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Thursday, November 14, 2024

Northern Ireland is reclaiming its story in a powerful way.

Thirty years ago, tourism to Northern Ireland was almost non-existent. Now, the country’s newfound sense of optimism is once again luring travellers to its shores. It’s a sunny Saturday evening in Derry, Northern Ireland, and Ebrington Square on the northern banks of the River Foyle is buzzing. Tourists enjoy a drink on the terrace of the newly opened Ebrington Hotel & Spa. A busker draws a crowd outside the Embankment Bar & Grill and drinkers at the Walled City Brewery overflow onto the pavement. It’s a familiar enough scene, but what makes this unusual is the location. Located right on the border with the Republic of Ireland, the city suffered attacks and bombings carried out by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and clashes with the British army, brought in to keep the peace. Ebrington Square itself was home to the British army barracks, an impenetrable fortress looming over a divided city. The conflict cast a long shadow over the nation, and 30 years ago, tourism in Northern Ireland was almost non-existent. As the Troubles began to ease after the IRA declared a ceasefire in August 1994, a few intrepid travellers arrived to visit the “sites” they’d seen on the news. Now, however, peace has truly taken centre stage, and Ebrington Square is a visible symbol of the results. Reached by the S-shaped Peace Bridge that snakes its way across the river from the foot of the old walled city (the path to peace is never straight), the former no-go area is now the place to go. According to Aeidin McCarter, Derry Council’s Investment and Enterprise Development officer, tourist numbers to Derry have doubled in the past 10 years, with visitors drawn by the city’s stunning location, fascinating history and burgeoning hospitality industry. “Derry’s been transformed over the past 25 years, and last year was our biggest ever year for visitors,” says McCarter. “People are still interested in the history of The Troubles, but they come here because it’s a tourist destination like any other European city. Peace has brought about that transformation. There’s a thriving food and drink scene, bombed buildings have been restored and opened to the public and you can now walk the length of the once heavily guarded city walls. From the top of those 17th-Century walls, there are fine views in all directions: along the river to the sea, across the city to the surrounding mountains of Donegal and down to the area known as “the Bogside”. Built on land formed after the river silted up, this predominantly Catholic estate was at the epicentre of the Troubles. It was here on Bloody Sunday (30 January 1972) that British troops opened fire on civil rights protesters, killing 13 and injuring 14 others, one of whom later died. Between 1969 and 1972, part of the Bogside was a self-declared autonomous Irish Nationalist area known as “Free Derry”. The Museum of Free Derry, which opened in 2007 in Bogside, tells the uneasy history of this period. And in July 2024, the much-anticipated Peacemakers Museum opened nearby, telling the next chapter in the Derry story: how the conflict escalated to virtual civil war before the gradual onset of peace. “It’s divided into sections, which relate to key periods that form the backdrop to the Good Friday Agreement,” said project manager Michael Cooper. Walking around the museum, you will learn about the roles of local residents and politicians Martin McGuinness, Mitchel McLaughlin, and John Hume in the peace process, moving from Bloody Sunday to the present day. John Hume, an Irish nationalist politician, received the Nobel, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King peace prizes for his efforts, and visitors can see them displayed at the Guildhall Museum in the city center.

Before the Good Friday Agreement, Derry/Londonderry was dotted with military checkpoints, but now you can freely come and go. The Causeway Coastal Route, just north of Belfast, stops in Derry before the Republic’s Wild Atlantic Way begins at Malin Head in County Donegal. The Irish Government’s Shared Island Initiative aims to link these coastal routes to create a continuous island driving route along the west coast.

The Narrow Water Bridge project, launched in June 2024, will join the two nations at the spot where President Joe Biden’s ancestors set sail. Scheduled to open in 2027, the bridge will provide easy access between the Republic and Northern Ireland, offering spectacular natural beauty along the way. These projects represent the optimistic shift towards focusing on the island’s wider history and stunning scenery.

Titanic Belfast, a museum dedicated to the famous cruise liner, has been a major success story since its opening in 2012, attracting millions of visitors and boosting the economy. According to the museum’s CEO, Judith Owens, the project was inspired by the Good Friday agreement and aimed to elevate Northern Ireland in the global tourist industry.

Thirty years ago, tourists to Northern Ireland were mostly journalists, but Martin McCrossan was one of the first to cater to tourists. His daughter, Charlene, now runs the company he founded, offering tours of historical sites in the city. Charlene remembers her father’s vision for peace and tourism, which has now become a reality. He told me that one day peace would come, followed by tourists. For proof of this, just look at the line forming outside the newly opened Stich and Weave restaurant in Ebrington Square. It is housed in the former army canteen and pays homage to the city’s shirt-making history. Behind the restaurant, work is being done on the new DNA (Derry North Atlantic) maritime museum, set to open in 2026. This museum will showcase the city’s history and its significance as the UK’s westernmost port. Since the Good Friday Agreement, new visitor attractions have been popping up as a symbol of the country’s hope. Northern Ireland’s famed storyteller, CS Lewis, was inspired by the Mourne Mountains in the south-eastern corner. In Rostrevor, a Victorian town at the base of those mountains, a Lewis quote is painted on a building, encapsulating the essence of the new Northern Irish spirit and its impact on tourism. I have always been passionate about cooking and experimenting with new recipes. It brings me joy to create delicious meals for my friends and family to enjoy. Cooking allows me to express my creativity and share my love for food with others. Sure! Here is the rewritten text:

I would like you to rewrite the following text in English as if it were written by me. Please change the sentence order, structure, and word expressions completely while maintaining the length of the original text.

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