{{Short description|Separation barriers in Northern Ireland}} {{other uses of|Peace line}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}} {{Use British English|date=January 2026}} thumb|upright=1.75|A {{convert|18|ft|m|adj=mid|-high|abbr=off|order=flip}} peace line along Springmartin Road in Belfast, with a fortified police station at one end thumb|The peace line along Cupar Way in Belfast, seen from the predominantly Protestant side thumb|The peace line at Bombay Street/Cupar Way in Belfast, seen from the predominantly Catholic side The '''peace lines''' or '''peace walls''' are a series of separation barriers in Northern Ireland that separate predominantly Irish republican or nationalist Catholic neighbourhoods from predominantly British loyalist or unionist Protestant neighbourhoods. They have been built at urban interface areas in Belfast and elsewhere.
The majority of peace walls are located in Belfast, but they also exist in other regions of Northern Ireland with more than {{convert|20|mi|km|abbr=off|order=flip}} in total.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-northern-ireland-56765168 |title=Cages around houses: Life at Belfast's peace wall |work=BBC News |access-date=16 April 2021}}</ref>
==History== Although temporary peace walls were built in Belfast in the 1920s (in Ballymacarett) and 1930s (in Sailortown), the first peace lines of "the Troubles" era were built in 1969, following the outbreak of civil unrest and the 1969 Northern Ireland riots. They were initially built as temporary structures, but due to their effectiveness they have become wider, longer, more numerous and more permanent. Originally few in number, they have multiplied over the years, from 18 in the early 1990s to at least 59 as of late 2017;<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.justice-ni.gov.uk/articles/department-justice-interface-programme|title=Department of Justice Interface Programme {{!}} Department of Justice|date=31 July 2017|work=Justice|access-date=1 November 2017|language=en}}</ref> in total they stretch over {{convert|21|mi|km|abbr=off|order=flip}}, with most located in Belfast. They have been increased in both height and number since the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://mediationdigest.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=258:groundwork-ni&catid=9:news&Itemid=101 |work= Mediation Digest |editor-last= Donaghy |editor-first= Brendan |title= Launch of North Belfast Peace Walls Project |access-date= 4 July 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160309223512/http://mediationdigest.com/index.php?catid=9:news&id=258:groundwork-ni&itemid=101&option=com_content&view=article |archive-date= 9 March 2016 |url-status= dead }}</ref> Three-quarters of Belfast's estimated 97 peace lines and related structures (such as gates and closed roads) are in the north and west of the city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.belfastinterfaceproject.org/interfaces-map|title=Interfaces Map {{!}} Belfast Interface Project|website=www.belfastinterfaceproject.org|language=en|access-date=12 September 2018}}</ref> These are also the poorer and more disadvantaged areas of Belfast. 67% of deaths during the sectarian violence occurred within {{convert|550|yd|m|order=flip}} of one of these "interface structures".<ref>{{Cite book|title=The social ecology of border landscapes|last=Murtagh|first=Brendan|publisher=Anthem Press|others=Grichting, Anna, Zebich-Knos, Michele (editors)|year=2017|isbn=9781783086719|location=London|pages=181–194|chapter=Urban alternatives and collaborative economics in Belfast's contested space|oclc=985108699}}</ref>
The stated purpose of the peace lines is to minimise inter-communal violence between Catholics (most of whom are nationalists who self-identify as Irish<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Mell|first=Ian|date=2019|title=Beyond the peace lines: Conceptualising representations of parks as inclusionary spaces in Belfast, Northern Ireland|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332056693|journal=The Town Planning Review|volume=90|issue=2|pages=195–218|via=Research Gate|doi=10.3828/tpr.2019.13|s2cid=150993274 }}</ref>) and Protestants (most of whom are unionists who self-identify as British<ref name=":0" />).
The peace lines range in length from a few hundred metres (yards) to over {{convert|3|mi|km|order=flip|0}}. They may be made of iron, brick, steel or a combination of the three and are up to {{convert|25|ft|m|0|abbr=off|order=flip}} high.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/sep/29/belfast-berlin-wall-moment-permanent-peace-walls |title=Will Belfast ever have a Berlin Wall moment and tear down its 'peace walls'? |first=Peter|last= Geoghegan|date=29 Sep 2015|work=The Guardian |access-date=13 April 2019}}</ref><ref name="NIF">{{cite web |url=https://northernireland.foundation/projects/sharedfuture/peace-walls/ |title=Peace Walls |work=Northern Ireland Foundation |access-date=13 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425073940/https://northernireland.foundation/projects/sharedfuture/peace-walls/ |archive-date=25 April 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Some have gates in them (sometimes staffed by police) that allow passage during daylight but are closed at night.
