Every year the Marshall Scholars get together for an official trip to either Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland (the three countries within the United Kingdom that are less often visited than England). This year the trip would be to Northern Ireland at the end of March for a week of events, meetings, and tours around the country before going south to Ireland.
On the day we arrived we set off on a two hour bus ride up the absolutely beautiful coast of Northern Ireland. The scenery reminded me of the Lost Coast in California, a 50 mile section of coast hidden away in the north that is stunning. At the tip of Northern Ireland we arrived at the Giant's Causeway, a world heritage site and one of the most unique natural landmarks in the world.
 |
| Giant's Causeway from the top |
 |
| Legend has it the rock formation in this photo is a camel sleeping, hard to see in the sun. |
 |
| The coast had been chipped away to reveal all of the layers of rocks. |
 |
| The causeway itself has a ton of these amazing pillars of natural rocks |
 |
| The pillars were formed naturally when the lava in this area cooled |
 |
| Look at me! In front of the Giant's Causeway |
We returned from the Giant's Causeway exhausted but ready for a big meal hosted in Belfast, the first city we were staying in. After sitting down at the table all of the Marshall's noticed that there were cards saying we were hosts from "OFMDFMNI," an acronym none of us were familiar with. This turned out to be the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, which was the sponsoring office for our trip and the head of the Northern Ireland Government.
The next day we were off to receive a tour of the new Titanic Exhibit, two weeks before it opened. Belfast, where the Titanic was built, constructed an interactive "Titanic Experience," not to be confused with a Titanic Museum. While not the most exciting exhibit I have seen, for anyone that had a passing interest in Titanic or the movie, it was an awe-inspiring experience.
 |
| The Belfast Titanic Exhibit, in a building shaped like 4 Titanic Ships |
 |
| A recreation of the Titanic Ballroom |
After Titanic we moved on to the Parliamentary building in Northern Ireland, with appointments with the speaker of the parliament and the first and deputy first ministers. For anyone unaware, Northern Ireland had long been a place of conflict in the 20th century during the time called "The Troubles." This made Belfast and N. Ireland one of the most dangerous places to be in Europe. On our first night, for instance, we went to a pub across from the Europa Hotel, the most bombed hotel in the world.
In an unprecedented and historic coming together, with some help from the United States, N. Ireland has transformed in the last twenty years to a place of peace and compromised. The First Minister and Deputy First Minister share the head of office of Northern Ireland, and were only two decades ago on opposite sides of the conflict.
We talked with the FM and DFM for about an hour, and the insight into their ability to resolve conflict was amazing. They are actively traveling around the world trying to help resolve other conflicted states, and N. Ireland is quickly becoming the home of conflict resolution studies.
 |
| Lobby of the N. Irish parliament |
 |
| Parliament in N. Ireland |
In the afternoon we took a tour around Belfast to see the murals from the different sides of the conflict in Northern Ireland. We also saw the walls that still separate communities in N. Ireland, dividing the catholic and protestant neighborhoods.
 |
| Mural on a house in Belfast depicting the Eastern Rising |
 |
| A 30 foot wall dividing communities in Belfast |
After two days in Belfast we drove to the border town of Derry (or LondonDerry). Being on the border, this town has been the host of many instances of conflict during the troubles in N. Ireland. Even today, there are areas in N. Ireland and Derry that are still in conflict, albeit non-violent.
 |
| Outside a house in Derry there is a pro-Unionists (protestants) mural |
 |
| Red, white, and blue painted curbs indicate that this is a protestant neighborhood. |
Derry was home to "bloody Sunday" the most famous incident during the troubles in Northern Ireland. Pictures below, on the wall separating communities in Derry, sits the platform where a statue used to sit of a protestant. The IRA blew up the statue, which faced the catholic neighborhoods in defiance.
 |
| The platform is all that remains of the statue celebrating the Gov. Walker in Derry |
 |
| A peaceful mural in Derry. |
 |
| The Derry peace bridge that connects two communities. |
Derry is called LondonDerry by the protestant/unionists and Derry by those on the catholic/nationalist side of the issue. In a meeting with the mayor and mayor's officials in Derry we realized that even now there is a conflict on what name to give the city. Although it seems silly, the issue is one that is very close to home for those in Derry, and the official name of Derry for many events is "Derry LondonDerry," a compromise to keep both sides happy.
After Derry we made our way to Ireland, where we had one more day with the Marshall's there, traveling to the office of the Irish President and British Embassy to hear talks about the issues in Europe financially and what that means to Ireland and the British-Irish relationship. This concluded an amazing learning experience and fun trip with all of the Marshalls.
