Our first day after landing in Ireland, I had the opportunity to spend a day in Belfast, and it really left an impression. My first stop was St. Peter’s Immaculata Youth Centre. I was struck by the center’s vibrant energy and by the importance of its work. This place is a gathering space for young people and it’s a lifeline of what rebuilding from conflict really looks like. The staff welcomed us warmly and spoke about the center’s role in the community. From afterschool programs to mental health support and youth mentoring, the center has become a safe space for the people there. It reminded me how far Belfast has come since the Troubles. The city was divided, physically and emotionally, by fear, walls, and identity. Walking around today, especially with locals guiding the story, I found it inspiring that it’s a place not trying to forget the past but determined to move beyond it.

Later in the afternoon, I visited Belfast Castle. The views of the city were stunning, and we rounded the day out with a visit to the cathedral next door to the youth center.

The next day we went to the graffiti walls, especially those along the Peace Walls, which are powerful visual records of the city’s divided and painful past, as well as its ongoing journey toward peace. Then we went to the Parliament Buildings at Stormont. The building was also used during WW II and I found it interesting to learn about how they camouflaged the building with black tar which you can still see to this day.