Irish Sea
Cities and towns
Table:
Rank

City/town

County

Region/province

Population

Country

1

Dublin

County Dublin

Leinster

1,173,179

Republic of Ireland

2

Liverpool

Merseyside

North West

864,122

England

3

Belfast

County Antrim

Ulster

847,153

Northern Ireland

4

Blackpool

Lancashire

North West

82,964

England

5

Morecambe

Lancashire

North West

50,525

England

6

Birkenhead

Merseyside

North West

49,242

England

7

Bangor

County Down

Ulster

41,011

Northern Ireland

8

Wallasey

Merseyside

North West

43,656a

England

9

Barrow-in-Furness

Cumbria

North West

42,643

England

10

Crosby

Merseyside

North West

41,789

England

11

Lytham St Annes

Lancashire

North West

42,954

England

12

Drogheda

County Louth

Leinster

40,956

Republic of Ireland

13

Dundalk

County Louth

Leinster

39,004

Republic of Ireland

14

Morecambe

Lancashire

North West

55,589

England

15

Bray

County Wicklow

Leinster

32,600

Republic of Ireland

16

Colwyn Bay

Conwy

Clwyd

31,353

Wales

17

Thornton-Cleveleys

Lancashire

North West

31,157

England

18

Douglas

-

Isle of Man

27,938

Isle of Man

19

Carrickfergus

County Antrim

Ulster

27,903

Northern Ireland

20

Dún Laoghaire

Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown

Leinster

26,525

Republic of Ireland

Based on the given table and the background passages listed below.

Respond to the question below: The city with the most people living in it is surrounded by what mountains ? Respond with the correct answer (omit explanations) in JSON format as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Do not introduce information beyond the provided sources.

