quite an education in northern ireland

have enjoyed my first visit to northern ireland. i feel like i have had quite an education in just a couple of days being shown round belfast. yesterday morning gareth higgins (speaker, author, budding film maker, director of zero28, and member of ikon) took me on a bit of a tour and we drove up and down the falls road and shankhill road. i asked him to explain for me the difference between a catholic and a protestant and he gave the most amazing 35 minute response and overview of the history and politics. i wished i'd taped it - it was quite brilliant. it was weird seeing the painted murals with memorials for terrorists/freedom fighters (depending on where you stand) killed in the conflict that have lined the walls for years, still stark and strident. flags and painted paving stones mark out which area you are in especially in the run up to the marches. bonfires are being built for july 11. and yet it is also clear that the atmosphere and situation here is so different to what it was even a few years ago. in other ways being in belfast is like being in any other european city. i'm now in a cafe with rain bucketing down outside...

summer madness has been a success - seems a great relaxed and friendly atmosphere, a good festival feel and the weather has mostly been glorious sunshine which always helps. the sessions i have taken part in seem to have gone fairly well. as always the best part has been meeting people. it's been great to catch up with pete, jonny, paul and others from ikon... , david brown, bruce pont, spike (CMS ireland - had a fab conversation and i'm sure we'll connect more in the coming years), andy hickford, martin montgomery (who came on the trip to india with me), and others

ikon have been working on an album dubh which we (proost) are publishing - it will be out in time for greenbelt this year. jonny and paul performed a few tracks at a late night show hosted by zero28 last night.

Comments

[John Cooper]

So then, sat in a cafe updating your wiblog, gracious your the same, the world over - literaly!

Take Care
Regards Ever
John

[si]

Of course you enjoyed Belfast. Hey, was my face on any of the murals?

[jonny]

i couldn't tell - they mostly had balaclavas on!