Belfast Political Tour

Fantastic experience: We were deeply moved by the narrative of Irish resistance and the personal stories of our guide, Barbara Mac. “The Troubles” came to life, as did hope for a better future. Thank you, Barbara, for the education about your history the and love you show the people of this beautiful island.

Fantastic experience: We took the tour booking through civitatis with Diego and it was a very interesting visit. Highly recommended to understand the conflict and the symbolism. 3 hours that give a good introduction.

Fantastic experience: It was a very interesting visit and the guide was very nice. She gave us a lot of information and also a QR code to expand it with movies, books... we were very satisfied.

Positive experience: This was really informative. Marty was great. The tour isn't very long and it felt a bit too optimistic at times. But overall very balanced and very good

Fantastic experience: Excellent tour, very informative and presented in a non-bias and factual way. Michael was a fantastic guide , very knowledgeable and happy to chat and answer any questions. We would highly recommend this tour.

Fantastic experience: Another must-do when in Belfast. Very impressive tour by individuals that personaly lived through the troubles and give you a personal perspective on these disturbing times.

Negative experience: I joined the tour that started 40 min ago. Unfortunately, had to leave after 30 min because I couldn’t hear the guide at all. He spoke quietly, his mic wasn’t working, it was raining and we were standing by a busy road. Not sure why a guide wouldn’t make sure everyone can hear him? There were way quieter places nearby. Unfortunately, had to leave without finishing the tour as I simply couldn’t hear what he says

Fantastic experience: Highly recommend doing this walk if you’re in Belfast , you spend an equal amount of time on each side of the peace lines of West Belfast and hear first hand experiences from both sides of the community. Robert and Mark were brilliant guides and I really enjoyed listening to what they had to say.

Positive experience: Belfast: 3-hour tour on the Northern Ireland conflict - during a tour with a republican who was formerly a political prisoner and a former member of the security forces, learn more about the tumultuous history of Belfast. Discover personal stories from both tense sides even in a stroll. That was the promise for this tour. In particular, the representative during the second part of the tour in the Protestant area expressed his view of things in a highly emotional manner in both expression and demeanor. This led some participants to question the guide's stance. Those who expect this political tour to truly build reflective bridges between the two sides will be disappointed. Rather, there was a desire for constructive conflict resolution processes for the Northern Ireland conflict to be found in the future. I sincerely hope that the format of the tour and the empathy of the guides are suitable for this.

Fantastic experience: My tour guide was Peadar/Peter (hope I spelt that correctly!) who started off by introducing himself by his traditional Gaelic name, that translates to Peter. He was immensely knowledgeable, passionate and friendly, answering any and all questions and explaining the troubles experienced in a great way from first hand experience as a political prisoner. It was extremely personal and an absolute highlight of my trip so far. It may be a bit long if you’re not into politics, but I loved every minute! Thank you!!

Fantastic experience: John you are kind heart friendly Irish who educated us a little bit history of your land.

Positive experience: A challenging and honest insight into the sectarian violence of the past fifty years. The tour telld both sides of the story with a guide from each side. It follows the streets which were the flashpoint between the IRA and the Ulster Unionists. I found the IRA story compassionate and hopeful while the Unionist story was angry and felt like a political diatribe against all Catholics. The guide ignored four hundred years of British presence and seemed obsessed and resentful about the past twenty years since the 1998 peace accord.

Fantastic experience: Sad yet inspiring to see the struggles and turmoil, yet peace has won and Ireland is United in spirit and eventually maybe even without borders.

Fantastic experience: So glad we did this tour. Billy our driver explained so much that we didn't know. I would highly recommend this to anyone visiting Belfast

Positive experience: Interesting 2 sides of the same coin. We thought Dave and Mark did a good job. A little long for us, but did help our understanding of the issue.

Fantastic experience: Impressive when you see it yourself. Traveler Service Martin Lynch highly recommended.

Negative experience: I stayed for an hour, and listened to a former member of the IRA ramble mainly about his views on the Gaza situation. He occasionally said a few words regarding the IRA and the history, before returning again and again to Gaza - never giving a clear picture. I don't feel a former terrorist has the moral right to lecture about the current woes of the world, and I didn't pay to hear them. I strongly recommend anyone keen to learn instead finds a tour with a bi-partisan historian. I didn't stay for the second speaker.

Fantastic experience: A really good hour spent finding out more in depth information about the background to the Troubles.

Positive experience: Impressive story, but three hours in pouring rain without a break (coffee, toilet) is really too long.

