Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland(Irish:Tuaisceart Éireann[ˈt̪ˠuəʃcəɾˠt̪ˠˈeːɾʲən̪ˠ];Ulster Scots:Norlin Airlann) is apartof theUnited Kingdomin the north-east of the island ofIrelandthat isvariously describedas a country, province or region.Northern Ireland sharesan open borderto the south and west with theRepublic of Ireland. At the2021 census, its population was 1,903,175,making up around 3% of theUK's populationand 27% of the population on the island ofIreland. TheNorthern Ireland Assembly, established by theNorthern Ireland Act 1998, holds responsibility for a range ofdevolvedpolicy matters, while other areas are reserved for theUK Government. Thegovernment of Northern Irelandcooperates with thegovernment of Irelandin several areas under the terms of theBelfast Agreement.The Republic of Ireland also has a consultative role on non-devolved governmental matters through the British–Irish Governmental Conference (BIIG).
Northern Ireland was created in 1921, whenIreland was partitionedby theGovernment of Ireland Act 1920, creating a devolved government for thesix northeastern counties. As was intended by unionists and their supporters inWestminster, Northern Ireland had aunionistmajority, who wanted to remain in the United Kingdom;they were generally theProtestantdescendants ofcolonists from Britain. Meanwhile, the majority inSouthern Ireland(which became theIrish Free Statein 1922), and a significant minority in Northern Ireland, wereIrish nationalists(generallyCatholics) who wanted aunited independent Ireland.Today, the former generally see themselves as British and the latter generally see themselves as Irish, while a Northern Irish orUlsteridentity is claimed by a significant minority from all backgrounds.
The creation of Northern Ireland was accompanied by violence both in defence of and against partition. Duringthe conflict of 1920–22, the capitalBelfastsaw majorcommunal violence, mainly between Protestant unionist and Catholic nationalist civilians.More than 500 were killedand more than 10,000 became refugees, mostly Catholics.For the next fifty years, Northern Ireland had an unbroken series ofUnionist Party governments.There was informal mutualsegregationby both communities,and the Unionist governments were accused of discrimination against the Irish nationalist and Catholic minority.In the late 1960s, acampaign to end discriminationagainst Catholics and nationalists was opposed byloyalists, who saw it as arepublicanfront.This unrest sparkedthe Troubles, a thirty-year conflict involving republican and loyalist paramilitaries and state forces, which claimed over 3,500 lives and injured 50,000 others.The 1998Good Friday Agreementwas a major step in thepeace process, includingparamilitary disarmamentand security normalisation, althoughsectarianismand segregation remain major social problems, and sporadic violence has continued.
Theeconomy of Northern Irelandwas the most industrialised in Ireland at the time of partition, but soon began to decline, exacerbated by the political and social turmoil of the Troubles.Its economy has grown significantly since the late 1990s. Unemployment in Northern Ireland peaked at 17.2% in 1986, but dropped back down to below 10% in the 2010s,similar to the rate of the rest of the UK.Cultural links between Northern Ireland, the rest of Ireland, and the rest of the UK are complex, with Northern Ireland sharing both theculture of Irelandand theculture of the United Kingdom. In many sports, there is anAll-Irelandgoverning body or team for the whole island; the most notable exception is association football. Northern Irelandcompetes separatelyat theCommonwealth Games, and people from Northern Ireland may compete for eitherGreat BritainorIrelandat theOlympic Games.
The region that is now Northern Ireland was long inhabited by nativeGaelswho were Irish-speaking and predominantly Catholic.It was made up of several Gaelic kingdoms and territories and was part of the province ofUlster. In 1169,Ireland was invaded by a coalitionof forces under the command of the English crown that quickly overran and occupied most of the island, beginning 800 years of foreign central authority. Attempts at resistance were swiftly crushed everywhere outside of Ulster. Unlike in the rest of the country, where Gaelic authority continued only in scattered, remote pockets, the major kingdoms of Ulster would mostly remain intact with English authority in the province contained toareas on the eastern coastclosest to Great Britain. English power gradually eroded in the face of stubborn Irish resistance in the centuries that followed; eventually being reduced to only the city of Dublin and its suburbs. WhenHenry VIIIlaunched the 16th centuryTudor re-conquest of Ireland, Ulster once again resisted most effectively. In theNine Years' War(1593–1603), an alliance of Gaelic chieftains led by the two most powerful Ulster lords,Hugh Roe O'DonnellandHugh O'Neill, fought against theEnglish government in Ireland. The Ulster-dominated alliance represented the first Irish united front; prior resistance had always been geographically localized. Despite being able to cement an alliance with Spain and major victories early on, defeat was virtually inevitable following England's victory at thesiege of Kinsale. In 1607, the rebellion's leadersfled to mainland Europealongside much of Ulster's Gaelic nobility. Their lands were confiscated bythe Crownand colonized with English-speaking Protestantsettlersfrom Britain, in thePlantation of Ulster. This led to the founding of many of Ulster's towns and created a lastingUlster Protestantcommunity with ties to Britain. TheIrish Rebellion of 1641began in Ulster. The rebels wanted an end to anti-Catholic discrimination, greater Irish self-governance, and to roll back the Plantation. It developed into an ethnic conflict between Irish Catholics and British Protestant settlers and became part of the widerWars of the Three Kingdoms(1639–53), which ended with theEnglish Parliamentarian conquest. Further Protestant victories in theWilliamite-Jacobite War(1688–91) solidifiedAnglican Protestantrule in theKingdom of Ireland. The Williamite victories of thesiege of Derry(1689) andBattle of the Boyne(1690) are still celebrated by some Protestants in Northern Ireland.Many more Scots Protestants migrated to Ulster during theScottish famine of the 1690s.
