Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is located in the North Atlantic Ocean and is in the north-eastern part of the island.  Ireland as a whole is the third largest European island after Gt. Britain and Iceland.  It is located NW of Continental Europe and separated from Gt. Britain by the Irish Sea.  The capital city of Northern Ireland is Belfast with Derry being the next largest city. The population of N. Ireland is close to two million.  Currency is the pound sterling. 

Northern Ireland is made up of twenty-six separate districts which comprise the Belfast and Londonderry boroughs, and the counties of Armagh, Antrim, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone.  The combined areas are commonly known as Ulster.

To attempt to clarify the situation for residents of other countries: The largest part of the island of Ireland, to the south and west is made up of the independent Republic of Ireland, known simply as Ireland or the Irish name ‘Eire’.  The capital city is Dublin.  Population is in the region of 4.5 million.  However, this article focuses on Northern Ireland. 

Ireland’s political history is too complicated to attempt here, and it can be confusing.  In the past, the struggles between Catholics and Protestants, known as ‘The Troubles’ and the tactics of the IRA made it unwise to visit this beautiful green land.  Things have changed in today’s world following the ceasefires. The Irish are friendly and hospitable people so you will be sure of a warm welcome.  Many visitors, especially Americans, visit Ireland in search of their family roots and it is believed that there are over twenty million people of Irish descent living in the USA and Canada!
 
Located off the northeast coast of Nothern Ireland is the Giant’s Causeway - a UNESCO World Heritage site - and a must-see.  For more information visit: www.causewaycoastandglens.com.  Northern Ireland has beautiful mountains, rugged terrain, hills valleys, forests, lakes and of course miles of coastline and the sea.  Outdoor activities are widely available, such as horseback riding, hiking, camping, cycling, mountain biking, climbing and golfing.  Northern Ireland is known as one of Europe’s great places for angling.  Many surfers flock to Northern Ireland for the water sports, and the surfing in the Atlantic Ocean.  It is also popular for scuba- and wreck-diving, kayaking sailing and waterskiing.

No everyone wants all that action and adventure however.  So, for those who want to relax, see the country and take in some culture, there are plenty of museums, stately homes and gardens, castles, monuments and historic attractions such as The Giant’s Causeway and Carrickfergus Castle.

To keep the children happy you can visit locations such as Belfast Zoo, the Exploris Aquarium, Planetarium, or one of the many parks and wildlife centres.  Don’t forget to take in a Titanic tour or Boat Trip as the doomed Titanic ocean liner was built in Belfast.  Beach lovers will not be disappointed.  Northern Ireland has a variety of lovely beaches, some with long stretches of golden sand and sand dunes, others with limestone cliffs, and many popular Blue Flag beaches.

History lovers will enjoy the walled city of Derry which sits overlooking the Foyle river, and also the Norman Castles and many 17th century buildings.  There are Stone Age sites in the Tyrone area and also in Fermanagh.  Throughout Northern Ireland there are many antiquities and places to explore such as the Medieval Carrickfergus Castle, Scrabo Tower, Navan  Fort and Nendrum Monastic site.  You can delve into stories of the giant Finn MacCool who, according to legend, built the Giant’s Causeway to reach Scotland.  Visit www.culturenorthernireland.org for more information.

If night life is a high priority, you won’t be disappointed as there are plenty of pubs, restaurants, clubs and discos in Belfast and other areas. You will find friendly pubs with live traditional music, Guinness and hearty food.  If you prefer classical music or the theatre you will be sure to find something to suit your tastes.  The Waterfront Hall, Odyssey Arena, Grand Opera House and Lyric theatre are all popular venues. 

Traditional Irish folk music and dance is extremely popular and includes well known bands such as The Chieftains and The Dubliners.  Many popular rock bands and singers have emerged from ireland including U2, Van Morrison, Snow Patrol, The Pogues, Sinéad O'Connor and Enya.

Other famous people from Ireland include the actors Liam Neeson, Sam Neill and Kenneth Branagh.  Sporting celebrities include footballer George Best.   Many famous writers are included on the list, including C S Lewis who was born in Belfast, Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett.

For more information about Northern Ireland visit: www.discovernorthernireland.com.

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