In recent years, they have become locations for tourism. Black taxis now take groups of tourists around Belfast's peace lines, trouble spots and famous murals.
The most prominent peace lines in the past few years{{when|date=September 2025}} separate the nationalist Falls Road and unionist Shankill Road areas of West Belfast; the nationalist Short Strand from the unionist Cluan Place areas of East Belfast, the unionist Corcrain Road and the nationalist Obins Drive in Portadown and the unionist Fountain Estate and nationalist Bishop Street area of Derry.
In 2008, a public discussion began about how and when the peace lines could be removed.<ref> {{cite web|first=Tony |last=Macaulay|date=July 2008|url=http://www.cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/segregat/docs/macaulay200708.pdf |title=A Process for Removing Interface Barriers: A discussion paper proposing a five phase process for the removal of 'peace walls' in Northern Ireland |publisher=Macaulay Associates |access-date=6 February 2010}}</ref> Belfast City Council agreed to develop a strategy regarding the removal of peace walls on 1 September 2011.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0903/1224303426463.html |newspaper= The Irish Times |title=Belfast's peace walls may be set to tumble |date= 3 September 2011 |archive-date= 3 September 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110903130354/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0903/1224303426463.html }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-14757342 | title=Belfast City Council agrees to act on peace walls | work=BBC News| date=2 September 2011 | access-date=2 May 2013 }}</ref> At the end of 2011, several local community initiatives resulted in the opening of a number of interface structures for a trial period.<ref>{{cite news|last=McAdam|first=Noel|date=18 January 2012|title=£2m to tear down Northern Ireland peace walls|work=Belfast Telegraph|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/2m-to-tear-down-northern-ireland-peace-walls-16105088.html|access-date=2 May 2013}}</ref> A study was released in 2012 indicating that 69% of residents believe that the peace walls are still necessary because of potential violence.<ref>{{cite web|title=Peace Walls 'As Contentious As Ever'|url=http://news.ulster.ac.uk/releases/2012/6560.html|publisher=Ulster Research|access-date=23 November 2012|archive-date=24 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121124023356/http://news.ulster.ac.uk/releases/2012/6560.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In January 2012, the International Fund for Ireland launched a Peace Walls funding programme to support local communities who want to work towards beginning to remove the peace walls.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/01/17/northern-ireland-2m-plan-peace-walls_n_1210274.html | title=Northern Ireland: Cash Boost For Plan To Bring Down Peace Walls | work=HuffPost | date=1 January 2012 | access-date=2 May 2013}}</ref> In May 2013, the Northern Ireland Executive committed to the removal of all peace lines by mutual consent by 2023.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/robinson-and-mcguinness-want-peace-walls-down-within-10-years-1.1388183 | title=Robinson and McGuinness want "peace walls" down within 10 years | newspaper=The Irish Times | date=10 May 2013 | access-date=5 January 2014}}</ref>
In 2017, the Belfast Interface Project published a study entitled "Interface Barriers, Peacelines & Defensive Architecture" that identified 97 separate walls, barriers and interfaces in Belfast.<ref>{{cite web | title=Interface Barriers, Peacelines and Defensive Architecture | website=Belfast Interface Project | url=https://www.belfastinterfaceproject.org/publication/interface-barriers-peacelines-and-defensive-architecture | access-date=18 June 2021}}</ref> A history of the development of these structures can be found at the Peacewall Archive.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.peacewall-archive.net|title=Peacewall Archive|last=O'Leary|first=James|date=2 May 2019|website=Peacewall Archive|access-date=2 May 2019}}</ref>
In September 2017, the Northern Ireland Department of Justice published its Interface Programme, established to deliver the commitment made by the Northern Ireland Executive to remove all Interface structures by 2023 under the Together: Building a United Community Strategy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.justice-ni.gov.uk/articles/department-justice-interface-programme|title=Department of Justice Interface Programme – Department of Justice|date=31 July 2017|website=Justice|access-date=13 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk/topics/good-relations-and-social-change/together-building-united-community-tbuc|title=Together: Building a United Community (T:BUC)|date=23 August 2018|website=The Executive Office|access-date=13 April 2019}}</ref> By the end of 2023, more than 100 barriers still remained, but none had gone up since 2008. Surveyed in 2022, 83% stated they wanted the peace walls to come down.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Progress continues in bid to transform Northern Ireland's peace walls |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2023/1231/1424237-peace-walls/ |date=31 December 2023 |website=RTÉ.ie |agency=PA Media}}</ref>
In September 2019, a series of events were held in Belfast to mark the anniversary of 50 years of peace lines in the city. This included an international conference alongside other events to discuss the past and possible future of the peace lines.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Peacewalls 50|url=http://www.peacewall-archive.net/peacewalls-50|access-date=2020-06-06|website=Peacewall Archive|language=en-US}}</ref>
== See also == * Defensive wall * Interface area * Segregation in Northern Ireland
==References== {{reflist}}
==Further reading== * James O’Leary (28 October 2022) [https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003112464-16/belfast-peace-walls-james-leary Belfast’s ‘peace walls’: How the politics and policy of 1969-1971 shaped the city’s contemporary ‘interface areas.’] Chapter 13 (pp 203-219) in ''The Routledge Handbook of Architecture, Urban Space and Politics, Vol I,'' {{ISBN|978-1-003-11246-4}}, {{doi|10.4324/9781003112464}}. Edited by Bobic and Haghighi, Routledge (Taylor & Francis Group, New York). * Belfast Interface Project (2 June 2017). [https://www.belfastinterfaceproject.org/sites/default/files/publications/Interfaces%20PDF.pdf Interface Barriers, Peacelines and Defensive Architecture], {{ISBN|978-0-9548819-5-5}}, Belfast 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2017 * {{cite web |author=Paul Brown |date=4 February 2002 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/Northern_Ireland/Story/0,2763,627494,00.html |title=Peace but no love as Northern Ireland divide grows ever wider |work=The Guardian |access-date=6 February 2010 }} * {{cite web |author=Margrethe C. Lauber |title=Belfast's Peacelines: An Analysis of Urban Borders, Design and Social Space in a Divided City |url=http://www.mspacenyc.com/belfast.home.html |publisher=mspacenyc.com |access-date=6 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820131528/http://www.mspacenyc.com/belfast.home.html |archive-date=20 August 2008 }} * {{cite web |author=Tony Macaulay |date=July 2008 |title=A discussion paper proposing a five phase process for the removal of 'peace walls' in Northern Ireland |url=http://www.macaulayassociates.co.uk/pdfs/peace_wall.pdf |publisher=Macaulay Associates |access-date=6 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006204650/http://www.macaulayassociates.co.uk/pdfs/peace_wall.pdf |archive-date=6 October 2011 |url-status=dead }} * {{cite web |author=Shawn Pogatchnik |date=3 May 2008 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2008-05-03-1826820552_x.htm |title=Despite peace, Belfast walls are growing in size and number |work=USA Today |access-date=6 February 2010 }}
== External links == * [http://www.peacewall-archive.net/ Peacewall Archive] (An archive of photos, maps, texts and links relating to Belfast's Peacelines) * [https://www.belfastinterfaceproject.org/interfaces-map Belfast Interface Project Interfaces Map] (An interactive map locating all Interface barriers in Northern Ireland, surveyed in 2017) * [https://www.justice-ni.gov.uk/articles/department-justice-interface-programme NI Department of Justice Interface Programme] (established to deliver the commitment made by the Northern Ireland Executive to remove all Interface structures by 2023) * [http://www.geographyinaction.co.uk/Ethnic%20Diversity/Ethnic_PeaceLines.html Peace Lines] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614150819/http://www.geographyinaction.co.uk/Ethnic%20Diversity/Ethnic_PeaceLines.html |date=14 June 2011 }} * [http://www.geographyinaction.co.uk/Assets/Photo_albums/Eleven/pages/Ethnic_Interface.html Ethnic Interface in North Belfast] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516204319/http://www.geographyinaction.co.uk/Assets/Photo_albums/Eleven/pages/Ethnic_Interface.html |date=16 May 2011 }} * [https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8121228.stm Forty years of peace lines] (BBC News web page detailing the various peace lines across Northern Ireland as of mid-2009)
{{The Troubles |state=collapsed}}
Category:Walls Category:Politics of Belfast Category:Geography of Belfast Category:The Troubles (Northern Ireland) Category:Separation barriers Category:Walls in Northern Ireland Category:20th century in Belfast Category:21st century in Belfast Category:Military history of Belfast