The parades take place without any confrontation. The only reports of unrest were when Orangeman started fighting among themselves after a parade in County Tyrone. I was impressed with the dignified protest organized by the residents in the Catholic neighborhood on Lower Ormeau Road in Belfast. My last day is spent walking around Dublin in the Republic of Ireland. It feels so alive in contrast to the north.
Families stroll through the streets with arms interlocked, and laughter drifts out from the pubs.
On the plane ride home, I talk with a woman who traveled to Ireland from Connecticut with her sister, who is dying from colon cancer. Like so many Americans, they came looking for their roots. Her sister wanted to experience the Emerald Isle's beauty and peace before it was too late. All rights reserved. Click here for Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.