“How wonderful that we’re in Belfast, which is finally showing it’s beauty, and setting an example to the world, finding out of grief and tragedy, the beginnings and growth of true peace. God bless you Belfast” ~ Brian May (Queen), MTV EMAs Belfast 2011.

I’ve been waiting to get this quote word for word because it made me smile when I heard it. Belfast hosting MTV’s EMAs was a big deal and I’ll admit that I didn’t care very much until it happened. Regardless of musical taste or opinion on current pop culture, even the most perpetual cynic would have found it difficult to deny the buzz last weekend. People were excited, and I think there was a sense of pride also. I walked past a girl clutching her Justin Bieber doll as if she were clutching the real thing. Sure, I laughed at the kid and may have sent a tweet at her expense but I’m a little jealous really. I’m jealous that the teeny bops get to run around the city chasing their pop idols. It wasn’t long ago, but nobody came to Northern Ireland when I was younger.  

Belfast is a city synonymous with trouble and prejudice, victim to a history of sectarian divide and political atrocity. Unfortunately its reputation precedes itself but I’ve noticed a slow but very sure transformation. Having spent time living outside of Northern Ireland, I now appreciate my home more for what it is. MTV arriving this month was a testament to how far we’ve come. What I thought was really cool was the high tech staging and sound systems set up in the city centre, with hip hop dancers and music artists performing right in front of the old Queen Victoria statue at City Hall. Not only was it a great photo op, it was a great physical representation of the significance of the weekend. Nobody here wants the past to be forgotten or hidden away; people just want to move forward. So thank-you MTV for choosing Belfast as your European hosts this year. We had a ball.