Following the Williamite victory, and contrary to theTreaty of Limerick(1691), a series ofPenal Lawswere passed by theAnglican Protestant ruling classin Ireland. The intention was to disadvantage Catholics and, to a lesser extent,Presbyterians. Some 250,000 Ulster Presbyterians emigrated to theBritish North Americancolonies between 1717 and 1775.It is estimated that there are more than 27 millionScotch-Irish Americansnow living in the United States,along with manyScotch-Irish Canadiansin Canada. In the context of institutional discrimination, the 18th century saw secret, militant societies develop in Ulster and act on sectarian tensions in violent attacks. This escalated at the end of the century, especially during the CountyArmagh disturbances, where the ProtestantPeep o' Day Boysfought theCatholic Defenders. This led to the founding of the ProtestantOrange Order. TheIrish Rebellion of 1798was led by theUnited Irishmen; a cross-communityIrish republicangroup founded by Belfast Presbyterians, which sought Irish independence. Following this, the government of theKingdom of Great Britainpushed for the two kingdoms to be merged, in an attempt to quell violent sectarianism, remove discriminatory laws, and prevent the spread of French-style republicanism. TheUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Irelandwas formed in 1801 and governed from London. During the 19th century, legal reforms known as theCatholic emancipationcontinued to remove discrimination against Catholics, and progressive programs enabled tenant farmers to buy land from landlords.
By the late 19th century, a large and disciplined cohort ofIrish NationalistMPs at Westminster committed theLiberal Partyto"Irish Home Rule"—self-government for Ireland, within the United Kingdom. This was bitterly opposed byIrish Unionists, most of whom were Protestants, who feared an Irish devolved government dominated by Irish nationalists and Catholics. TheGovernment of Ireland Bill 1886andGovernment of Ireland Bill 1893were defeated. However, Home Rule became a near-certainty in 1912 after theGovernment of Ireland Act 1914was first introduced. The Liberal government was dependent on Nationalist support, and theParliament Act 1911prevented the House of Lords from blocking the bill indefinitely.
In response, unionists vowed to prevent Irish Home Rule, fromConservative and Unionist Partyleaders such asBonar Lawand Dublin-based barristerEdward Carsonto militant working class unionists in Ireland. This sparked theHome Rule Crisis. In September 1912, more than 500,000 unionists signed theUlster Covenant, pledging to oppose Home Rule by any means and to defy any Irish government.In 1914, unionistssmuggled thousands of rifles and rounds of ammunitionfromImperial Germanyfor use by theUlster Volunteers(UVF), a paramilitary organisation formed to oppose Home Rule. Irish nationalists had also formed a paramilitary organisation, theIrish Volunteers. It sought to ensure Home Rule was implemented, and itsmuggled its own weapons into Irelanda few months after the Ulster Volunteers.Ireland seemed to be on the brink of civil war.
Unionists were in a minority in Ireland as a whole, but a majority in the province ofUlster, especially the countiesAntrim,Down,ArmaghandLondonderry.Unionists argued that if Home Rule could not be stopped then all or part of Ulster should be excluded from it.In May 1914, the UK Government introduced an Amending Bill to allow for 'Ulster' to be excluded from Home Rule. There was then debate over how much of Ulster should be excluded and for how long. Some Ulster unionists were willing to tolerate the 'loss' of some mainly-Catholic areas of the province.The crisis was interrupted by the outbreak of theFirst World Warin August 1914, andIreland's involvement in it. The UK government abandoned the Amending Bill, and instead rushed through a new bill, theSuspensory Act 1914, suspending Home Rule for the duration of the war,with the exclusion of Ulster still to be decided.
