A Bombing Scare... Happy Birthday!

Today, an entire block of the downtown city center of Belfast was closed off due to a bomb scare, with roadblocks and Ulster Security Forces in the streets. The bomb was allegedly planted by some dissident IRA in a hotel downtown. Also, while we were touring the walled off neighborhoods of Belfast, in the Falls Road District (Catholic), and the Shankhill District (Protestant) a few fire-crackers and small explosives were lobbed over the "peace" wall  by young Protestant men. It was both exciting and disconcerting to think that this history and conflict we are studying is still going on right before our eyes. Also, while all this is going on, it is my birthday, so I will be celebrating my birthday tonight by going out to dinner with the other students in the group. Slainte! (Cheers in Gaelic)