Dublin ( /ˈdʌblɪn/ , locally /ˈdʊb-/ ; Irish : Baile Átha Cliath [ ˈbˠalʲə aːhə ˈklʲiə ; ˌbʲlʲaː ˈklʲiə ] ) is the capital and largest city of Ireland . Situated on a bay on the east coast , at the mouth of the River Liffey , it lies within the province of Leinster . It is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains , a part of the Wicklow Mountains range . It has an urban area population of 1,173,179 , while the population of the Dublin Region ( formerly County Dublin ) as of 2016 [ update ] was 1,347,359 . The population of the Greater Dublin Area was 1,904,806 per the 2016 census . There is archaeological debate regarding precisely where Dublin was established by the Gaels in or before the 7th century AD . Later expanded as a Viking settlement , the Kingdom of Dublin , the city became Ireland 's principal settlement following the Norman invasion . The city expanded rapidly from the 17th century and was briefly the second largest city in the British Empire before the Acts of Union in 1800 . Following the partition of Ireland in 1922 , Dublin became the capital of the Irish Free State , later renamed Ireland . Dublin is a historical and contemporary centre for education , the arts , administration and industry . As of 2018 [ update ] the city was listed by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network ( GaWC ) as a global city , with a ranking of Alpha − , which places it amongst the top thirty cities in the world .
County Dublin ( Irish : Contae Bhaile Átha Cliath or Contae Átha Cliath ) is one of the thirty-two traditional counties of Ireland . Prior to 1994 it was also an administrative county covering the whole county outside of Dublin City Council . In 1994 , as part of a reorganisation of local government within Dublin the boundaries of Dublin City were redrawn , Dublin County Council was abolished and three new administrative county councils were established : Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown , Fingal and South Dublin . While it is no longer used as an administrative division for local government , it retains a strong identity in popular culture . It is in the province of Leinster , and is named after the city of Dublin , the capital city of Ireland . County Dublin was one of the first parts of Ireland to be shired by John , King of England following the Norman invasion of Ireland . According to the 2016 census , the total population of County Dublin was 1,345,402 , approximately 27% of the Republic of Ireland 's population . The county is a NUTS 3 region , and is part of the NUTS 2 region of Eastern and Midland .
Leinster ( /ˈlɛnstər/ LEN-stər ; Irish : Laighin [ ˈl̪ˠaːjɪnʲ ] or Cúige Laighean [ ˈkuːɟə ˈl̪ˠaɪnˠ ] ) is one of the provinces of Ireland , situated in the east of Ireland . The Leinster province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath , Leinster and Osraige . Following the 12th-century Norman invasion of Ireland , the historic fifths of Leinster and Meath gradually merged , mainly due to the impact of the Pale , which straddled both , thereby forming the present-day province of Leinster . The ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes . In later centuries , local government legislation has seen further sub-division of the historic counties . Leinster has no official function for local-government purposes . However , the province is an officially recognised subdivision of Ireland . It is listed on ISO 3166-2 as one of the four provinces of Ireland and IE-L is attributed to Leinster as its country sub-division code . Leinster had a population of 2,630,720 according to the preliminary results of the 2016 census , making it the most populous province in the country . The traditional flag of Leinster features a golden harp on a green background .
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside , England . As of 2018 , the population is approximately 494,814 . Liverpool is the ninth-largest English district by population , and the largest in Merseyside and the Liverpool City Region . It lies within the United Kingdom 's sixth-most populous urban area . Liverpool 's metropolitan area is the fifth-largest in the United Kingdom , with a population of 2.24 million . Liverpool is on the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary , and historically lay within the ancient hundred of West Derby in the southwest of the county of Lancashire in North West England . It became a borough in 1207 and a city in 1880 . In 1889 , it became a county borough independent of Lancashire . Its growth as a major port was paralleled by the expansion of the city throughout the Industrial Revolution . Along with handling general cargo , freight , and raw materials such as coal and cotton , the city merchants were involved in the Atlantic slave trade . In the 19th century , it was a major port of departure for English and Irish emigrants to North America . Liverpool was home to both the Cunard and White Star Line , and was the port of registry of the ocean liners RMS Titanic , RMS Lusitania , RMS Queen Mary , and RMS Olympic .
