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Do you want to learn about the rich loyalist/unionist culture that exists in Belfast?
It is a history and culture of which we are immensely proud.
The Union Jack shop in conjunction with a local taxi firm invites you to sample one of our tours in and around Belfast. Visit the impressive selection of wall art or murals, which adorn the working class districts of our great city, Belfast the capital of Northern Ireland.
For too long now tours around Belfast have been carried out by many people/organisations who would not have much sympathy for the loyalist/unionist culture. You cannot fault these people. They have spotted a niche in the ever, expanding tourist market and are exploiting it. Indeed the fact that they include loyalist/unionist murals should be welcomed. The main problem for our community is that the spin given to our visitors about our murals may not be correct or delivered with the knowledge on the subject that we can give.
It is time you had the option of selecting a tour run by our community touring our community. A tour that will inform and advise all visitors to our great city.
Unionjackshop.com along with a local taxi company in east Belfast now want to give you the opportunity to have a tour around loyalist/unionist Belfast with a guide that knows the area and can give you all the detail and history relating to our fascinating culture, which are reflected on these magnificent murals. Our enemies would have you believe that the unionist/loyalist culture has no history and any that it does have is shallow etc. How wrong they are.
Our aim is to:
"Provide you with a tour of loyalist/unionist areas of Belfast and to give you a better understanding of our history in comfort and safety whilst giving you value for your money."
There are two tours for you to choose from:
Tour 1 - The Belfast Tour
This tour takes you around the four corners of inner Belfast including Tigers Bay, the Shankill Road, Donegal Pass and the Newtownards Road. You will see murals belonging to the main paramilitary organisations and those that do not. The latter murals include artwork dedicated to King Billy, Her Majesty the Queen and Oliver Cromwell. Also included in the tour will be a visit to the lavish murals depicting just some of our history and culture commissioned by the East Belfast Historical and Cultural Society in Thorndyke Street. This is a must for any tour of Belfast.
Also as we travel throughout Belfast you will see just how close the two communities live in Belfast, particularly in north Belfast, pass Crumlin Road gaol and courthouse, which are no longer in use and we will witness some republican murals as well. Not that we want you to see them we just can't avoid them on our journey!
During the tour you will have the chance to take photographs, as we will stop at selected murals to give you the opportunity to take some souvenir photographs. In addition during the tour you will also see memorial gardens dedicated to volunteers in the UDA, UVF and innocent people murdered by republicans. These will be seen in east Belfast only. We will only enter one of the gardens to allow you to witness some of the sacrifice made by our community.
Belfast since the early 1980's has seen a gradual change in the skyline as old areas are knocked down and new housing, hotels and office blocks have replaced them. This is most noticeable in the harbour area and on the tour depending on were your tour starts and finishes you will see some of this development. In addition you will see the world famous Europa hotel, the most bombed hotel in Europe.
The advertisers have stated that Belfast is buzzing - this is true. It is also true of loyalist/unionist Belfast as it recovers from decades of republican aggression, lack of investment etc. However it is a community, which is growing with confidence and we want to share it with you.
Another must is a visit to the Union Jack shop in east Belfast. There you will have the opportunity to purchase souvenirs, DVD's etc.
Feedback
"Just a bit of feedback for you about the tour we had on August the 9th. It was fantastic, we both loved the experience. Keep up the good work and best of luck for the future. Cheers."
Paul and Debbie
- Areas included - North, West, South and East Belfast
- Length of tour - 17 miles
- Time - 75 minutes
- Cost £ 30
- Maximum number of people three - higher numbers can be accommodated - ask for a price.
- Starting point - Union Jack shop or at a place suitable to you, there may be a small charge for this.
- Finishing point - Union Jack shop or at a destination suitable to you, there may be a small charge for this.
Tour 2 - The Tour of East Belfast
This tour stays in the east of our great city. East Belfast has a population of 90,000 the vast majority of whom are unionist/loyalist. The tour lasts approximately 60 minutes. Murals throughout east Belfast have seen a change in thinking by the community. Paramilitary murals remain on behalf of both the UDA and the UVF. The community welcomes them. However murals in east Belfast now also reflect people from the east who have become famous e.g. George Best, C.S. Lewis etc. Also in east Belfast you will see the latest tourist attraction Thorndyke Street just off Templemore Avenue. Thorndyke Street is a series of 12 murals depicting some of our rich history and culture, starting from the Ulster Scots and Cromwell up to and including Cluan Place. You will also be given the opportunity to see the only Rangers mural in Belfast called the Ulster Connection.
It is in the east of the city that you will see memorial gardens for both the UVF and UDA. In addition you will be given the opportunity to visit the McCurrie/Neill Memorial Garden on the Newtownards Road. This garden remembers the sectarian murder of 6 innocent Protestants in 1970.
Finally, in this tour you will have the option of visiting the Stormont estate and Parliament Buildings area including Carson's statue. This will cost an extra £5.00.
All in all an excellent tour and one with a fascinating difference, as we visit murals which celebrate other aspects of our history including sporting and industry.
- Area included - East Belfast
- Length of tour - 10 miles
- Time - 60 minutes
- Cost £30
- Maximum number of people three - higher numbers can be accommodated - ask for a price.
- Starting point - Union Jack shop or at a place suitable to you, there may be a small charge for this.
- Finishing point - Union Jack shop or at a destination suitable to you, there may be a small charge for this.
Education
One of the criticisms levelled at our community is that we do not get our message across to the outside world. For years republicans have won the propaganda war particularly in North America and as a result they have generated substantial support financial and otherwise. Slowly but surely as a community we are getting our act together and spreading the "gospel." Tours are just one way of doing that but please feel free to check out the various websites that will assist
Questions
If you have any queries please contact the shop and we will gladly give you the answers. We can assist also with hotel accommodation, taxi bookings from the airports, docks etc. Just ask and we will endeavour to help.
Steve
Union Jack Shop
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