Northern Ireland

Welsh TV series look at life behind Belfast peace walls

Presenter Ffion Dafis visits one of Belfast's peace walls.
Presenter Ffion Dafis visits one of Belfast's peace walls. Presenter Ffion Dafis visits one of Belfast's peace walls.

BELFAST'S 'peace walls' will feature in an episode of a Welsh TV programme being aired this weekend.

Y Wal, which translates as The Wall, looks at iconic walls around the world.

Welsh language broadcaster S4C examines life during the Troubles in Belfast, with Liam Andrews and his daughters Tegau and Hunydd talking about growing up as a Catholic, Irish and Welsh-speaking family in the west of the city.

Mr Andrews said: “You have to consider the fact that we lived on one side of the wall, and the way of thinking was totally different on the other side of the wall.

"There was always the possibility that a brick or something worse was going to come through the window."

The programme visits unionist and nationalist communities and meets people who are fighting for peace, and those directly affected by the Troubles.

Mark Ervine, son of the late David Ervine, a former UVF member and leader of the Progressive Unionist Party, now spends his time as an artist painting the city’s walls in an attempt to encourage unity between communities.

He works alongside mural artist Danny Devenny, a Catholic once imprisoned for being a member of the IRA.

And aiming to knock down psychological walls is Linda Ervine, sister-in-law of David, who promotes learning of the Irish language among people of all backgrounds.

The programme will be broadcast with English subtitles at 8pm on Sunday on S4C and is also available on BBC iPlayer.

The 'International Wall' on the Falls Road. Picture by Mal McCann
The 'International Wall' on the Falls Road. Picture by Mal McCann The 'International Wall' on the Falls Road. Picture by Mal McCann