Merseyside ( /ˈmɜːrzisaɪd/ MUR-zee-syde ) is a metropolitan county in North West England , with a population of 1.38 million . It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary and comprises five metropolitan boroughs : Knowsley , St Helens , Sefton , Wirral , and the city of Liverpool . Merseyside , which was created on 1 April 1974 as a result of the Local Government Act 1972 , takes its name from the River Mersey . Merseyside spans 249 square miles ( 645 km2 ) of land which border Lancashire ( to the north-east ) , Greater Manchester ( to the east ) , Cheshire ( to the south and south-east ) and the Irish Sea to the west . North Wales is across the Dee Estuary . There is a mix of high density urban areas , suburbs , semi-rural and rural locations in Merseyside , but overwhelmingly the land use is urban . It has a focused central business district , formed by Liverpool City Centre , but Merseyside is also a polycentric county with five metropolitan districts , each of which has at least one major town centre and outlying suburbs . The Liverpool Urban Area is the fifth most populous conurbation in England , and dominates the geographic centre of the county , while the smaller Birkenhead Urban Area dominates the Wirral Peninsula in the south . For the 12 years following 1974 the county had a two-tier system of local government ; district councils shared power with the Merseyside County Council . The county council was abolished in 1986 , and so its districts ( the metropolitan boroughs ) are now effectively unitary authority areas . However , the metropolitan county continues to exist in law and as a geographic frame of reference , and several county-wide services are co-ordinated by authorities and joint-boards , such as Merseytravel ( for public transport ) , Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and the Merseyside Police ( for law-enforcement ) ; as a ceremonial county , Merseyside has a Lord Lieutenant and a High Sheriff . As the Lancashire county palatine boundaries remain the same as the historic boundaries , the High Sheriff of Merseyside , along with those of Lancashire and Greater Manchester are appointed within the Duchy and County Palatine of Lancaster .
North West England , one of nine official regions of England , consists of the five counties of Cheshire , Cumbria , Greater Manchester , Lancashire and Merseyside . The North West had a population of 7,052,000 in 2011 . It is the third-most-populated region in the United Kingdom after the South East and Greater London . The largest settlements are Manchester , Liverpool , Warrington , Preston , Blackpool and Chester .
Belfast ( /ˈbɛlfɑːst/ BEL-fahst ; from Irish : Béal Feirste , meaning mouth of the sand-bank ford , Irish pronunciation : [ bʲeːlˠ ˈfʲɛɾˠ ( ə ) ʃtʲə ] ) is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland , standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast of Northern Ireland . It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdom and the second-largest on the island of Ireland . It had a population of 333,871 as of 2015 [ update ] . Belfast suffered greatly in the Troubles : in the 1970s and 1980s it was reported to be one of the world 's most dangerous cities , with a homicide rate around 31 per 100,000 . By the early 19th century , Belfast became a major port . It played a key role in the Industrial Revolution , becoming the biggest linen-producer in the world , earning it the nickname Linenopolis . By the time it was granted city status in 1888 , it was a major centre of Irish linen production , tobacco-processing and rope-making . Shipbuilding was also a key industry ; the Harland and Wolff shipyard , which built the RMS Titanic , was the world 's biggest shipyard . Belfast as of 2019 [ update ] has a major aerospace and missiles industry . Industrialisation , and the inward migration it brought , made Belfast Northern Ireland 's biggest city and it became the capital of Northern Ireland following the Partition of Ireland in 1922 . Its status as a global industrial centre ended in the decades after the Second World War of 1939-1945 . Belfast is still a major port , with commercial and industrial docks , including the Harland and Wolff shipyard , dominating the Belfast Lough shoreline .
County Antrim ( named after the town of Antrim , from Irish : Aontroim , meaning lone ridge , [ ˈeːnˠt̪ˠɾˠɪmʲ ] ) is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland . Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh , the county covers an area of 3,046 square kilometres ( 1,176 sq mi ) and has a population of about 618,000 . County Antrim has a population density of 203 people per square kilometre or 526 people per square mile . It is also one of the thirty-two traditional counties of Ireland , as well as part of the historic province of Ulster . The Glens of Antrim offer isolated rugged landscapes , the Giant 's Causeway is a unique landscape and a UNESCO World Heritage Site , Bushmills produces whiskey , and Portrush is a popular seaside resort and night-life area . The majority of Belfast , the capital city of Northern Ireland , is in County Antrim , with the remainder being in County Down . According to the 2001 census , it is currently one of only two counties of Ireland in which a majority of the population are from a Protestant background . The other is County Down to the south .