Fantastic experience: Michael our tour guide was excellent. I have no political opinion but I was amazed at the history of the tour & seeing all the great paintings on the buildings. Great People in a fantastic City of the UK

Positive experience: The best guides to understand the conflict

Negative experience: We took the tour with Civitatis, the worst tour we did without a doubt. We paid in advance 17.50 Euros per person for a supposed political tour that did not resemble what we expected at all. The guide arrived late, too many people, and it was hard to hear. We didn't finish it, a tour that was not prepared at all by the guide, with unverified data, biased information, and personal opinions. Confusing names and basic issues. We expected more from a tour of this kind than to see murals, pieces of the wall, and listen to personal opinions of the guide without any training or information about it. A total scam.

Fantastic experience: Great tour! Having two guides tell you each of his story is really enriching. You will have a Republican guide in one side and a Protestant guide in the other. Fully recommend it!!!

Positive experience: These really were two completely opposing experiences. 1st half with Robert was incredible. He laid the foundation of how and why the Irish banded together to fight for equality and a better life. He did not shy away from his role in the Troubles and regrets. You came away with an understanding of how he’s working across the lines for a better community and healing. I was deeply impressed by his lived history and continued service to unite the neighbors and work with the youth of Belfast. 2nd half with Mark couldn’t have been more different. This is a man so deeply fueled by hate. It felt as if most of his content was propaganda and not data driven. Comments like, “what were they fighting for?!?! Better jobs? Better houses?!?! WE ALL lived in the same houses, had the SAME jobs!”. He was utterly dismissive of the life the Irish had and why they stood up against the English. His comment about the MAJORITY of the Republic does NOT want a united Ireland was laughable. This is based on what data? He spoke a lot about things that had nothing to do with the Troubles. He got so dramatic & angry when talking about the Irish who were banished after fighting alongside the English in WW1. That was in the 1920s! How was that relevant to the tour other than to continue to push hatred and propaganda? He seemed really bothered that the Irish were flying Palestinian flags in solidarity of the humanitarian crisis happening. “Why are they flying other countries flags over there?!? That has nothing to do with us”. In the end, Mark provided insight as to why some people will not change and have no desire to work together for a better community or world. Robert provided insight as to how it all began, why it carried on and hope for the future. For those taking the tour, I hope you get Robert = 5 stars. If you get Mark, you’ll see what I’m saying = 0 stars.

Fantastic experience: 100% do this tour. It was a unique experience. Fascinating, tragic, and sometimes funny. Well worth the money!!!

Positive experience: Good depending on your tour guy

Fantastic experience: A must for anyone interested in the politics of Northern Ireland. Our guide was a font of knowledge and a lovely person. Highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: Spectacular tour, beautiful, I recommend it.

Fantastic experience: Want to go back again.

Fantastic experience: Thank you Anthon

Fantastic experience: Great guides

Fantastic experience: I loved taking this tour, you learn a lot about the tragic history of Belfast.

Positive experience: Good tour, I missed an objective perspective from the Guide.

Positive experience: The first part of the tour with the republican gentleman was very matter of fact, naturally people had less questions. The second part with the unionist gentleman was very inflammatory, repetitive and he made several contradictions.

Negative experience: Not good. This was a paid tour. The tour group was left waiting at the start point for the guide for 30 minutes in the rain before a guide turned up. No contact by the tour company about what was going on then or after the tour. Things can go awry but when pressed the only compensation offered, some days later was a discount on future tour. Useless as we had left town ... and they knew it. Would never use them again

Positive experience: We did the "Conflicting Stories" walking tour and it was very interesting. However as others have pointed out the tour guides definitively were extremely partisan. This is off course by design. But you should definitively read up beforehand. As an foreigner to this conflict born in 1995 I'm not at all personally involved in this story. So the intensity that this conflict still has today, 25 years after the good Friday agreement, really shocked me. You don't get this from reading books or Wikipedia. This tour will give you an idea of this. The second tour guide (doing the British perspective) annoyed me a lot, not because he was partisan but because he kept claiming that he was not and at the same time he was telling propaganda. He was complaining bitterly (and understandable giving his experience) about Sinn Féins connection with the IRA but at the same time he completely denied the connection between the DUP and the UDA and UVF. Because he kept asking people to challenge him I asked him a question about Ian Paisleys role in founding the DUP but he just shut me down and basically told me that Ian Paisley was a great hero and had no connection to any violence during the troubles. The other tour guide (telling the Irish perspective) was also partisan but he was more willing to talk and didn't repeat himself that much. If you want to understand why peace is so difficult and why the situation is still tense this is a great tour. But you should definitively read up beforehand or afterwards. If you want to get an unbiased (as much as this is possible) overview of the facts this isn't the tour for you and there are probably better tours available that can teach the history more neutral.

