Raphael Kessler

Northern Ireland has been given it's own page, not as a political statement of any kind, but because at the moment it is a different country within the United Kingdom so therefore deserves one.

One of the more interesting things to see in Northern Ireland was the republican loyalist murals and allegiances. It was odd to see that the Republicans had adopted the Palestinian cause so sometimes had the Irish flag flying (photo 1) and other times had the Palestinian flag flying (photo 2, right hand side). This then meant that the Loyalists had adopted the Israeli cause so the Northern Ireland or Union flag would then be seen flying along with the Israeli flag (photos 3 & 4). The effort and pride involved in some of the murals is quite astounding, particularly as many are praising paramilitary groups (photos 5 & 6).

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Storemont (photo below) is the seat of the Northern Irish assembly and quite a nice place.

The Giants Causeway is set on a very picturesque part of the coast and the Causeway itself is interesting and attractive with its hexagonal columns of rock (photos 1 - 8 ) formed as molten rock cooled very slowly. Some of the columns are very tall indeed (photos 6 - 8).