Ulster ( /ˈʌlstər/ ; Irish : Ulaidh [ ˈʊlˠəi ] or Cúige Uladh [ ˌkuːɟə ˈʊlˠə ] ; Ulster Scots : Ulstèr or Ulster ) is one of the four traditional Irish provinces , situated in the north of Ireland . It is made up of nine counties : six of these constitute Northern Ireland ( a part of the United Kingdom ) ; the remaining three are in the Republic of Ireland . It is the second largest ( after Munster ) and second most populous ( after Leinster ) of Ireland 's four provinces , with Belfast being its biggest city . Unlike the other provinces , Ulster has a high percentage of Protestants , making up almost half of its population . English is the main language and Ulster English the main dialect . A minority also speak Irish , and there are Gaeltacht ( Irish-speaking regions ) in southern County Londonderry , the Gaeltacht Quarter of Belfast and in Donegal , where 25% of the total Gaeltacht population of Ireland is located . Lough Neagh , in the east , is the largest lake in the British Isles , while Lough Erne in the west is one of its largest lake networks . The main mountain ranges are the Mournes , Sperrins , Croaghgorms and Derryveagh Mountains . Historically , Ulster lay at the heart of the Gaelic world made up of Gaelic Ireland , Scotland and the Isle of Man . According to tradition , in ancient Ireland it was one of the fifths ( Irish : cúige ) ruled by a rí ruirech , or king of over-kings . It is named after the overkingdom of Ulaid , in the east of the province , which was in turn named after the Ulaid folk . The other overkingdoms in Ulster were Airgíalla and Ailech .
Northern Ireland ( Irish : Tuaisceart Éireann [ ˈt̪ˠuəʃcəɾˠt̪ˠ ˈeːɾʲən̪ˠ ] ( listen ) ; Ulster-Scots : Norlin Airlann ) is variously described as a country , province or region which is part of the United Kingdom . Located in the northeast of the island of Ireland , Northern Ireland shares a border to the south and west with the Republic of Ireland . In 2011 , its population was 1,810,863 , constituting about 30% of the island 's total population and about 3% of the UK 's population . Established by the Northern Ireland Act 1998 as part of the Good Friday Agreement , the Northern Ireland Assembly ( colloquially referred to as Stormont after its location ) holds responsibility for a range of devolved policy matters , while other areas are reserved for the British government . Northern Ireland co-operates with the Republic of Ireland in several areas , and the Agreement granted the Republic the ability to put forward views and proposals with determined efforts to resolve disagreements between the two governments . On 11 January 2020 , legislators in Northern Ireland formed a government for the first time since the Executive of the 5th Northern Ireland Assembly collapsed in January 2017 , following the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal . Northern Ireland was created in 1921 , when Ireland was partitioned between Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland by the Government of Ireland Act 1920 . Unlike Southern Ireland , which would become the Irish Free State in 1922 , the majority of Northern Ireland 's population were unionists , who wanted to remain within the United Kingdom . Most of these were the Protestant descendants of colonists from Great Britain . However , a significant minority , mostly Catholics , were nationalists who wanted a united Ireland independent of British rule . Today , the former generally see themselves as British and the latter generally see themselves as Irish , while a distinct Northern Irish or Ulster identity is claimed both by a large minority of Catholics and Protestants and by many of those who are non-aligned . For most of the 20th century , when it came into existence , Northern Ireland was marked by discrimination and hostility between these two sides in what First Minister of Northern Ireland , David Trimble , called a cold house for Catholics .
Blackpool /ˈblækpuːl/ ( listen ) is a town and seaside resort on the Lancashire coast in North West England . The town is on the Irish Sea , between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries , 15 miles ( 24 km ) northwest of Preston , 27 miles ( 43 km ) north of Liverpool , 28 miles ( 45 km ) northwest of Bolton and 40 miles ( 64 km ) northwest of Manchester . It had an estimated population of 139,720 at the 2011 Census , making it the most populous town in Lancashire . Throughout the Medieval and Early Modern period , Blackpool was a coastal hamlet in Lancashire 's Hundred of Amounderness , and remained such until the mid-18th century when it became fashionable in England to travel to the coast in the summer to improve well-being . In 1781 , visitors attracted to Blackpool 's 7-mile ( 11 km ) sandy beach were able to use a new private road , built by Thomas Clifton and Sir Henry Hoghton . Stagecoaches began running to Blackpool from Manchester in the same year , and from Halifax in 1782 . In the early 19th century , Henry Banks and his son-in-law John Cocker erected new buildings in Blackpool such that its population grew from less than 500 in 1801 to over 2,500 in 1851 . St John 's Church in Blackpool was consecrated in 1821 . Blackpool rose to prominence as a major centre of tourism in England when a railway was built in the 1840s connecting it to the industrialised regions of Northern England . The railway made it much easier and cheaper for visitors to reach Blackpool , triggering an influx of settlers , such that in 1876 Blackpool was incorporated as a borough , governed by its own town council and aldermen . In 1881 , Blackpool was a booming resort with a population of 14,000 and a promenade complete with piers , fortune-tellers , public houses , trams , donkey rides , fish-and-chip shops and theatres . By 1901 the population of Blackpool was 47,000 , by which time its place was cemented as the archetypal British seaside resort .