By the end of the war (during which the 1916Easter Risinghad taken place), most Irish nationalists now wanted full independence rather than home rule. In September 1919, British Prime MinisterDavid Lloyd Georgetasked a committee with planning another home rule bill. Headed byEnglish unionistpoliticianWalter Long, it was known as the 'Long Committee'. It decided that two devolved governments should be established—one for the nine counties of Ulster and one for the rest of Ireland—together with aCouncil of Irelandfor the "encouragement of Irish unity".Most Ulster unionists wanted the territory of the Ulster government to be reduced to six counties so that it would have a larger Protestant unionist majority, which they believed would guarantee its longevity. The six counties ofAntrim,Down,Armagh,Londonderry,TyroneandFermanaghcomprised the maximum area unionists believed they could dominate.The area that was to become Northern Ireland included counties Fermanagh and Tyrone, even though they had nationalist majorities in the1918 Irish general election.
Events overtook the government. In the 1918 Irish general election, the pro-independenceSinn Féinparty won the overwhelming majority of Irish seats. Sinn Féin's elected members boycotted the British parliament and founded a separate Irish parliament (Dáil Éireann),declaring an independent Irish Republiccovering the whole island. ManyIrish republicansblamed the British establishment for the sectarian divisions in Ireland, and believed that Ulster unionism would fade once British rule was ended.The British authorities outlawed the Dáil in September 1919,and a guerrilla conflict developed as theIrish Republican Army(IRA) began attacking British forces. This became known as theIrish War of Independence.
Meanwhile, theGovernment of Ireland Act 1920passed through the British parliament in 1920. It would divide Ireland into two self-governing UK territories: the six northeastern counties (Northern Ireland) being ruled fromBelfast, and the other twenty-six counties (Southern Ireland) being ruled fromDublin. Both would have a sharedLord Lieutenant of Ireland, who would appoint both governments and aCouncil of Ireland, which the UK government intended to evolve into an all-Ireland parliament.The Act receivedroyal assentthat December, becoming the Government of Ireland Act 1920. It came into force on 3 May 1921,partitioning Irelandand creating Northern Ireland. the1921 Irish electionswere held on 24 May, in which unionists won most seats in the Northern Ireland parliament. It first met on 7 June and formed itsfirst devolved government, headed by Ulster Unionist Party leaderJames Craig. Irish nationalist members refused to attend. King George V addressed the ceremonial opening of the Northern parliament on 22 June.
During 1920–22, in what became Northern Ireland, partition was accompanied by violence "in defence or opposition to the new settlement"duringThe Troubles (1920–1922). The IRA carried out attacks on British forces in the north-east but was less active than in the rest of Ireland. Protestant loyalists attacked Catholics in reprisal for IRA actions. In the summer of 1920, sectarian violence erupted in Belfast and Derry, and there were mass burnings of Catholic property inLisburnandBanbridge.Conflict continued intermittently for two years, mostly inBelfast, which saw "savage and unprecedented"communal violencebetween Protestants and Catholics, including rioting, gun battles, and bombings. Homes, businesses, and churches were attacked and people were expelled from workplaces and mixed neighbourhoods.More than 500 were killedand more than 10,000 became refugees, most of them Catholics.TheBritish Armywas deployed and theUlster Special Constabulary(USC) was formed to help the regular police. The USC was almost wholly Protestant. Members of the USC and regular police were involved in reprisal attacks on Catholic civilians.A truce between British forces and the IRA was established on 11 July 1921, ending the fighting in most of Ireland. However, communal violence continued in Belfast, and in 1922 the IRA launched a guerrilla offensive along the newIrish border.
TheAnglo-Irish Treatywas signed between representatives of the governments of the UK and theIrish Republicon 6 December 1921, laying out the process for the creation of theIrish Free State. Under the terms of the treaty, Northern Ireland would become part of the Free State unless its government opted out by presenting an address to the king, although in practice partition remained in place.
The Irish Free State came into existence on 6 December 1922, and on the following day, theParliament of Northern Irelandresolved to exercise its right to opt out of the Free State by making an address to KingGeorge V.The text of the address was:
Shortly afterwards, theIrish Boundary Commissionwas established to decide on the border between the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland. Owing to the outbreak of theIrish Civil War, the work of the commission was delayed until 1925. The Free State government and Irish nationalists hoped for a large transfer of territory to the Free State, as many border areas had nationalist majorities. Many believed this would leave the remaining Northern Ireland territory too small to be viable.However, the commission's final report recommended only small transfers of territory, and in both directions. The Free State, Northern Ireland, and UK governments agreed to suppress the report and accept thestatus quo, while the UK government agreed that the Free State would no longer have to pay a share of the UK national debt.
