Nowhere knows better than Northern Ireland how Manchester is feeling after the awful atrocity this week. After all we had almost 40 years of violence, destruction and death. I was 13 when the troubles started and so did most of my growing up and spent a large part of my adult life against a relentless background of suffering. I was very lucky never to have been caught up in an incident but that does not mean I went unscathed. I witnessed bombs go of, listened to gun fire at night, revised for my a levels by candle light because pylons had been blown up, knew people who were injured or killed, witnessed the endless procession of funerals on our local news. Our town centres were locked at night, there was little in the way of social or night life and many music stars refused to come to Belfast so no concerts.
But we survived. We went to school and work, treated the many bomb scares as an inconvenience, made homes and raised families. We were resilient and defiant in the face of violence just like Manchester is trying to be. So, Manchester we are with you.
But never in the many years when my poor country and it's people lived with war, destruction, violence and heartbreak do I ever remember ANYONE saying " Northern Ireland we are with you" In fact when we went to England we were treated with the same suspicion and distrust that many Muslims now face.
I'm glad everyone is supporting the people of Manchester.I'm sad that the funny, warm hearted, generous and hospitable and INNOCENT people of my country did not get the same support.
Trigeminal neuralgia and medication
