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'Our homes are two minutes from each other but a peace wall makes it 20 minutes'
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'Our homes are two minutes from each other but a peace wall makes it 20 minutes'

BBC News · May 13, 2026, 8:28 AM

Key takeaways

  • But a huge brick wall on the Springfield/Springmartin Road in Belfast effectively stops them being neighbours and makes that a 20 to 30 minute walk.
  • So-called peace lines separate some nationalist Catholic and unionist Protestant areas of the city.
  • Lily, 73, is a Protestant and Michelle, 46, is a Catholic, and the two have had to overcome a psychological as well as a physical barrier to form their friendship.

Why this matters: a developing story that could shape the day's news cycle.

Mark Simpson Community correspondent, BBC News NIBBCLily and Michelle have becomes friends If there was not a peace wall between Lily Brannon and Michelle Bradley's homes the friends would be a mere two minute walk away from each other.

But a huge brick wall on the Springfield/Springmartin Road in Belfast effectively stops them being neighbours and makes that a 20 to 30 minute walk.

So-called peace lines separate some nationalist Catholic and unionist Protestant areas of the city.

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