Lancashire ( /ˈlæŋkəʃər/ LANG-kə-shər , /-ʃɪər/ -⁠sheer ; abbreviated Lancs . ) is a ceremonial county in North West England . The administrative centre is Preston . The county has a population of 1,449,300 and an area of 1,189 square miles ( 3,080 km2 ) . People from Lancashire are known as Lancastrians . The history of Lancashire begins with its founding in the 12th century . In the Domesday Book of 1086 , some of its lands were treated as part of Yorkshire . The land that lay between the Ribble and Mersey , Inter Ripam et Mersam , was included in the returns for Cheshire . When its boundaries were established , it bordered Cumberland , Westmorland , Yorkshire , and Cheshire . Lancashire emerged as a major commercial and industrial region during the Industrial Revolution . Liverpool and Manchester grew into its largest cities , with economies built around the docks and the cotton mills respectively . These cities dominated global trade and the birth of modern industrial capitalism .
Southport is a large seaside town in Merseyside , England . At the 2001 census , it had a population of 90,336 , making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England . Southport lies on the Irish Sea coast and is fringed to the north by the Ribble estuary . The town is 16.7 miles ( 26.9 km ) north of Liverpool and 14.8 miles ( 23.8 km ) southwest of Preston . Historically part of Lancashire , the town was founded in 1792 when William Sutton , an innkeeper from Churchtown , built a bathing house at what is now the south end of Lord Street . At that time , the area , known as South Hawes , was sparsely populated and dominated by sand dunes . At the turn of the 19th century , the area became popular with tourists due to the easy access from the nearby Leeds and Liverpool Canal . The rapid growth of Southport largely coincided with the Industrial Revolution and the Victorian era . Town attractions include Southport Pier , the second longest seaside pleasure pier in the British Isles , and Lord Street is an elegant tree-lined shopping street . Extensive sand dunes stretch for several miles from Woodvale to Birkdale , the south of the town . The Ainsdale sand dunes have been designated as a national nature reserve and a Ramsar site . Local fauna include the natterjack toad and the sand lizard .
Birkenhead ( /ˌbɜːrkənˈhɛd/ ) is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral , Merseyside , England . Historically until 1974 in Cheshire , it is on the Wirral Peninsula , along the west bank of the River Mersey , opposite the city of Liverpool . At the 2011 census , it had a population of 88,818 . Birkenhead Priory and the Mersey Ferry were established in the 12th century . In the 19th century , Birkenhead expanded greatly as a consequence of the Industrial Revolution . Birkenhead Park and Hamilton Square were laid out as well as the first street tramway in Britain . The Mersey Railway connected Birkenhead and Liverpool , with the world 's first tunnel beneath a tidal estuary , and the shipbuilding firm Cammell Laird and a seaport were established . In the second half of the 20th century , the town suffered a significant period of decline , with containerisation causing a reduction in port activity . The Wirral Waters development is planned to regenerate much of the dockland .
Bangor ( /ˈbæŋɡər/ ; from Irish : Beannchar [ ˈbʲaːn̪ˠəxaɾˠ ] ) is a town in County Down , Northern Ireland . It is a seaside resort on the southern side of Belfast Lough and within the Belfast Metropolitan Area . It functions as a commuter town for the Greater Belfast area , which it is linked to by the A2 road and the Belfast-Bangor railway line . Bangor is situated 13.6 miles ( 22 km ) east from the heart of Belfast , not far from George Best Belfast City Airport . The population was 61,011 at the 2011 Census . Bangor is part of the North Down constituency . Tourism is important to the local economy , particularly in the summer months , and plans are being made for the long-delayed redevelopment of the seafront ; a notable historical building in the town is Bangor Old Custom House . The largest plot of private land in the area , the Clandeboye Estate , which is located a few miles from the town centre , belongs to the Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava . Bangor hosts the Royal Ulster and Ballyholme yacht clubs . Bangor Marina is one of the largest in both Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland , and holds Blue Flag status . The town is twinned with Bregenz in Austria and Virginia Beach in the United States .
County Down ( Irish : Contae an Dúin ) is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland , in the northeast of the island of Ireland . It covers an area of 2,448 km2 ( 945 sq mi ) and has a population of 531,665 . It is also one of the thirty-two traditional counties of Ireland and is within the province of Ulster . It borders County Antrim to the north , the Irish Sea to the east , County Armagh to the west , and County Louth across Carlingford Lough to the southwest . In the east of the county is Strangford Lough and the Ards Peninsula . The largest town is Bangor , on the northeast coast . Three other large towns and cities are on its border : Newry lies on the western border with County Armagh , while Lisburn and Belfast lie on the northern border with County Antrim . Down contains both the southernmost point of Northern Ireland ( Cranfield Point ) and the easternmost point of Ireland ( Burr Point ) . It was one of two counties of Northern Ireland to have a Protestant majority at the 2001 census . The other Protestant majority County is County Antrim to the North . [ citation needed ] In March 2018 , The Sunday Times published its list of Best Places to Live in Britain , including five in Northern Ireland . The list included three in County Down : Holywood , Newcastle , and Strangford .
