If you read my blog post about must-see places in Northern Ireland, you know I’ve fallen hard for the six counties that make up the country of Northern Ireland. It’s not just the many shades of green or the cheap Guinness – ok, that is part of it, but also the people and the history – make that the culture as a whole. I’ve yet to find a place as unique as Northern Ireland.

They may not be home to great museums and galleries like Rome or the rich culinary offerings of Paris, but these six counties offer a lot in the way of charm and history.

• Stroke City – The city equivalent of Prince, Derry  is known as both Derry and Londonderry  – depending on
  

  Free Derry Mural, Derry, Northern Ireland

  where you are in the city, or what book you’re reading in the city hall, or who you ask, or what day of the week it is. With Derry’s sorted history during “The Troubles” it has switched between being called Derry, when the Nationalists are in power, and Londonderry, when the Loyalists rule the roost, several times.

• The Secondhand War Memorial – Derry is the only city in the world – that we know of – to have a second-hand war memorial. The city of Sheffield, England, commissioned a statue to celebrate their war heroes, but they thought the piece was too hideous and Derry swooped in to pick up the piece at a cut-rate price. Some sources will have you believe this isn’t the case, but I’m sticking the version Garvin, my local guide, told me.
• The Cage Shields – In both Derry and Northern Ireland you’ll find parts of houses and buildings that are protected by seemingly sky-high cages designed to protect property from things like petrol bombs and to just keep people separated. It’s rather disheartening and chilling to see these still in existence, but you really get a sense of just how real “The Troubles” were – and still are – for the people of these cities.
• Wetherspoons – While not the most local, authentic pub you’ll find, Wetherspoons is the place to go BEFORE you hit the local pubs. You can get a pint of Guinness for 1.50 GBP. Even if you convert it to dollars, that’s only $2.50! Plus, you can grab a burger, some curry or an Ulster fry for a few Pounds and you’re set-up well for a good night out.
• Mural Art – You’re right, I wrote that Northern Ireland doesn’t have the galleries of Rome, but they do have the murals of Derry and Belfast that are a rich expression of emotion by the locals. You can see a mural in Belfast for example that was created by an artist from the Nationalist side of the city and one from the Loyalist side. A true expression of how far these communities have come in the past few years.

So book your ticket to Ireland, spend a day or two in Dublin overpaying for Guinness and seeing some great sights and then head up to the North. Just make sure to go with a local Irish tour guide like with Shamrocker Adventures or a local friend. You won’t get the perspective of the people who have lived the history going it on your own.