Walls and fences are used in many places, e.g. on farms, around gardens and along borders. Can you think of other places where you might find a wall? What is the purpose of a wall?
Comprehension
- What is Ulster?
- Summarise what you know about the Troubles.
- What is another term for the Unionists? What is their religion and their main goal?
- What is another term for the Nationalists? What is their religion and their main goal?
- When was the peace agreement for Northern Ireland signed?
- "Not so much peace as absence of conflict." Explain what the situation was like in Belfast at the time the video was made.
- There are approximately 41 barriers across Belfast. Is the number increasing or decreasing?
- What is the Short Strand?
- Explain the expression, "us and them mentality".
- How do the Protestant communities view the developments and the support of their politicians since the peace process?
- What are the attitudes of Protestant and Republican politicians to the situation, to each other, and what are their goals for the future?
- One of the people interviewed says, "Walls aren't just built of bricks and mortar they can be built of legislation, laws, and you know, prejudice." Explain.
- When were the first dividing walls built in Ireland? Search the Internet and find out what the Pale was.
Find Out
- This video was made in 2007. There have been many changes in the situation in Northern Ireland since then. Can you summarize some of the most important developments?
- What other walls do you know of that were built to separate warring groups? Here you will find some links to information about other walls: Modern Dividing Walls.
Presentation
Choose one of the walls in the task above and find out more about it and the reasons why it exists. Make a multimedia presentation.
Further Reading
Related content
CC BY-SAWritten by: Anne Scott Hagen.
Last revised date 03/12/2018