading the sad stories coming from Northern Ireland and especially seeing the faces of young people in the news, and praying for peace over there.

Thanks for warning me about the armed soldiers presence at banks in the Republic when money is being transferred, that way I won't panic and will know what is going on!

I have been assured on Fodors by a very nice lady who lives in Belfast, who I have been chatting with, that certain streets in south Belfast near the University, and Hillsborough area, and even Holywood, are peaceful and safe areas, which have remained untouched by the Troubles. She has an interesting viewpoint...she recommends visitors don't take the black taxis to see the murals, because she believes the murals feed on hatred and encourage it, and she believes the black taxis support paramilitary activities. Now I don't know anything about that, but I thought it was interesting to see one local's viewpoint. I think upon reflection that we will just avoid viewing the murals, considering that the troubles are actually still on-going, and will feast our eyes upon the more peaceful and beautiful sites of Northern Ireland.

Another local says the Orangemen are planning to march in Dublin in March. I guess I will just write those parades out of my mind. No way to predict them (except for July 12.) She is worried because she's a Dubliner and Dublin of course is a crowded area with lots of people and she doesn't want anybody to get hurt. She points out terrible things have been commited by people on both sides of the struggle, and that it's not the parades that are the problem, it's the people looking for an excuse for violence.

Anyway as you know I had already decided to skip Dublin on this trip, to have more time for Northern Ireland.

Thanks for chatting with me.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Melissa,

I'm glad you have gathered more info about NI and now know the realities. It helps to have that inside info from the woman in Belfast to calm your nerves. NI has come a long way toward peace in the past decade. We can only hope things will progress even more so that everyone there can live together in harmony. It is such a lovely country and I don't think you will see anything untoward while there. However, there are always troublemakers in any country who like to stir things up. But their little "events" are usually over quickly and hopefully harmlessly.

Michele