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Roy Garland: Twadell Avenue, 29 April 2002 When street disturbances blew up at Twadell Avenue in north Belfast I was taken aback. I have always known Twadell as a quiet area with an elderly population where nothing much happens. Two weeks ago the place looked more or less the same as it has been for more than half a century. I was struck by a spotless area and well-kept homes but when I looked closer I could see wire mesh across the windows. One young man told me how stones had damaged his car and narrowly missed his young wife. A concrete block smashed his front window despite the protective wiring and serious attacks have taken place on the area. Watching a video I saw crowds from nationalist Ardoyne attacking the area while in another a man walked across at 3.00 am before hurredly retreating after dispensing his missile. Read more Roy Garland: Broken Hearts in Belfast, 6 May 2002 Wherever I went in nationalist north Belfast loyalist homes were never far away. On Wednesday morning this sense of people living cheek by jowl became more apparent. I spoke with a young mother on the nationalist side of the Limestone interface. Maria spoke quietly and I sensed a deep sadness in her presence as she told of the damage inflicted on her own home. Then I suddenly realised that Agnes lived just beyond the 16-foot wire grill that marks the territorial divide. Read more |