S e g r e g There are many factors that affect levels of segregation and people’s experiences a t e of sectarianism and which consequently impact upon the daily routines of d L individuals across Northern Ireland, these include housing, work, schooling, i v e shopping, leisure and social activities. This report documents the findings of a s seventeen-month study funded by the Community Relations Council through – S o the European Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation into the c i a ways and means that sectarianism and segregation are sustained and extended l D through the routine and mundane decisions that people make in their everyday i v i lives. It explores how such divisions are played out in different geographical s i o environments and how they impact on men and women, young and old as well n , S as how patterns of segregation and division vary by time of day and at different e c t times of the year. The report is thus a contribution to a broader discussion a r i concerned with peacebuilding and the development of a sustainable and shared a n i s future in Northern Ireland. m a n d E v e r y d a y L i f e i n N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d J J e o n h n n i f B e e r l H l a a n m d i l S t o a r n a , h U Segregated Lives T Institute for Conflict Research l o f u H c North City Business Centre a a n s s 2 Duncairn Gardens, s o Social Division, Sectarianism and n Belfast BT15 2GG , Northern Ireland Everyday Life in Northern Ireland ISBN 978-0-9552259-4-9 Telephone: +44 (0)28 9074 2682 Fax: +44 (0)28 9035 6654 Jennifer Hamilton, Ulf Hansson, £5 John Bell and Sarah Toucas Segregated Lives Social Division, Sectarianism and Everyday Life in Northern Ireland Jennifer Hamilton, Ulf Hansson, John Bell and Sarah Toucas Institute for Conflict Research Segregated Lives: Social Division, Sectarianism and Everyday Life in Northern Ireland First Published September 2008 Institute for Conflict Research North City Business Centre 2 Duncairn Gardens Belfast BT15 2GG Tel: 028 9074 2682 Email: [email protected] Web: www.conflictresearch.org.uk ISBN 978-0-9552259-4-9 This project was funded by the Community Relations Council through the European Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation Produced by: three creative company ltd Table of Contents Table of Contents Page 1. Executive Summary 4 2. Introduction 10 3. Segregation and Sectarianism 18 4. Castlederg and Newtownstewart, County Tyrone 33 5. Kilrea, County Londonderry 63 6. Dunclug, Ballymena 77 7. Shandon Park, Newry 90 8. Stranmillis, South Belfast 106 9. New Lodge and Tigers Bay, North Belfast 126 10. Themes and Conclusions 144 11. References 154 12. Appendix 160 3 Executive Summary 1. Executive Summary This report documents the findings of a seventeen-month study funded by the Community Relations Council through the European Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation. The research documents and analyses the ways and means that sectarianism and segregation are sustained and extended through the routine and mundane decisions that people make in their everyday lives. There are many factors that affect the levels of segregation and people’s experiences of sectarianism and which consequently impact upon the daily routines of individuals across Northern Ireland. The literature highlights a diverse range of social and personal factors which affect patterns of behaviour and beliefs along with channels through which patterns can either be perpetuated or overcome as well as an account of the means of reproduction or change in social relations. This previous research provided a baseline from which to explore the current experiences of living in a fragmented and segregated society, but at a time of relative peace and prosperity. The field research for this study was carried out between May 2007 and March 2008 in six areas of Northern Ireland: 1. Castlederg and Newtownstewart in County Tyrone 2. Kilrea in County Londonderry 3. Dunclug estate in Ballymena 4. Shandon Park estate in Newry 5. Stranmillis in South Belfast 6. New Lodge and Tigers Bay in North Belfast Before the research commenced a small advisory group was convened with representatives of the Community Relations Council, Belfast City Council, Northern Ireland Mixed Marriage Association and Northern Ireland Housing Executive. The research utilised a qualitative and anthropological approach and included nearly 170 in-depth, semi-structured interviews and conversations; some people also completed a diary of their daily activities for a week, recording their routine movements and activities, others were asked to map their impressions of segregation in their communities. The researchers also accompanied some people in a walk 4 Executive Summary around their environment to gain a sense of how subjective perceptions are translated into daily routines of shopping, work and accessing services and other facilities. The six case study areas highlighted some variety of differences in people’s experiences and understandings of these issues, and identified something of the diverse impacts that segregation and sectarianism have on people and which, the research suggests, often depends on factors such as the age, gender, social background, place of residence and the personal experiences of the individual. This variety of both personal and communal factors and individual experiences are used to construct the ‘mental maps’ that people use to guide and structure their personal routines and practices, while the mental maps are in turn reinforced and at times challenged by routine experiences. The routines of separation and division are thus sustained through practice, but the routines can and do change as people’s perceptions of their social environment change. The experience of segregation has thus a degree of fluidity rather than being fixed and unchanging. The following briefly sets out some of the generalised findings from the research, which serves to highlight the need to look beyond the stark black and white contrast of division and demands that a more nuanced view is taken of how segregation and sectarianism impacts on everyone, while acknowledging that for some the impact is more immediate and intense than for others. 1. Segregation and division impacts upon all people, but at differing levels and intensities. In Castlederg and North Belfast people described high levels of segregation and separation; in Kilrea and Newtownstewart people described some degree of mixing but little interaction; in Dunclug and Shandon Park people spoke of higher degrees of mixing and more positive relationships; while residents of Stranmillis considered their area to be largely mixed and fairly well integrated, but with little public recognition of communal identities. 2. Segregation and sectarianism are a continuing legacy of the Troubles. The perceived levels of impact of the Troubles had a significant impact on the scale to which segregation and sectarianism were felt to have imposed themselves on daily routines. Kilrea and Castlederg were both badly affected by the Troubles and sectarian attitudes helped to sustain high levels of segregation and inter- communal tensions were heightened during the Marching Season. However through the rest of the year the two communities appeared 5 Executive Summary to co-exist on a day-to-day basis, although with limited socialising or interacting. 3. Levels of sectarianism and segregation have changed in recent years. Residents in Dunclug suggested that relations within the estate were generally positive although it was felt that the levels of segregation and sectarianism in the town were higher now than previously. This contrasted with Newry, where interviewees of Shandon Park felt that the city had progressed enormously since the Troubles and they felt safe and welcomed in the city centre, although as with many areas, some concerns remained about the negative impact of the night-time economy. 4. Economic regeneration can have a positive impact on segregation. The economic regeneration of Newry and the opening up of the border has had a positive impact on the ways that members of the Protestant community in Shandon Park engage with and relate to the commercial centre. Similarly the development of spaces like the Odyssey complex have provided a shared social space for people in segregated interface areas of North Belfast, providing of course they can access and afford the facilities. More generally people choose the location for shopping on the basis of price and value for money. 5. However economic change can also have a negative impact. In contrast the opening of the border is perceived by some in Castlederg to have a negative impact on the local commercial sector and trade and the prosperity of the town had suffered now that people had a wider choice of facilities and services elsewhere in the vicinity. The absence of violence had also increasingly encouraged people to cross the border for goods or to travel greater distances to larger centres a few miles away. 6. Mixed or neutral spaces are more available than in the past. There was an increase in mixed or neutral areas and spaces in many of the locations. In Castlederg, Newry and North Belfast people noted a growing number of spaces that were not defined by the orange and green divide. 7. But they co-exist with heavily segregated spaces. Residents in Dunclug stated that while the local estate was reasonably well integrated, access to the centre of Ballymena was increasingly problematic with a growing ‘them and us’ division. And while the residents of Stranmillis lived in a mixed and shared environment, 6 Executive Summary they were all too aware of, and adapted their movements to, the territorialism and sectarian divisions beyond the boundaries of Stranmillis.