Eleanor Burnhill

During the Troubles in Northern Ireland, it was mostly journalists who would jump into taxis and ask to be taken to where the fighting was going on. Now it’s political tourists searching for the scenes of past battles. As Belfast’s tourist industry begins to flourish, Eleanor Burnhill asks what role political tourism should play in Northern Ireland and whether taxi drivers are the proper tour guides. After numerous interviews with representatives from political parties and tourist groups, as well as with taxi drivers, Burnhill finds, “Given the freelance nature of taxi driving, you might not get the most knowledgeable guide, but you will certainly be told a story; ‘weeds and wild flowers’ can be much more enthralling than manicured lawns.”