Northern Ireland's border was drawn to give it "a decisive Protestant majority". At the time of its creation, Northern Ireland's population was two-thirds Protestant and one-third Catholic.Most Protestants were unionists/loyalists who sought to maintain Northern Ireland as a part of the United Kingdom, while most Catholics were Irish nationalists/republicans who sought an independentUnited Ireland. There was mutual self-imposedsegregation in Northern Irelandbetween Protestants and Catholics such as in education, housing, and often employment.
For its first fifty years, Northern Ireland had an unbroken series ofUlster Unionist Party governments.Every prime minister and almost every minister of these governments were members of theOrange Order, as were all but 11 of the 149Ulster Unionist Party(UUP) MPs elected during this time.Almost all judges and magistrates were Protestant, many of them closely associated with the UUP. Northern Ireland's new police force was theRoyal Ulster Constabulary(RUC), which succeeded theRoyal Irish Constabulary(RIC). It too was almost wholly Protestant and lacked operational independence, responding to directions from government ministers. The RUC and the reserveUlster Special Constabulary(USC) were militarized police forces due to the perceived threat of militant republicanism. In 1936 the British advocacy group - theNational Council for Civil Libertiescharacterised the USC as "nothing but the organised army of the Unionist party".They "had at their disposal theSpecial Powers Act, a sweeping piece of legislation which allowed arrests without warrant, internment without trial, unlimited search powers, and bans on meetings and publications".This 1922 Act was made permanent in 1933 and was not repealed until 1973.
TheNationalist Partywas the main political party in opposition to the UUP governments. However, its elected members often protested byabstainingfrom the Northern Ireland parliament, and many nationalists did not vote in parliamentary elections.Other early nationalist groups which campaigned against partition included theNational League of the North(formed in 1928), theNorthern Council for Unity(formed in 1937) and theIrish Anti-Partition League(formed in 1945).
The Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) of 1922 allowed for the altering of municipal and rural boundaries. This Act led to thegerrymanderingof local election boundaries in the Nationalists majority cities of Derry City, Enniskillen, Omagh, Armagh and many other towns and rural districts. That action ensured Unionist control over local councils in areas where they were a minority.The UUP governments, and some UUP-dominated local authorities, discriminated against the Catholic and Irish nationalist minority; especially by the gerrymandering of local electoral boundaries, the allocation of public housing, public sector employment, and policing, showing "a consistent and irrefutable pattern of deliberate discrimination against Catholics".Many Catholics/Nationalists saw the gerrymandered local electoral boundaries and the abolishing ofproportional representationas proof of government-sponsored discrimination. Until 1969 a system was in place calledplural votingwhich was a practice whereby one person might be able to vote multiple times in an election. Property and business owners could vote both in the constituency where their property lay and that in which they lived, if the two were different. This system often resulted in one person being able to cast multiple votes.Decades later, UUPFirst Minister of Northern Ireland,David Trimble, said that Northern Ireland under the UUP had been a "cold house" for Catholics.
DuringWorld War II, recruitment to the British military was noticeably lower than the high levels reached during World War I. In June 1940, to encourage theneutral Irish stateto join with theAllies, British Prime MinisterWinston Churchillindicated to TaoiseachÉamon de Valerathat the British government would encourage Irish unity, but believing that Churchill could not deliver, de Valera declined the offer.The British did not inform the government of Northern Ireland that they had made the offer to the Dublin government, and de Valera's rejection was not publicised until 1970. Belfast was a key industrial city in the UK's war effort, producing ships, tanks, aircraft, and munitions. The unemployment that had been so persistent in the 1930s disappeared, and labour shortages appeared, prompting migration from the Free State. The city was thinly defended, and had only 24 anti-aircraft guns. RichardDawson Bates, the Minister for Home Affairs, had prepared too late, assuming that Belfast was far enough away to be safe. The city's fire brigade was inadequate, and as the Northern Ireland government had been reluctant to spend money on air raid shelters, it only started to build them afterthe Blitzin London during the autumn of 1940. There were no searchlights in the city, which made shooting down enemy bombers more difficult. In April–May 1941, theBelfast Blitzbegan when theLuftwaffelaunched a series of raids that were the most deadly seen outside London. Working-class areas in the north and east of the city were particularly hard hit, and over 1,000 people were killed and hundreds were seriously injured. Tens of thousands of people fled the city in fear of future attacks. In the final raid,Luftwaffebombs inflicted extensive damage to the docks and theHarland & Wolffshipyard, closing it for six months. Half of the city's houses had been destroyed, highlighting the terrible slum conditions in Belfast, and about £20 million worth of damage was caused. The Northern Ireland government was criticised heavily for its lack of preparation, and Northern Ireland Prime MinisterJ. M. Andrewsresigned. There was a major munitions strike in 1944.
