As part of the celebrations for Good Relations Week, the Black Mountain Shared Space building which is situated at the site of the former Finlay factory on Ballygomartin Road was formally opened.
The building is used for a variety of purposes, such as offices, sports, community activities, meetings, and casual gathering places.
The idea is to create a friendly, neutral environment where communities may come together and spend time together.
VIDEO: Today Lord Mayor @Micky_Murray helped to officially open the new Black Mountain Shared Space as part of #GRW2024.
— Belfast City Council (@belfastcc) September 18, 2024
The centre provides a new base where activities will be delivered to bring together historically divided communities.
➡️ https://t.co/gJSISXJoVx pic.twitter.com/s0vVIzaLBL
Funding for the project came from the EU's Peace IV initiative. The Department of Rural and Community Development in the Republic of Ireland, Belfast City Council, and the Department for Communities have all contributed funding.
When the Troubles began at the end of the 1960s, peace walls, also known as peace lines, were originally constructed to separate some unionist and nationalist districts.
About 60 were still there by 2023, mainly in Belfast.
English