Two of Belfast’s most famous landmarks have failed to secure a place on the city’s edition of the Monopoly board.
While the Shankill and Falls Road are arguably the only places in Northern Ireland’s capital that are known the world over, they were notable by their absence when the game was unveiled today.
The Protestant and Catholic working class neighbourhoods endured some of the worst violence of the Troubles and became synonymous with the religious divide that brought 40 years of conflict to the region.
They are no less high profile today, with thousands of tourists flocking to the roads every year to learn more about the city’s turbulent past and see for themselves the loyalist and republican murals that still adorn gable walls.
But though they may be a must see in any real life visit to Belfast, in Monopoly’s virtual tour of the city they have given way to more prosaic destinations such as the Victoria Square shopping centre and the airport. A square has even been allocated to the relatively unheralded Belfast Giants ice hockey team.
Mark Marriott, designer of the Belfast edition of the popular board game, said the company opted for landmarks that were associated with the whole community.
“Obviously we are aware of the history of Belfast and we don’t want to ignore that but also we want to focus on the things that are collective in Belfast for everybody,” he said.
He said the manufacturers had also canvassed local opinion on what should be included, and there was no significant demand for the Shankill and Falls.
“People weren’t really asking for them, what people were asking for is what we put on the board,” he said.
Well known sites that have made the game include the City Hall and Parliament Buildings at Stormont.
Mr Marriott said he hoped the Belfast version would prove popular among city resident and ex-pats around the world.
PA