NORTHERN IRELAND / IRELAND
BELFAST TOUR COMPANY
Belfast Taxi/Cab Tour: 90 mins.
1-2 people: £60, an additional £30 per person over 2 people.
Maximum passengers: 7
Kid’s aged 11-15: £10, kids under 10, free of charge.
Day trips – 09:00am -16:00pm
7 hours – £600
Maximum passengers – 7 people
Tour – 09:00am -16:00pm
7 hours – £600
Maximum passengers – 7 people
A few photo's of Belfast
Birds Eye View of Both Community's
On the left side of the photo is the CATHOLIC community, the right side is the PROTESTANT community.
Between both communities is a wall separating them.
This is known as the peace wall, which you will see on the tour. Some say it's bigger than the BERLIN wall.
Many tourists are not aware which side of the community is which, I'm hoping this picture can help with any confusion.
Peace Gates- 1969-Present
Believe it or not, these gates still close at night time. These gates are one of many you will see on your tour. Where there are no gates, there are walls separating both communities throughout most of Belfast. You will see this throughout your taxi/cab tour. Many guests are in disbelief that these gates even existed, and are still in use to this day. Don't worry, they'll be opened when we go through!
THE STREETS BACK DURING THE CONFLICT
This is just one of many streets that was like this back in the day. As you are out with your tour guide they will be able to show you photo's from the past like this and show you them in person in the present day as they are now. Belfast now compared to then is like chalk and cheese. Fantastic for the people who grew up here and still live here.
BRITISH ARMY COMMAND POST
British army were deployed here 1969 - 2007.
It was known as OPERATION BANNER.
OPERATION BANNER was the longest deployment of troops in British history with over 300,000 deployed.
This is just one of many command posts that was here during the CONFLICT.
black taxi - black cab
In 1971, (during the conflict) the lack of local transport due to the ongoing violence and no go area’s, both communities were at a loss.
Local guys from both communities made their way to England and started bringing London style black cabs, black taxi’s home to Belfast.
They started driving up and down their main roads. The protestant community went up and down the Shankill Road. The catholic community went up and down the Falls Road. They charged peanuts as both roads bring you straight to Belfast City Centre. These people were legends. Without them the people would have been “screwed” as we say in Belfast.
Now these taxis are famous for Northern Ireland Black Taxi Tours, the Belfast Black Taxi tour, Political Tour, Mural Tour, whatever you want to call it.They’re a dying breed, as the years have gone by most of the tour guides drive Mercedes vans etc. This can be confusing for some tourists as the “Black Taxi Tour” is now basically a brand and there aren’t many black taxis in use anymore. So do not be disappointed if your driver is not in a black taxi. One thing you have to remember is, the tour is based on the knowledge of the tour guide, not their mode of transport.
The black taxi that’s in a garage (the photo above this description) is the same kind of taxi that was used during the conflict. The other 2 were upgrades when the conflict was over.