Fantastic experience: Interesting

Fantastic experience: Our guide was great! I loved the tour.

Fantastic experience: Tony our guide was amazing this is a must do he brought the whole tour to life with his knowledge it was the highlight of our stay in belfast

Fantastic experience: Loved the first part of the tour. Brendan was a passionate and dedicated tour guide that went really deep into the historical tidbits of The Troubles from the Irish perspective. On the other hand the other tour guide focused on the emotional argument of the Unionist side. Found that to be off putting, but the contrast of views was worth witnessing.

Fantastic experience: Very knowledge guides...very interesting to hear...and see...both sides of the divide...Wear comfortable shoes!

Fantastic experience: Unbelievable tour! Our guide Jimmy was an excellent guide. I believe he presented the events as they were and how they played out without any bias. When in Belfast this is a must see! Belfast is such a beautiful city with friendly proud people. So glad we spent time in the city and taking the tour.

Fantastic experience: What an amazing tour. Spent 2 hours driving to see mural walls, garden memorials, peace walls and learning the history of Ireland. Thanks to our amazing Tour Gudie Barry, highly recommended.

Fantastic experience: Absolutely fantastic...such a great tour...Bill was our guide and his level of information and real life experiences were absolutely class

Fantastic experience: Emotive, passionate, personal, polarised, fascinating, appalling, sad, an unusual tour and unusual ow4spectives. Its not a studied educated history but is impactful personal experiential stories. Balanced by 2 opposing sides perspectives

Fantastic experience: Thanks to Davey for an amazing tour and his knowledge was amazing. It was a real eye opener. Highly recommended

Fantastic experience: Very insightful tours, especially the part led by Gerard Fusco. It is amazing to be able to learn about the history of Northern Ireland from those who were at the heart of it during the Troubles.

Fantastic experience: Very interesting, I recommend.

Positive experience: I went on the “Conflicted Stories” 3 hour walking tour. I found it extremely interesting and insightful to hear the perspectives of both the former IRA member and former British soldier. However, I would caution you to study up on the history before going on this tour - the history of the troubles is extremely complicated, and what you’ll get on this tour is biased on both sides. You need to understand the contours of the conflict yourself in order to appreciate this tour to its full extent, which is (in my opinion) as a way to better understand how the conflict still impacts modern day people’s thoughts and perceptions of themselves and the other side (and not a history lesson.) I gave this 4 instead of 5 stars because I felt that the second half (from the former British soldier) ventured into propaganda at times and was extremely repetitive; while I understand where the emotion comes from it did feel like it could unfairly lead people astray who have no former context on the conflict. P.s. the most interesting question asked was, “have you ever gone on the other half of the tour?” as this opened up conversation with the guide into how real and severe the tension still is. I recommend you ask both of them, wish we would have asked it of the first guide to hear his response as well.

Fantastic experience: This was an extremely interesting tour, guided by Padraig and Mark. Some of the commentators here complain about lack of objectivity or about the guides being dogmatic, but you have to keep in mind that they lived with this for decades, we did not, and you have to set your own preconceptions and beliefs aside for a few hours. I know this is not easy. Just listen. They will answer your questions, but you will also have to accept their answers and it will give you a lot to think about.

Fantastic experience: Brilliant

Fantastic experience: A faire pour cerner la problématique entre catholiques et protestants. N'oublions jamais que Dieu est amour.

Fantastic experience: Black cab tour… excellent, informative. Guide was one of the blanket boys and held for seven years while never being charged with a crime. Gave first hand accounts of the issues in Belfast.

Fantastic experience: Great mr. Kevin!

Fantastic experience: Very interesting. Danny the tour guide is an absolute gent.

Fantastic experience: We did the Conflicting Stories walking tour. It was excellent! We started on the Republican side of the Peace Wall with Robert (former IRA political prisoner) before crossing through the gate to the Loyalist side to be handed off to Mark (former British military). Both guides were extremely engaging and respectful while recounting their respective experiences in The Troubles. Very informative and thought provoking.

Fantastic experience: A fascinating tour. Both halves were really interesting and highlighted how the history of Ireland lead to the troubles. Would really recommend it to anyone trying to understand how the conflict occurred. Two different versions of events, two very raw accounts with personal experience, two very clear examples of why some people feel the way they do.