Wallasey ( /ˈwɒləsi/ ) is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral , in Merseyside , England , on the mouth of the River Mersey , at the northeastern corner of the Wirral Peninsula . At the 2011 Census , the population was 60,284 .
Barrow-in-Furness is a town in Cumbria , North-West England . Historically part of Lancashire , it was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1867 and merged with Dalton-in-Furness Urban District in 1974 to form the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness . At the tip of the Furness peninsula , close to the Lake District , it is bordered by Morecambe Bay , the Duddon Estuary and the Irish Sea . In 2011 , Barrow 's population was 57,000 , making it the second largest urban area in Cumbria after Carlisle , although it is geographically closer to the whole of Lancashire and most of Merseyside . Natives of Barrow , as well as the local dialect , are known as Barrovian . In the Middle Ages , Barrow was a small hamlet within the parish of Dalton-in-Furness with Furness Abbey , now on the outskirts of the modern-day town , controlling the local economy before its dissolution in 1537 . The iron prospector Henry Schneider arrived in Furness in 1839 and , with other investors , opened the Furness Railway in 1846 to transport iron ore and slate from local mines to the coast . Further hematite deposits were discovered , of sufficient size to develop factories for smelting and exporting steel . For a period of the late 19th century , the Barrow Hematite Steel Company-owned steelworks was the world 's largest . Barrow 's location and the availability of steel allowed the town to develop into a significant producer of naval vessels , a shift that was accelerated during World War I and the local yard 's specialisation in submarines . The original iron- and steel-making enterprises closed down after World War II , leaving Vickers shipyard as Barrow 's main industry and employer . Several Royal Navy flagships , the vast majority of its nuclear submarines as well as numerous other naval vessels , ocean liners and oil tankers have been manufactured at the facility .
Cumbria ( /ˈkʌmbriə/ KUM-bree-ə ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in North West England . The county and Cumbria County Council , its local government , came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972 . Cumbria 's county town is Carlisle , in the north of the county , and the only other major urban area is Barrow-in-Furness on the southwestern tip of the county . The county of Cumbria consists of six districts ( Allerdale , Barrow-in-Furness , Carlisle , Copeland , Eden , and South Lakeland ) and in 2008 had a population of just under 500,000 people . Cumbria is one of the most sparsely populated counties in England , with 73.4 people per km2 ( 190/sq mi ) . Cumbria is the third largest county in England by area , and is bounded to the north by the Scottish council areas of Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders , to the west by the Irish Sea , to the south by Lancashire , to the southeast by North Yorkshire , and to the east by County Durham and Northumberland . Cumbria is predominantly rural and contains the Lake District National Park , a UNESCO World Heritage Site considered one of England 's finest areas of natural beauty , serving as inspiration for artists , writers , and musicians . A large area of the southeast of the county is within the Yorkshire Dales National Park while the east of the county fringes the North Pennines AONB . Much of Cumbria is mountainous , and it contains every peak in England over 3,000 feet ( 910 m ) above sea level , with Scafell Pike at 3,209 feet ( 978 m ) being the highest point of England . An upland , coastal , and rural area , Cumbria 's history is characterised by invasions , migration , and settlement , as well as battles and skirmishes between the English and the Scots . Notable historic sites in Cumbria include Carlisle Castle , Furness Abbey , Hardknott Roman Fort , Brough Castle and Hadrian 's Wall ( also a World Heritage Site ) .
Crosby is a coastal town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton , in Merseyside , England . Historically in Lancashire , it is situated north of Bootle , south of Southport and Formby and west of Netherton .
Lytham St Annes ( /ˈlɪðəm sənt ˈænz/ ) is a seaside resort on the Fylde coast of Lancashire , England , south of Blackpool on the Ribble Estuary . The population at the 2011 census was 42,954 . Lytham St Annes has four golf courses and links , the most notable being the Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club , which has hosted the Open Championship 11 times from 1926 until its most recent in 2012 . The Open brings a major influx of visitors , including the world 's media . Lytham St Annes is a reasonably affluent area with residents ' earnings among the highest in the North of England .
Drogheda ( /ˈdrɒhədə , ˈdrɔːdə/ ; Irish : Droichead Átha [ ˈd̪ˠɾˠɛhəd̪ˠ ˈaːhə ] , meaning bridge at the ford ) is one of the oldest towns in Ireland . It is located on the Dublin-Belfast corridor on the east coast of Ireland , mostly in County Louth but with the south fringes of the town in County Meath , 49 km or 30 miles north of Dublin . Drogheda has a population of approximately 41,000 inhabitants ( 2016 ) , making it the eleventh largest settlement by population in all of Ireland . It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea . The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Newgrange is located 8 km west of the city .
