Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland | DW Documentary

the annual orange order parades created tensions between nationalists and unionists in Northern Ireland in the past there has been violence husband Donald's job is to keep the peace in his community very disappointed very very frustrated and I am worried that she lives in Belfast where she represents to the pro-Irish Nationalists and short key. This wall separates the community of Mairead O'Donnell from its unionist neighbors. If you come this way, you'll see how close these people live to this symposium. Fierce winter war. It was originally as tall as the brick structure that had the metal sheet. It was added and eventually, around 2004, intensified once again to prevent the Mercedes that came from Clue's community of loyalist Protestant unions, instead the towering walls would have to have an impact on the mental health of the people and when We are living looking at a structure like that on a daily basis, you can see that certainly your art from the residences is depressing.

I think it's meant to be depressive and it's actually very oppressive. Hi lol it's a stressful time for local politician Mairead O. 'Donnell over the next few days pro-British unionist parades will pass through the nationalist area she represents relations between communities are uneasy and celebrations threaten riots Oh beautiful day, so good, hello, yes, what do you think, how do you think things will be? let's go with Twelfth Night, well the eleventh night at the bonfire, we'll get some stuff there, we'll spend some stuff, coming on whoever's here looking for stuff that fits on the railings anyway, so I don't know given the period in which we ended, but the Orange March, this can happen the Aria if someone asked you and me about that wall, would you like to see it fall?

You would definitely know that everything even wanted to be on the word because you get some things that can fall, but a lot of these things hit the top, so they don't come. You'll go out the back to the backyard and then there will be bottles and golf balls and stuff, but it's not much, whereas before you might neglect the kids coming out to play. Cara and Marina have little to do with their neighbors on the other side of the wall. They feel uncomfortable venturing into unionist east Belfast. Oh, hopefully this year will be quiet, yeah, and there won't be anything.

Every year, unions celebrate a major victory by Protestant forces over Catholics and 1690, 20 years after the Good Friday peace agreement, is an event that reignites tensions between mainly Catholic nationalists who want to unite Ireland and unionists who They want to stay in the UK the night before the Orange Order lights some bonfires that often burned the Irish national flag and the Pope's wise men overnight the city councilors decided that the bonfire structure is too large and is in danger in neighboring buildings, workers have moved to demolish it in interfaces like this one, where nationalist and unionist neighborhoods face the threat of violence, it is never fire, workers have covered their faces to avoid being identified, they fear retaliation the police are here to provide protection the paramilitary groups on each side were responsible for many of the problems that are still in operation the unions fiercely protect their tradition they use both communities bonfires to mark their separate commemorations what the unions feel they are being unjustly attacked say that local politicians who represent the community attack their culture we have done it for hundreds of years and imprisonment and bonfires that is something we know we must be careful if they are saying that Protestants do not have bonfires nor in Short Strand police are investigating what is believed to be a haul of homemade bombs and are in contact with residents who say it came from the unionist side on the other side of the wall, which was a random indiscriminate attack on these houses in Candy Boy here and regardless of life for them, I am fully planned on the street for months, the parade has been in contact with the police and organizing volunteers to ensure the parade runs peacefully each year.

Thousands of orange markers are held across the north. Unionist families in Ireland take time to enjoy the festivities, most parades go off without a hitch, but this is just yards from Catholic nationalist homes. Mairead is there to make sure parade rules are not broken. These prohibit unionists from carrying flags or playing songs considered to be anti-Catholic and anti-Irish which might mean little to a casual onlooker can be seen as a provocation and could lead to violence even outside of the parades it is a difficult day for residents of Short Strand the daughter Kyra's feelings for the last few days are taking their toll, so you're trying to come and calm her fears and tell her that everything is fine and that nothing bad is going to happen to you, but when deep down you draw, her marade is back at the interface, the union protesters are returning home, the parade is further away. away, but Mairead is nervous, she fears that alcohol will cause problems.

It is more likely that she has already seen problems with the police operation in previous years. Metal screens blocked the view of the parade. She calls a local official to express her concerns. Is it you, John Jonathan, are those the children who don't appreciate you? I love being able to see myself, all I can see are police chips. I can't see, I know well. I was out. I understood then that it would be the same type of fires that she can write that were Anthony's last year and me. that I understood Amami was talking to Colin yeah yeah okay yeah yeah I don't see the crash partyer but it's all to say yeah yeah yeah okay okay John yeah we'll take it up with him , yes, it's okay, don't worry, it's okay, thank you, goodbye, years gone by.

There have been quite a few attacks on houses along here where spectators and indeed some of the men in the gang have participated in woburning everything they could, from bottles to bricks, anything they could get their hands on what has been happening in the last few days. that there has already been an attack on this area and they leave it so open with no barriers in place and as you can see quite clearly, I mean giving PSNI staff a rule. I'm supposed to be the barrier between us. be the buffer zone between us and an orange period and every one of your viewers very disappointed, very, very frustrated and I'm worried about the crowd turning red here.

The mattresses have not lowered the barriers, the police remain calm, any rash can cause confrontations, the parade is The fairs are decreasing despite the parades. There have been few problems 20 years after the Good Friday Agreement. Life for residents of east Belfast has improved, but deep divisions mean peace there is fragile.