Troubles Remembered - travelShot

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A Belfast black-taxi driver stands before a mural, sharing memories of the Troubles with visitors.

In front of the “Battle of the Falls” mural in Belfast, a local black-taxi driver pauses to recount the events of July 1970 — days etched into the city’s memory.

He grew up in the Lower Falls area, where British troops imposed a 36-hour curfew and clashes left civilians dead, injured, and arrested. Now, decades later, he guides visitors through the city’s layered history, weaving personal stories with public memory. His childhood was shaped by barricades, gas clouds, and whispered warnings; today, he offers insight, not bitterness, helping others understand Belfast’s past through lived experience.

The mural behind him — filled with photos, headlines, and stark statistics — becomes a backdrop for storytelling, resilience, and reflection.

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