County Louth ( /laʊð/ Irish : Contae Lú ) is a county in the Republic of Ireland . It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the Mid-East Region . It is named after the village of Louth . Louth County Council is the local authority for the county . According to the 2016 census , the population of the county was 128,884 .
Dundalk ( /dʌnˈdɔːk/ , Irish : Dún Dealgan [ ˌd̪ˠuːnˠ ˈdʲalˠɡənˠ ] , meaning Dalgan 's fort ) is the county town of County Louth , Ireland . It is on the Castletown River , which flows into Dundalk Bay , and near the border with Northern Ireland , halfway between Dublin and Belfast . It has associations with the mythical warrior hero Cú Chulainn . [ citation needed ]
Morecambe ( /ˈmɔːrkəm/ MOR-kəm ) is a coastal town on the Irish Sea . Population of Morecambe and Heysham is 55,428 , With Morecambe itself is 42,589 .
Bray ( Irish : Bré [ bʲɾʲeː ] ) is a coastal town in north County Wicklow , Ireland . It is situated about 20 km ( 12 mi ) south of Dublin city centre on the east coast . It has a population of 32,600 making it the ninth largest urban area within Ireland ( at the 2016 census ) . Bray was a resort town , and its proximity to Dublin make it a destination for tourists and day-trippers from the capital . [ citation needed ] Bray is home to Ardmore Studios , and some light industry is located in the town , with some business and retail parks on its southern periphery . Commuter links between Bray and Dublin are provided by rail , Dublin Bus and the M11 and M50 motorways .
County Wicklow ( /ˈwɪkloʊ/ WIK-loh ; Irish : Contae Chill Mhantáin [ ˈkɔnˠt̪ˠeː ˈçɪl̠ʲ ˈwanˠt̪ˠaːnʲ ] ) is a county in Ireland . The last of the traditional 32 counties to be formed , as late as 1606 , it is part of the Mid-East Region and also part of the traditional province of Leinster . It is named after the town of Wicklow , which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingaló , meaning Vikings ' Meadow . Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county . The county had a population of 142,425 at the 2016 census [ update ] .
Colwyn Bay ( Welsh : Bae Colwyn ) is a town , community and seaside resort in Conwy County Borough on the north coast of Wales overlooking the Irish Sea . Eight neighbouring communities are incorporated within its postal district . Established as its own separate parish in 1844 with just a small grouping of homes and farms where the community of Old Colwyn stands today , Colwyn Bay has expanded to become the second-largest community and business centre in the north of Wales as well as the 15th largest in the whole of Wales with the urban statistical area - including Old Colwyn , Rhos-on-Sea , and Mochdre and Penrhyn Bay . having a population of 34,284 at the 2011 census
Conwy County Borough ( Welsh : Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy ) is a unitary authority area in North Wales .
Clwyd ( Welsh pronunciation : [ ˈklʊɨd ] ) is a preserved county of Wales , situated in the north-east corner of the country ; it is named after the River Clwyd , which runs through the county . To the north lies the Irish Sea , with the English counties of Cheshire to the east and Shropshire to the south-east . The Welsh counties of Powys and Gwynedd lie to the south and west respectively . Clwyd also shares a maritime boundary with the English county of Merseyside along the River Dee . Between 1974 and 1996 , it was a county with a county council , one of the eight counties into which Wales was divided , and was subdivided into six districts . In 1996 , the county of Clwyd was abolished , and the new unitary authorities of Wrexham , Conwy County Borough , Denbighshire , and Flintshire were created ; under this reorganisation , Clwyd became a preserved county , with the name being retained for certain ceremonial functions . This area of north-eastern Wales has been settled since prehistoric times ; the Romans built a fort beside a ford on the River Conwy , and the Normans and Welsh disputed the territory . They built their castles at strategic locations as they advanced and retreated , but in the end England prevailed , and Edward I conquered the country in 1282 . The Act of Union in 1535 incorporated Wales under the English Crown and made it subject to English law . Traditionally , agriculture was the mainstay of the economy of this part of Wales , but with the Industrial Revolution , the North Wales Coalfield was developed and parts of eastern Clwyd around the Dee estuary and Wrexham became industrialised . The advent of the railway running from Chester along the North Wales coast in the mid-19th century made it easy for urban dwellers from Lancashire and Cheshire to visit the seaside towns of North Wales .