Fantastic experience: Unfortunately due to a flight delay we only got the second half so can't give a review of the whole tour. I did want to say however that the organisers were extremely accommodating to us being late, providing us with the route directions and helping us join half way through which I really appreciate and otherwise we wouldn't have gotten any of it. Can't thank them enough. Regarding the tour, the half we saw was very interesting, delivered in a very engaging way and the tour guide knew an impressive array of facts and figures off by heart. He was also very good at responding to questions and comments from the group One downside was that the tour overran by 40 minutes, which was difficult as we had something on after so considered leaving early but did want to hear the end. We had left some leeway for time but not 40 minutes leeway. I was the only one from our group from N.I. and I personally considered some of the tour guides points to be a bit cynical (though maybe this is just my experience). I felt that it also wasn't always clear if he was referring to West Belfast or all of N.I when he quoted certain figures/percentages. Some comments I felt it were a bit biased- but I suppose you sign up for hearing someone's opinions and that's part of what makes it interesting. Maybe if we had been able to attend the first half it would have come across as more balanced overall. Overall I thought it was very good and the guide was clearly seeking peace and restoration which was very positive. All in all, highly recommended! Hope we can go again and hear the first half!

Fantastic experience: Great tour. A lot of history

Fantastic experience: Visita obligada si estás en Belfast. Para conocer toda la historia del lugar. Recomendable hacerlo con un guía.

Fantastic experience: So worth hearing about it

Fantastic experience: Tour interessante, abbiamo avuto una guida per la parte cattolica ed una per la parte protestante, mi ha aperto gli occhi sulla situazione passata ma soprattutto attuale e non semplice dell'Irlanda del nord. Entrambe le guide sono state molto gentili e dettagliate. Solo in lingua inglese .

Fantastic experience: Very interesting to hear the stories from two different sides.

Fantastic experience: I went on the Falls Road Mural walk yesterday, 14th May. I was born and raised in Belfast but left NI in 1977 at the age of 16. Much of my family still live in Belfast so I live the troubles and the current tension through their eyes. It was a fascinating tour with Brendan and I certainly learned a lot. It’s rare to spend time with someone who had so many personal experiences to share. Someone who totally accepts responsibility for the darkest of times, whilst wishing for nothing more than a peaceful and democratic future is a rare person indeed. I was really struck by the friendly smiles and greetings from the residents in the area. One kind man even rushed out of his shop to give every member of our group a cold drink, free of charge. The tour opened my eyes to aspects of the troubles that you will never see in the media, especially the media outside NI. No matter what your politics, creed, or beliefs are this is a living oral history, something that should be preserved at all costs. The tour has increased my desire to learn and understand more about aspects of NI culture that have been hidden from me during the vast majority of my life. I anticipate visiting for another tour later this summer.

Fantastic experience: Great history lesson on the trials of the local people . Scary to think they still lock the gates and fences at 7pm every night

Fantastic experience: I can not say that 'I loved it', because the tour guides (Republican and Loyalist) are frank, open and share gritty experiences from the times of the troubles. Not a 'touristy' type of afternoon, but well worth the effort.

Fantastic experience: Our guide was very informative, shared lots of history with us, explained all the paintings and the meaning of each one

Fantastic experience: He hecho hoy el tour y me ha encantado. Un guía muy educado y muy respetuoso con este tema tan conflictivo. Además ha estado mas tiempo del establecido por el itinerario y nos ha explicado la historia de una manera muy clara. Recomiendo muchísimo este tour, de las mejores cosas de Belfast.

Fantastic experience: Fantastic tour. The guides are the best. Fully recommend it if you want to get a good idea of the troubles.

Fantastic experience: Very informative. Great guide gave both sides of the issue.

Fantastic experience: A must do - hearing about the conflict from people who fought on each side sharing their experiences should not be missed and is a truly special learning opportunity

Fantastic experience: Interesting experience.

Fantastic experience: Highly recommended to anyone wanting to gain some hard truth which came from people directly involved in the conflict. Belfast was worth visiting just only for this tour.

Fantastic experience: Find it very useful for tourists actactions

Fantastic experience: Very educated tour of Belfast

Fantastic experience: Interesting graffiti

Fantastic experience: We did the tour with Andrés, it was very interesting, very enjoyable and very well explained. I totally recommend it. Thank you Andrés.

Negative experience: Heavily biased towards republican propaganda. Seems to endorse militant action despite the claims of peace and unity.

Positive experience: Personally, a real tour of two halves. Found one guide to be engaging and full of unique perspectives. The other was, to me at least, repetitive in the extreme, opting to labour the same points at every stop. Irrespective of the different styles of the guides, I came away with lots of memories and lots to think about.

