The Walled Isle?
There’s one thing that’s always puzzled me about Ireland. Well, okay, there’s a bit more than just one thing, but this is one that stuck out. When you drive through Irish towns or cities, you’ll undoubtedly have noticed it. Many housing estates are surrounded by large concrete walls. Indeed, even the gardens of houses themselves are often separated by similar walls, only slightly lower than the towering perimeter walls. The same goes for industrial estates, and even bus stations or train stations. Hell, even parks are more often than not totally enclosed. Even the apartment complex where I live is effectively walled off. Granted, the architects were pretty sneaky about it, but it is still a fully walled-off and gated complex. Perversely though, the one type of property that you’d expect to be fortified to the hilt is often just secured by chain-link fences or old drystone walls: military bases. It’s something I saw with my own eyes on Haulbowline Island, the headquarters of the Irish ...