JIM: The Lessons Of A Guide
OCTOBER 24, 2019 — TEAM DARE TO BE GREY
“Unlike today, you would have seen lot’s of barricades in Belfast. Lot’s of heavily armed soldiers and police patrolling everywhere, with an absolute air of tension to be felt. You just knew there was a division there.”
“Today, you come to Belfast and it’s very much a vibrant and colourful city, attracting loads of tourists.”
Having experienced Belfast himself during the Troubles, former Irish police officer Jim has plenty of stories to tell about the city. Not just because of his own history, but also because he, ever since he retired from the police force, decided to follow his storytelling passion and become a tour guide.
Probably more than anyone else, Jim is able to lay bare the contrasts between then and now. Not just of Belfast, but of the entire island as he travels from Dublin to Connemara, and from Cork to Belfast. As if that one contested border —that’s still so important to many— doesn’t even exist.
“You can easily travel around and there’s a relaxed atmosphere. There’s a tolerance towards one another. People often take it for granted, but I don’t think they should.”
Watch the entire story of Jim below:
