Random neural activity

Tonight Operation Banner comes to an end, after 38 years. Yes, thirty-eight. The British Army “leaves” Northern Ireland after taking charge of street security in 1969. I write “leaves” because a relatively small contingent will stay in Northern Ireland, to be involved in training but no more to be deployed in streets.

I know just a bit of the whole story about Northern Ireland, but that bit is enough to have this development strike me deeply. As many people not living in Ireland nor in UK, most of what I knew did reach me at first through movies and songs. That is the purpose of movies like In the Name of the Father and Michael Collins, as well as songs like U2’s hit Bloody Sunday.

Last year I planned a tour of Ireland, and got more interested in its history. I read more about the Troubles and the sadly famous Bloody Sunday; also managed to see the Bloody Sunday movie, and decided to include Derry (or Londonderry, from another point of view) in the tour.

An holiday in Ireland is something I strongly recommend. Places and people are wonderful. We had a great time, and managed to visit Derry as we wanted to. The city centre is nice, but our mind was busy on something else, and being in Bogside (the neighbourhood outside the city walls where Bloody Sunday took place) has been a truly emotional experience.

We looked for and visited the Museum of Free Derry, where pictures, papers and objects about the Bloody Sunday are on display. The rooms are silent but for a recording of street sounds of that day: single rifle shots break the silence every few seconds, and that sound is still vivid in my mind. It still gives me the creeps.

Many people died in this war, on both sides. Many more lost loved ones, and almost all people living in the area had their lives deeply wounded. I really wish them all that things can now be on a better track.

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