Belfast's Peace Walls: A Self Guided Walking Tour

Belfast is a city still marked by one of the most intensely documented urban conflicts of the 20th century. On this self-guided audio tour, you'll cross between Catholic and Protestant neighbourhoods, tracing how decades of division shaped the streets, the murals, and the people who lived through it. The tour starts at Divis Tower in West Belfast, where a plaque remembers Patrick Rooney, aged nine, one of the first children killed during the Troubles. From there, you'll walk past St. Comgall's Primary School, the site of an early gun battle in 1969. You’ll also pass the site of the 1993 Frizzell’s fish shop bombing, where nine civilians were killed. Returning along the Catholic Falls Road and the towering peace walls, you’ll see the imposing corrugated iron and concrete barriers that still divide parts of the community today. The tour ends at the famous Bobby Sands mural, a powerful symbol of the 1981 hunger strikes that drew worldwide attention to the Maze Prison.

1. 1

   Stop 1

   Pass by

   Discover this locally recognised mural spot named for Conor, a Belfast street artist known as "the people's artist." Learn how he'd sketch neighbours and everyday shopfronts on the sly, hiding loose sketchbook pages inside a newspaper while pretending to read the sports results.

2. 2

   Garden Of Remembrance, Belfast City Hall

   Pass by

   Gaze across the road at the black gates marking the Garden of Remembrance and, just beside it, the H-Block Memorial. Both commemorate Irish republican paramilitaries, local civilians, and former prisoners who died during the conflict, including those connected to the H-Block hunger strikes.

3. 3

   Peace Wall

   Pass by

   See the imposing corrugated iron and concrete peace walls that still divide parts of the community today. Enjoy the chance to view them up close, touch them, and even write a personal message of your own.

4. 4

   Stop 4

   Pass by

   Visit the Shankill Memorial Garden, a quiet space honouring members of the Protestant community who lost their lives during the Troubles. Pause here to reflect on the losses felt on this side of the peace walls.

5. 5

   Stop 5

   Pass by

   Walk along the world-famous International Solidarity Wall, where murals connect West Belfast's struggle to conflicts in Palestine, Cuba, and beyond. Explore how these political murals became a global language of resistance and support across communities far from Belfast.

6. 6

   Stop 6

   Pass by

   Stand before Divis Tower in West Belfast, where a plaque remembers Patrick Rooney, aged nine, one of the first children killed during the Troubles. This is where the tour begins, marking the start of decades of urban conflict that shaped the city around you.

7. 7

   Bobby Sands Mural

   Pass by

   Finish at the famous Bobby Sands mural, a powerful symbol of the 1981 hunger strikes that drew worldwide attention to the Maze Prison. This iconic image marks the end of your journey through Belfast's divided but resilient communities.

8. 8

   Falls Road Library

   Pass by

   Pass this Grade II listed Carnegie library, opened on 2 January 1908 and built with funds donated by Scottish-American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Notice the ornate spandrel angels over its entrance, the work of Irish artist and sculptor Rosamund Praeger.

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.