Is Belfast safe to visit for an ex squaddie?

A mate is planning a stag trip to Belfast but he's an ex British squaddie, Is it safe to visit and is it best to keep quiet about his past?

Thankx Linda C, Whats the general feeling towards young english guys in the pubs over there?????

i live in londonderry, and i no it can be dangerous for ex solider men to come over, but it all depends on your age, and how long you have left, but you should be ok, the troubles are starting to calm down
to be honest not great, once people here a english accent, it can be a problem, just wana be honest
my dads english and he lives here, and has never had any problems if that helps, but he doesnt go to bars, so i comment there
my cousin sometimes comes over from england, and we would go out to a bar, but we have to be careful were we go, and he is scared to speak!
and any way, theres better places than belfast! serioulsy belfast isnt great! for nighlife! dublin may be more intersting! or just as cheep to go to amsterstam
hope all goes well

uummmmmmm NO... Are you mad ?

Unless he has "I shoot Catholics" tatooed on his forehead, he should be fine.

Why not just go somewhere else?

dont mention his past at all I came back from Belfast after a short trip in November and there are still a few sore heads around....

no , I would advocate it...

im english and i live 20 mins from belfast,its safe hun but as i wouldnt go shouting my views and beliefs out without knowing the community im sat in, hed be wise to keep it under his hat a bit. why talk the past when the past is done and over with,thats what the peace treaty is all about forgiving and forgetting and moving on . i find it a lovely part of the world to live in (and im a single mum and in a wheelchair too) so if i can feel safe a big bloke who can handle himself should do too!

If this mate starts blabbing after a drink or three, there will be trouble, from both sides. Keep out of the north. Dublin may be more acceptable, but even there they are getting fed-up with drunken, spewing yobs who can't control themselves.
Wherever he decides to go, he should remember this, what sort of nick would he like to spend the rest of his stay in, and what would his room-mates be like.

Despite all the urban myths in NI, people cannot tell other people's affiliations by the distance between their eyes - as long as you don't go around trumpeting this information how would anybody know?

Stay in the city centre and protestant areas like east belfast where you will be made welcome but plse don't go mouthing off about anything i've lived here all my life and if i'm out of my own area i would be careful of what i said, holywood which is about 10 mins from Belfast has a lot of ex squaddies living there. lol and hope you enjoy the craic!

He should be safe providing he doesn't plan on advertising his past and refrains from socialising in predominantly republican areas. There are lots of English people who visit/move to Belfast so I can鈥檛 see why he should be in any danger if he is discreet.

Should be fine - I was there with a group of friends in early December and didnt have/notice any trouble (but I'm not a ex-squaddie). Everyone seemed to get on and have a good time. It feels in many ways just like a large English town/city.

Best to keep quiet about past and not behave in a rowdy manner that will pi5S people off. Like previous answerer said - stick to the city centre and you should be ok.