When people outside of Belfast think of the city, images of conflict often come to mind. In fact, however, most parts of the city show little physical evidence of the sectarian strife that has plagued Northern Ireland for years: many parts of the city seem little different from other towns in either Ireland or Britain. Even so, one of the streets that has given Belfast its reputation for conflict is the Falls Road, which runs through one of the neighborhoods of working class Catholics. The picture shows a pub frequented by members or sympathizers of the Irish Republican Army and its political wing known as Sinn Féin.

On the upper story a security camera is visible in an enlarged view of the picture, and screens meant to deflect fire bombs are also visible. Although few pub owners in Belfast take such security precautions, the Royal Ulster Constabulary finds it necessary to fortify its police precincts as in the picture below, which was taken in another neighborhood.

The RUC has attracted the wrath of Protestant as well as Catholic militants, most recently for frustrating the attempts of supporters of Orange Walks to stage marches in some Catholic neighborhoods. Even so, the police have also had a bad historical relationship with many people on the Falls Road, going back to the days of blatant job discrimination against the Catholic minority, as well as brutality inflicted on peaceful demonstrators.

In 1969 British troops were welcomed in Catholic neighborhoods by people fearful of the RUC. The peace-keeping operation did not, however, lead to a peaceful resolution: before long, British forces were viewed quite differently by militant Catholics.

Supporters of Sinn Féin have never had a majority of the Catholic vote in Northern Ireland, though their sustained opposition to the RUC and the British army has gotten considerable publicity abroad. As the sign on the Falls Road at left indicates, the tension in Belfast remains unresolved.