Two Neighbors Divided by a Peace Wall
If the peace wall separating Lily Brannon and Michelle Bradley's homes did not exist, the friends would be only a two-minute walk apart.
However, a large brick wall on the Springfield/Springmartin Road in Belfast prevents them from being neighbors and extends the journey between their homes to 20 to 30 minutes.
These so-called peace lines divide certain nationalist Catholic and unionist Protestant neighborhoods in the city.
Lily, aged 73, is Protestant, and Michelle, aged 46, is Catholic. They have had to overcome both psychological and physical barriers to develop their friendship.
The two were brought together through a cross-community initiative in west Belfast.
The program operates at the Black Mountain Shared Space building and receives funding from the International Fund for Ireland's peace barriers programme.
Michelle recalls that when they first met, there was some initial "reservedness."
"There was some 'reservedness' when we first met,"
But this feeling did not last long. They have since formed a strong bond and become close friends.
"She's just a great wee girl," says Lily, briefly holding Michelle's hand. "If we need anything done, Michelle will sort it out for us."
Lily was born before the Troubles began, a 30-year period of violence that ended with the 1998 peace agreement, while Michelle was born during the height of the violence in the 1980s.
Reflecting on that time, Michelle said:
"There was a bit of fear in me, but it was more the fear of the unknown - not a hatred. We were never taught to hate anybody, but there was a real fear. I think the fear was you thought they hated you before you met them."
The International Fund for Ireland (IFI), which supports the cross-community work, is currently marking its 40th anniversary.
Established in 1986 as an independent organization by the British and Irish Governments, the IFI aims to promote peace in Northern Ireland and the border counties. Approximately £780 million has been raised, including contributions from the United States, the European Union, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
As part of its peace barriers programme, Catholics and Protestants living near the Springfield Road peace line come together to engage in dialogue and activities.
'When We First Met'
Michelle recalls their initial meeting.
"There was so much more that joined us together than divided us, because a lot of our programmes at the start would have been art-based and very relaxed. That's something me and Lily are both into. We're very creative people, so it kind of bonded us a bit.
"But there's been a lot of tense times through some of the critical engagement talks, where we have had opposing views. We've had to just learn how to listen to each other, understand each other and still walk away with our own identity - but with a better understanding of where somebody else is coming from."
Lily added:
"I've learned a wee bit of Irish (language)."
Michelle is an Irish speaker and participates in the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), which traditionally has had a mainly Catholic membership.
Their relationship extends beyond the program; Lily has attended Michelle's GAA club.
Regarding the distance they must walk to meet, Michelle comments that it is "mad."
"We live either side of the peace wall and without the project and the funding from IFI, we would never have met. So it's crazy the fact that we would never have met, but now we would consider ourselves friends."
Peace Walls
More than 20 miles of peace walls, or peace lines, were constructed across Northern Ireland due to societal divisions.
As of 2023, it is estimated that 60 walls or barriers remain, mostly in Belfast.