Positive experience: I really enjoyed this tour and think it’s set up to be as fair to both viewpoints as possible. I am from the states and did not know anything about the troubles or Belfast prior to coming on the tour. However, while I felt that the catholic/republican tour guide did a good job explaining things in a nuanced and balanced way (though, of course, both men feel strongly and are biased in favor of their own perspectives), I did feel that the second part of the tour was mostly Protestant/loyalist propaganda because of the way in which the tour guide gave the tour. The entire second half of the tour was mostly him attempting to pull on people’s emotions by telling us how many women and children and “innocents” were “slaughtered” by the IRA. He didn’t give any relevant details or context about the politics of the conflict. His energies were solely focused on the Protestant deaths, but did not talk about what the goals of both sides were/are. Indeed, I was bored by his constant repetition of the facts and figures of the deaths and wanted to leave early, but forced myself to stay and hear him out so I could get a fair look at the issue. Also, such a long tour, 3 hours, needs water/bathroom breaks and opportunities to sit down, of which there were none :( Would give the first half 4 stars, and the second half 2, so it’s a compromise for 3 overall.

Fantastic experience: Brilliant. From start to finish. Our guide had an amazing knowledge of the area and what happened... definitely recommend

Fantastic experience: I went on the tour last week and thoroughly enjoyed it. Both the guide in the first part of the tour and Marc, who led the second part, did an excellent job in explaining their side of the story.

Fantastic experience: Excellent, if you are interested in the history of " the troubles", this is unmissable. You get two completely different views and opinions and are left to decide where the truth lies. I loved this experience. The route is along the republican Falls road, through "Checkpoint Charlie" (gate 2) to the loyalist Shankhill Road. There are stories and photographs that are potentially upsetting but this is the reality of the conflict. I will be doing this one again. Thanks to all involved. The tour can be booked cheaper by going to yellow umbrella tours and booking direct.

Fantastic experience: Very worth doing if you visit belfast

Fantastic experience: Wow it's an amazing insight into the personal untold stories of the troubles on both sides. It's so personal and honest it might just bring a tear to your eye. amazing. it's a must if you go to northern Ireland. Our guides were Rocky and Jake two total different view points but that's life and every one needs to understand this because its northern Ireland but this is equivalent to what is going on in the world right now and if we can all take time to look listen and understand both sides things can change

Fantastic experience: To understand thé history and the reasons of 80 years of civil war in Belfast and GB. Two points of view, joining on some points and disjoining on others. You will make your own one...

Fantastic experience: Gerard and Mark were a highly qualified guides in their own sides (Irish republican and English loyalty). It was a little history class. Both made me understand a little bit better the complexity of the Northern Ireland conflict from two different points of view. Everyone who visit Belfast should go for this Political Tour, It's a must.

Fantastic experience: This has to be the best tour in Belfast without a shadow of doubt!!! Starting on the republican Fall's road with ex IRA prisoner Rocky, we got a first hand account of what life was really like during the troubles. Rocky was a brilliant guide, open and honest on what he had seen over the years. After walking through the peace line we were met by ex Loyalist prisoner Jake. He gave us an introduction into the loyalist point of view and then took us directly into the Shankill road. Again he was open and honest on his views and was a great guide. This truly is a tale of two cities in a way. More people need to experience this tour for themselves

Fantastic experience: Heel goede tour, veel informatie van beide kanten. Na de tour kun jij je eigen mening vormen maar de guides zelf weten veel over de historie van hun kant en hun helden. Ze geven een goede overzicht. Het enige wat een beetje minder is is dat ze soms niet zo goed te verstaan zijn. Beide tours zijn gewoon op straat en als veel verkeer is, wordt het wel luid

Fantastic experience: Sensational!!!! I took the tour with the company Coiste and the guide shared his experience from the time he was imprisoned. It was fascinating!!

Positive experience: It was great to walk the streets, see the murals and walls and hear some of the personal stories. Our guides were very repetitive and a bit impersonal. A three hour walk needs to consider a break for bathrooms or to fetch a drink. Could have been more concise.

Positive experience: The political tour was well worth the time an 18 pounds. I liked the nice guides, especially Robert the IRA side guide was very knowledgeable and sharing. The second part was also good but I preferred the first part

Fantastic experience: Sollte man mal mitgemacht haben - authentisch wird hier von Zeitzeugen über die Zeit des Konfliktes zwischen Christen (Katholiken und Protestanten) berichtet. Man kann sich gut in die Zeit des Konfliktes hineinversetzen. Man kann sich gut einen Überblick des Zusammenlebens auf beiden Seiten der Mauer damals und heute machen. Noch sind nicht alle Wogen geglättet - Die Hoffnung stirbt zuletzt.

Fantastic experience: A great experience with Coiste. Former political prisoners from the Northern Ireland conflict, all of them protagonists of history, share their experiences in the places where things happened. Highly recommended. At a quite good price.