Our whole bus of travellers (15) with the exception of the driver Helen and guide David, are Canadians. 

We are supposed to wear seatbelt while on the bus. 

In Dublin there are tax incentives to build the area up (including the hotel we stayed in) because the area had been so rundown… a previous industrial area. Heroin had been a problem then cocaine then…

Northern Ireland is pro-British & Protestant. Genocide in NI killed all the Catholics and replaced with British and Protestants but kept some Irish to do the work. 

Northern Ireland has best linen industry had supplied much of the world. 

90% of the population have received 3rd level free education, are now earning 30,000 euro a year (….being replaced by AI in jobs) where as plumbers that are 10% of the population are making 100,000 euros. 

1920s war of independence. 

First stop is Malahide Castle-built in 1066 by the Normans that invaded the country ….  sits on 200 acres of land. The Talbots are the people that owned and lived in it. King Henry 2 gave it to lord Talbot. It is 4 floors. The bottom is where they kept the animals.

The first “room” was very dark … was where they originally lived. The rest as you can see are much brighter.

1690 the Talbots changed from catholic to Protestant in order to keep castle. But…. they still secretly had the priest come. If someone from the government at the time came, the priest would slip out the secret door. (In picture). In 18th century they were very wealthy …travelled lots & bought things back like the marble from Italy that surrounded the fireplace.

Brother and sister created gardens … died without heirs. Sister, after brother died, gave it all up after she had to pay inheritance tax was 50% of value of property. She left in 1976 to Tasmania. 

Back in the day,19 year old girls became old maid. … must always have chaperone. Marriage was arranged ..children’s room  upstairs with nanny. Kids left for boarding school from 8years 

Bathing was bad for you… so they used lotion and hung perfume from neck (women) and belt(men) to try to cover up the smell. When they actually bathed, all used the same bath water (maybe cuz the maids had to carry all the water up and down the stairs). The name of toilet became called “the throne” cuz Queen Victoria got the first toilet. 

There are 600 million population in European Union. Less the 50m that left when Britain left. There are 37 countries in it ..,,, all have to agree to pass legislation. Every nation thinks they are superior but Germany is financially superior with over 50% of the wealth. Germany poured money into roads in Ireland so that people would buy German cars. The corp taxes in Ireland are low (1%) so many in Germany and USA moved company headquarters here. Per capital income 2nd after Luxembourg at 69-70,000/year. 90% of mobile phones are made in Ireland, the rest in China. ???? 3-4% unemployment. Polish is 2nd language spoken after English cuz Ireland, England and Sweden were only countrys to offer employment to the Poles (after they joined the EU). 

The flowering trees and all the bulbs are blooming much the same as at home in Victoria. Temperature is higher today….. about 14-15C… grey with not much rain. 

The border during the 70-80s lots of smuggling. Up til 1992 there was a border between north and south. Some Catholics came to Ireland to drink (they couldn’t in the north). One time they thought they would burn the customs station… thinking they wanted to free the north. There was still tension til 1997. To this day there still a small splinter of breakaway group. 

It used to be that Catholic and Protestant were not allowed to marry. 20% people in NI are unable to work because of PTST from the tension during the “Troubles”. 

Harlem & Wolf company was the German company that built Titanic. Most police, government social housing were British Protestant in NI. Now in Northern Ireland and imperial measurements, British pounds, etc 

Garbage along road. Dairy is main farming & beef -all is slaughtered before 2-2.5 year old so tender…. so our guide says

In Belfast….Aiden-is our guide for a tour and commentary on the city.

Shipyards formerly had 39,000 employees… now just does minor repairs to ships

Gas is close to 2 euro/litre & in some cases 2.10 euros per litre. 

The Titanic Museum is the same height as the original cost 100 M to build …. In 2000. White star line that built titanic … only one left. 

Northern Ireland was established in 1921 – kept in UK. Unionist and nationalists (republicans) fought from 1972… 1989-called the “The Troubles”. Then the peace agreement called the “Good Friday Agreement. Now parliament has both contingents Nothing gets done unless both sides agree “so nothing gets done”. 

In 1930’s-airplanes were built here…. Sea planes to begin and war planes. Bombardier owned the plane plant for a time …. then Spirit …then Boeing….has 7000 employees. 

Parliament building is 365 feet long 1.5 kms (1 mile) long -prince charles avenue. 

Harland & Wolf shipyard. 

Linen, Ship building, ropes, whiskey and …. During Industrial Revolution

Samuel Beckett instructor at the college called kids the “Cream of the crop”….creamy and thick (stupid). He didn’t keep his job very long.

In the 1700s a lot of Ulster Presbyterians went to “blue grass states” in US. 

Populations is 1.9 million in northern Ireland. 

We cross over Lagan River 

Walls 6 feet thick to protect the law courts from IRA bombs

Hibernia is name of Ireland bestowed by Romans 

Queens university 300 buildings 

Ulster flag …red hand. Knee capping -punishment for bad deeds -shot through back of knees. 

They had 30 years of “the Troubles” with killings, car bombs. The Europa hotel bombed 33 times.  

“Falls Road”… Peace Gate that is covered with graffiti and painting and lots of signatures. It was erected in 1998 in support.,, was decided to keep the wall for 20 years but the 2 sides are still divided and so it stays. On one side they want to leave N.I. and have Irish passports, are Catholics, Nationalist, support Palestinians, then the Unionist on other side of the street support Israelis, are  Protestants and support the British. They were also called Loyalists. 

“Shankill Road” there is a poster of Ulster military Group. In one bar they ask if you are carrying a gun and if you say no then he gives you one. 

After the peace agreement they had to change the name of the police. The Nationalists wouldn’t joint “Royal Ulster Police” so they changed the name & then they no longer required one to pledge allegiance to the crown. Now it is a 50-50 sign-up. 

“No Ordinary Heist” is a new movie about the “troubles”

Places to go tonight:-Crown liquor saloon, Robinson’s & Fibber McGees for music & 5 Points