One of my first “aha” moments during this study abroad trip happened when visiting Derry. Before coming to Northern Ireland, most of what I knew about Derry came from the show Derry Girls. I was really excited to see the famous Derry Girls mural in person (as pictured below) because it was something I immediately recognized.

Seeing the mural was cool because it reminded me of the humor in the show. However, as I continued walking through the city, I started to notice how much history surrounded us. There were reminders of The Troubles everywhere.

The moment that impacted me the most was visiting the Museum of Free Derry. Seeing the photographs and posters connected to Bloody Sunday made the history feel more real. It helped me understand how personal this history is for many people in Northern Ireland. The contrast between the Derry Girls mural and the museum reflected important parts of Derry’s identity.

The Peace Bridge also stood out to me after learning that it was built to connect communities that had been separated as a result of the conflict. The bridge represents how the city has worked towards reconciliation. After visiting the Museum of Free Derry, seeing the Peace Bridge felt symbolic of how Derry continues to move forward while remembering its history.

Looking back, visiting Derry helped me better understand Northern Ireland’s history and culture. It showed me how history can continue to shape a city today.