Wales ( Welsh : Cymru [ ˈkəmri ] ( listen ) ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom . It is bordered by England to the east , the Irish Sea to the north and west , and the Bristol Channel to the south . It had a population in 2011 of 3,063,456 and has a total area of 20,779 km2 ( 8,023 sq mi ) . Wales has over 1,680 miles ( 2,700 km ) of coastline and is largely mountainous with its higher peaks in the north and central areas , including Snowdon ( Yr Wyddfa ) , its highest summit . The country lies within the north temperate zone and has a changeable , maritime climate . Welsh national identity emerged among the Britons after the Roman withdrawal from Britain in the 5th century , and Wales is regarded as one of the modern Celtic nations . Llywelyn ap Gruffudd 's death in 1282 marked the completion of Edward I of England 's conquest of Wales , though Owain Glyndŵr briefly restored independence to Wales in the early 15th century . The whole of Wales was annexed by England and incorporated within the English legal system under the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542 . Distinctive Welsh politics developed in the 19th century . Welsh Liberalism , exemplified in the early 20th century by Lloyd George , was displaced by the growth of socialism and the Labour Party . Welsh national feeling grew over the century ; Plaid Cymru was formed in 1925 and the Welsh Language Society in 1962 . Established under the Government of Wales Act 1998 , the National Assembly for Wales holds responsibility for a range of devolved policy matters .
Thornton-Cleveleys is a conurbation consisting of the twin towns of Thornton and Cleveleys . The two towns formed a joint urban district from 1927 until 1974 , before becoming part of Wyre . The two towns constitute part of the Blackpool Urban Area .
Douglas ( Manx : Doolish ) is the capital and largest town of the Isle of Man , with a population of 27,938 ( 2011 ) . It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas , and on a sweeping bay of two miles . The River Douglas forms part of the town 's harbour and main commercial port . Douglas was a small settlement until it grew rapidly as a result of links with the English port of Liverpool in the 18th century . Further population growth came in the following century , resulting during the 1860s in a staged transfer of the High Courts , the Lieutenant Governor 's residence , and finally the seat of the legislature , Tynwald , to Douglas from the ancient capital , Castletown . The town is the Island 's main hub for business , finance , legal services , shipping , transport , shopping , and entertainment . The annual Isle of Man TT motorcycle races start and finish in Douglas .
The Isle of Man ( Manx : Mannin [ ˈmanɪnʲ ] , also Manx : Ellan Vannin [ ˈɛlʲan ˈvanɪnʲ ] ) , sometimes referred to simply as Mann /mæn/ , is a self-governing British Crown dependency in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland . The head of state , Queen Elizabeth II , holds the title of Lord of Mann and is represented by a lieutenant governor . Defence is the responsibility of the United Kingdom . Humans have lived on the island since before 6500 BC . Gaelic cultural influence began in the 5th century AD , and the Manx language , a branch of the Gaelic languages , emerged . In 627 Edwin of Northumbria conquered the Isle of Man along with most of Mercia . In the 9th century , Norsemen established the Kingdom of the Isles , which included the Isle of Man . Magnus III , King of Norway from 1093 to 1103 , reigned also as King of Mann and the Isles between 1099 and 1103 . In 1266 the island became part of Scotland under the Treaty of Perth , after being ruled by Norway . After a period of alternating rule by the kings of Scotland and England , the island came under the feudal lordship of the English Crown in 1399 . The lordship revested into the British Crown in 1765 , but the island never became part of the 18th century kingdom of Great Britain or its successors ( the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the present-day United Kingdom ) . It retained its internal self-government .
Carrickfergus ( from Irish : Carraig Fhearghais [ ˌkaːɾˠəɟ ˈaɾˠɣəʃ ] , meaning Fergus ' rock ) is a large town in County Antrim , Northern Ireland . It sits on the north shore of Belfast Lough , 11 miles ( 18 km ) from Belfast . The town had a population of 27,998 at the 2011 Census . It is County Antrim 's oldest town and one of the oldest towns in Ireland as a whole . Carrickfergus was the administrative centre for Carrickfergus Borough Council , before this was amalgamated into the Mid and East Antrim District Council in 2015 , and forms part of the Belfast Metropolitan Area . It is also a townland of 65 acres , a civil parish and a barony . The town is the subject of the classic Irish folk song Carrickfergus , a 19th-century translation of an Irish-language song ( Do Bhí Bean Uasal ) from Munster , which begins with the words , I wish I was in Carrickfergus . The British peerage title of Baron Carrickfergus , which had become extinct in 1883 , was bestowed upon Prince William on his wedding day in 2011 .
Dún Laoghaire ( /dʌn ˈlɪəri/ dun LEER-ee , Irish : [ d̪ˠuːn̪ˠ ˈl̪ˠeːɾʲə ] or [ d̪ˠuːn̪ˠ ˈl̪ˠiːɾʲə ] ) is a suburban coastal town in the traditional county of Dublin in Ireland . It is the county town of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown , one of the three authorities that replaced the old Dublin County Council . The town was built following the 1816 legislation that allowed the building of a major port to serve Dublin . It was known as Dunleary until it was renamed Kingstown in honour of King George IV 's 1821 visit , and in 1920 was given its present name , the original Irish form of Dunleary . Over time , the town became a residential location , a seaside resort and the terminus of Ireland 's first railway .
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown ( Irish : Dún Laoghaire-Ráth an Dúin ) is a county in Ireland . It is part of the Dublin Region in the province of Leinster . It is named after the former borough of Dún Laoghaire and the barony of Rathdown . Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is the local authority for the county . The population of the county was 218,018 at the time of the 2016 census .