A Man From Dundalk

St. Patricks Cathedral in Dundalk

Growing up an alter boy in the town of Dundalk, Cillian spent most of his young life surrounded by both religion and conflict.  Religion was placed onto him at a young age as his parents pushed him into the arms of the Catholic church as an alter boy. However, his faith in the church was short lived as Cillian now identifies as atheist and has no belief in the Catholic church. When asked why he fell out with the church, he simply said that it was never something that he truly believed in, religion was just something that was a part of his family and community, religion was an expectation. 

Violence was so rampant while growing up in Dundalk that Cillian said the town was nicknamed “Gundalk”. Dundalk is located in the Republic of Ireland along the coast, just south of the Irish border. Being so close to Northern Ireland the people of Dundalk were mixed with Catholics and Protestants, leading to plenty of tension which only escalated when tensions grew in the north. When Cillian was able to he quickly moved out of Dundalk, and now lives with his partner in Dublin. 

Streets of Dundalk

When I asked Cillian about his feelings towards Northern Ireland and all of the conflicts he seemed rather uninterested and indifferent. Cillian does not feel concerned with the affairs of Northern Ireland because he says it is not his fight, and does not involve him. He finds the conflict to reside within the older generations, specifically those who reside in Northern Ireland. Growing up in the Republic he never felt that this was his fight, adding that he does not feel any pressure to choose and support a side of the conflict. However Cillian said that he does support a united Ireland, and it is something he would like to see happen. Cillian said that he was hopeful a united Ireland would exist within the next five to 10 years.