Just got back from Belfast

So I was in Belfast for the last couple of days, I've never been to Northern Ireland before. After I saw how things are there I was filled with a huge sense of shame and regret.

Belfast is a beautiful city. It's clean, no litter to be seen. There a no scumbags or romas begging you fro change. No charity muggers harassing you. No roaming gangs of delinquent youths bothering you. Very little graffiti.

The city centre's architecture is gorgeous, and I didn't notice one store front empty. The arts and culture are heavily emphasized in the city centre and trendy restaurants share space with major retailers. The city centre is laid out beautifully and walking the streets unmolested was a real joy. Northern Irish people were working in shops and they were very friendly. I did not meet one rude person. Belfast is booming despite having a higher corporation tax rate than us. Why?

This, of course, contrasts significantly with my experience living in Dublin.

In Belfast Central train station there are couches and comfortable seating. The shop and the bar are open late, at least they were open until I left at 20:10.

When I got back to Connolly Station all the shops were closed, the only seating was blocked off and it was ridged steal seating. The place was filthy and of course the shop was closed, and you had no access to the ATMs. When I go downstairs the Luas is machines are vending tickets, and the sign says it will be there in 2 minutes, only to see it bypass the Connolly Station stop entirely. No sign informing me to get the Luas at the Busarus stop. I guess I am expected to be psychic. On my way home on the luas I see a horribly planned city, filthy, the streets lined with drunks and litter. When I get out of the Luas I see vomit and the same litter that was there when I left two days ago.

Dublin is in a right state. The shops that aren't boarded up, ost of them have crappy signs that look like they were printed then glued up. There is graffit everywhere and when i ask for directions people sneer at my Cork accent like they are so much better for being born Dubliners, like it's some great honor to be from this ****e hole.

We, as a people need to get some pride. We need to start cleaning up our communities. We need to stop expecting some one else to do it and just get on with with. We need to start putting some value on ourselves and our environment. It is in a state. Were wrong minded and stubborn about it. Maybe if we had a clean, organized, well panned city it wouldn't be such a struggle to get businesses to invest in Ireland.

Even during the boom Dublin and Cork City were tips, we were wildly rich but still living in filth.

After seeing Belfast I have never been more ashamed of being from Éire.