From Iran With Love

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Sarah Callaghan (top) is from Dublin and travelling around Iran for a month on her own.

Sarah writes:

I have travelled most of Asia alone but have never felt safer and more welcomed than here in Iran. It’s a beautiful country to visit with a unique and kind people.

First day in the capital and I discover Bobby Sands Street in Tehran. A short walk from the newly opened hostel and cultural centre run by Facebook group See You In Iran, it is located along the walls of the British Embassy.

After the Iranian revolution, they renamed all the streets wanting to use inspiring and revolutionary names. On the entrance to the British Embassy, the street previously called Winston Churchill St., was renamed by local students in solidarity with Irish hunger striker Bobby Sands in 1981 (the sign is spelt phonetically).

The British embassy were not too pleased and changed their door to another side to prevent it being their address! Nowadays there is but a chained-up back door (third pic above).

At the time of the name changes and the hunger strike, local students were planning on storming the embassy and putting up Irish flags but couldn’t find any to buy, so they hand-made some. Yet, the orange looked red and, therefore, like the Iranian flag. So, to prevent confusion, they simply wrote signs “Bobby Sands St” and put them up until the name caught on.

I have read there is ironically a Bobby Sands burger restaurant here but when I visited the street in Tehran there was nothing, it is a very quiet street. However, I have heard rumours it is in fact in Esfahan so I will keep an eye.

There is more information and a great story from one of the students who named the street here.

In other Irish/Iranian relations, every male I meet – once they hear Ireland, they shout “Robbie Keane” and proceed to talk about how Ireland kicked Iran out of the World Cup. They also have a soft spot for Roy.

A little bit of home is everywhere…

Previously: Meanwhile, On Bobby Sands Street

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46 thoughts on “From Iran With Love

  1. Happy Molloy

    Nice. I’d love to visit Iran, despite western fear, the fact they had their own Donald Trump before anyone, and that there’s no separation of church and state, they seem like very friendly people in a country that’s teeming with history.

    1. Deluded

      I guess they are referring to her being an unaccompanied woman in *gasp* a muslim country.
      I actually wondered if it was yourself on a bit of a wander, (I know, it’s a thousand miles from where you posted from before, Kenya or Tanzania was it?)

      1. Spaghetti Hoop

        Aye, I’m in Kenya.
        Recently worked with some images of Tehran and it looks stunningly beautiful and rich with artifacts and culture. I see it could be termed a big deal traveling alone as a woman but I think it’s important to do so.

  2. Rainy Day

    Rather a one eyed view, what about the highest execution per capita ratio in the world, and not to mention executing minors?
    Another small point, how friendly would they be if you did not wear the head scarf?….

    1. Starina

      it’s the religious police that enforce that, not the locals. It’s obvs different urban vs rural, but young Tehrani women are renowned for the unique way they wear headscarves that pushes the boudaries on what’s considered “covered”.
      and just reminding everyone that Iran was pretty liberal and super-modern before the Americans installed the “religious types” in power. thanks, ‘murica.

      1. C Sharp

        America didn’t install the “religious types”. They, along with the British, propped up the Shah after they sponsored a coup to oust democrat Mossadegh.

        The “religious types” came along later and got rid of the Shah, later occupying the US embassy and taking the occupants hostage.

        Your black and white worldview is showing.

          1. jusayinlike

            “Every day is a learning day”

            If you scratch deep enough at the surface you will find that Khomeini is an American stooge

        1. Anne

          The Yanks ousted a democratically elected politician, no way man.
          They’ve been telling us they’re all for democracy. And the U.S. public believe they live in the land of the free. That theirs is the best country in the world.

          So if they don’t care about democracy, what they do care about?

          Here’s Chomsky on it –
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dwuqq-Aeao

          I think Iran is mentioned a quarter to half way though. Somewhere around there.. if anyone’s interested.

  3. Increasing Displacement

    Oul lad used to do contract over there before the mad religious type took power. Always said it was great place and people were so friendly. I remember the photos of Tehran with the mountain backdrop used to make me think of mountain surrounded city in The Silmarillion.

  4. Starina

    awesome, and delighted to hear Iran is still so safe for female travellers. flights are suuuuper cheap from Dublin to Tehran, have been thinking about visiting this year.

    1. garthicus

      You’re not kidding, just did a dummy booking on Skyscanner, €292 taxes included for a return trip via London with BA.

  5. Jimmy Rimmel

    There is a babisands kebab place, the cousin was there – don’t know where but it’s Tehran

  6. Ross

    Iranian people are amazing. The Iranian state not so much. I don’t think this piece makes enough of a distinction.

      1. Rob_G

        Could you, though?

        Bad as our lot can be, they don’t actually hang people from cranes in public squares.

        1. realPolithicks

          “they don’t actually hang people from cranes in public squares.”

          True, but you’re setting the bar pretty low there.

  7. Ben Redmond

    The photo of the Irish colleen wearing a trendy headscarf says Babisandz Street. Was that formerly the address of the British Embassy in Tehran?

  8. Daddy

    Fair play to you Sarah.

    There is incredible ignorance here about Iran. Most of the people who come out with the usual cliched Muslim stuff haven’t a clue about the country, its history or culture. They usually know little about anything in fact.

    Iran is a very welcoming and civilised place, full of well educated and culture people.

    And it’s SAFE. How many cities in Ireland can you say that about? Drunked scumbags here. Not in Iran.

    1. C Sharp

      I’d love to visit Iran and have also heard amazing things from people who have visited.
      They do have a serious problem with heroin in Tehran though by most accounts.

      1. jusayinlike

        You have demonstrated you know nothing about Iran, yet turn around and say they have an issue with heroin, get a grip ffs..

  9. Francis lynch

    Hi Sarah. Thanks a million for your post. My wife and I are planning to travel to Iran for 3 weeks in October this year. We would be grateful for any advice you might give us. I dont know if you are in Dublin at the moment but if you are we wounld love to chat to you about it.

    Francis lynch.

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