1969 and afterwards
The peace walls are barriers built to protect people from violence during the 30 years known as the Troubles by separating republican and nationalist Catholic neighbourhoods from loyalist and unionist Protestant areas. Some of the walls are up to 20ft high, and extend for miles through residential areas. Most were built immediately after the days of intense sectarian violence in Belfast and Londonderry in August 1969. Although some have been demolished, building has also continued, even during the years of relative peace which followed the signing of the 1998 Belfast Agreement, or the Good Friday Agreement.
