Befast Tour

This tour concentrates on the development of the modern conflict in Belfast. Hear of the origins of the 'Troubles' from the Norman Invasion through the plantation, the Williamite wars, the Penal laws, the United Irishmen rebellion, Act of Union, Home Rule, IRA War of Independence and partition leading to the formation of the northern state. See the Stormont parliament buildings, home to the unionist controlled government of Northern Ireland and hear of the various political initiatives attempted over the last thirty five years to resolve the political conflict. See the murals on the loyalist Newtonards Road and learn of the issues which affected the mainly Protestant unionist and loyalist communities during the troubles including sectarianism, loss of identity, the marching season, fragmentation, the love/hate relationship with the British security forces and changes in demography

Visit the Falls road, the heart of republicanism in Belfast and the area where the British Army first arrived in August 1969. Hear of nationalist grievances such as gerrymandering and discrimination in employment and housing and the emergence of the civil rights movement. Learn about the major events in republican Belfast during the conflict including the Falls Road Curfew, internment, the effect of Bloody Sunday in Derry, the 1972 & 1975 IRA ceasefires, the criminalisation of republican prisoners and the subsequent Hunger Strikes. Learn of the evolution of the peace process including secret IRA talks with the British government, the 1994 ceasefire, the involvement of the US government and Irish-America, the collapse of the ceasefire in 1996 and the Good Friday and St Andrews agreements.

Visitors also get the chance to cross the famous peace line into the Shankill road where they can see more loyalist murals and see the famous Crumlin Road gaol, where its history of escapes, executions and trials are recounted in detail.

There will be ample opportunity en route to photograph the murals and monuments as well as the chance to write your own message on the Falls/Shankill peaceline. Along the way you will hear lots of the black humour which characterised Belfast during the conflict.

Belfast Coach Tour

The coach tour incorporates all the major areas of Belfast. Take in the university area and hear about the famous Queens University campus, including its world famous alumni and the impact it has had on south Belfast. See Great Victoria Street, the home of the Europa -the worlds most bombed hotel-the Crown bar and the Opera House. Visit the Falls, the heartland of republicanism in Belfast where a whole range of political murals and monuments are discussed. See the Springfield Road, home of the Black Mountain and cross the peaceline into the loyalist Shankill Road where more images of the 'Troubles' can be viewed and explained. The visit to the Titanic Quarter (where the tumultuous story of the Titanic is related) also provides a chance to see the Odyssey arena, host of the 2011 MTV Europe awards which has put Belfast on the global music map. On the way to the Stormont parliament buildings (home of the new power sharing government) hear of Belfast's famous musical exports including Van Morrison, Snow Patrol and Gary Moore-to name but a few.

See the famous Crumlin Road Prison, Clifton Street Workhouse, St Anne's Cathedral, the Albert Clock and hear the tragic stories of Belfast's famous sporting sons George Best and Alex Higgins. See the sites where linen became the dominant trade and also see north Belfast, home of James Galway, the artist John Lavery and the famous Cavehill mountain.