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Day 8: April 24, 2025
Today we headed into Belfast city, capital of Northern Ireland. There we met with local expert Máire McAnespie, who provided wit and wisdom as our new coach driver Steven expertly navigated Belfast’s frequently narrow streets and residential areas, as we got a chance to check out murals and artwork from both sides of the political divide, as well as the peace walls which have been standing in place for over fifty years, separating the two groups. After our guided tour, we had some free time, and our group split up, with half electing to check out the Titanic museum, the ship of course having been built in Belfast over a hundred years ago, and the other half deciding to utilise this time for a bit of friendly competition in the form of mini-golf at the Lost Adventure course in Belfast centre. Afterwards, we regrouped and made the journey down over the border into the Republic of Ireland, and gave a listen to various Irish singers and bands along the way. We finished up the day with a wonderful traditional Irish dinner of bacon & cabbage (sans cabbage) at Taylor’s Three Rock, an aesthetically impressive thatch-roofed bar and restaurant.