TheIreland Act 1949gave the first legal guarantee that the region would not cease to be part of the United Kingdom without the consent of theParliament of Northern Ireland.
From 1956 to 1962, theIrish Republican Army(IRA) carried out a limited guerrilla campaign in border areas of Northern Ireland, called theBorder Campaign. It aimed to destabilize Northern Ireland and bring about an end to partition but failed.
In 1965, Northern Ireland's Prime MinisterTerence O'Neillmet the Taoiseach,Seán Lemass. It was the first meeting between the two heads of government since partition.
The Troubles, which started in the late 1960s, consisted of about 30 years of recurring acts of intense violence during which 3,254 people were killedwith over 50,000 casualties.From 1969 to 2003 there were over 36,900 shooting incidents and over 16,200 bombings or attempted bombings associated with The Troubles.The conflict was caused by escalating tensions between theIrish nationalistminority and the dominantunionist majority; Irish nationalists object to Northern Ireland staying within the United Kingdom.From 1967 to 1972 theNorthern Ireland Civil Rights Association(NICRA), which modelled itself on the US civil rights movement, led a campaign ofcivil resistanceto anti-Catholic discrimination in housing, employment, policing, and electoral procedures. The franchise for local government elections included only rate-payers and their spouses, and so excluded over a quarter of the electorate. While the majority of disenfranchised electors were Protestant, Catholics were over-represented since they were poorer and had more adults still living in the family home.
NICRA's campaign, seen by many unionists as anIrish republicanfront, and the violent reaction to it proved to be a precursor to a more violent period.As early as 1969, armed campaigns of paramilitary groups began, including theProvisional IRA campaign of 1969–1997which was aimed at the end of British rule in Northern Ireland and the creation of aUnited Ireland, and theUlster Volunteer Force, formed in 1966 in response to the perceived erosion of both the British character and unionist domination of Northern Ireland. The state security forces – theBritish Armyand the police (theRoyal Ulster Constabulary) – were also involved in the violence. The UK Government's position is that its forces were neutral in the conflict, trying to uphold law and order in Northern Ireland and the right of the people of Northern Ireland to democratic self-determination. Republicans regarded the state forces ascombatantsin the conflict, pointing to thecollusion between the state forces and the loyalist paramilitariesas proof of this. The "Ballast" investigation by thePolice Ombudsman for Northern Irelandhas confirmed that British forces, and in particular the RUC, did collude with loyalist paramilitaries, were involved in murder, and did obstruct the course of justice when such claims had been investigated,although the extent to which such collusion occurred is still disputed.
As a consequence of the worsening security situation, the autonomous regional government for Northern Ireland was suspended in 1972. Alongside the violence, there was a political deadlock between the major political parties in Northern Ireland, including those who condemned the violence, over the future status of Northern Ireland and the form of government there should be within Northern Ireland. In 1973,Northern Ireland held a referendumto determine if it should remain in the United Kingdom, or be part of a united Ireland. The vote went heavily in favour (98.9%) of maintaining the status quo. Approximately 57.5% of the total electorate voted in support, but only 1% of Catholics voted following a boycott organised by theSocial Democratic and Labour Party(SDLP).The deaths of 10 men during the1981 Irish hunger strikebrought worldwide attention to the Republican prisoners being held in prison (HM Prison Maze) in Northern Ireland.
The Troubles were brought to an uneasy end by a peace process that included the declaration of ceasefires by most paramilitary organisations and the complete decommissioning of their weapons, the reform of the police, and the corresponding withdrawal of army troops from the streets and sensitive border areas such as South Armagh andFermanagh, as agreed by the signatories to the Belfast Agreement (commonly known as the "Good Friday Agreement"). This reiterated the long-held British position, which had never before been fully acknowledged by successive Irish governments, that Northern Ireland will remain within the United Kingdom until a majority of voters in Northern Ireland decides otherwise. TheConstitution of Irelandwas amended in 1999 to remove a claim of the "Irish nation" to sovereignty over the entire island (in Article 2).
The newArticles 2 and 3, added to the Constitution to replace the earlier articles, implicitly acknowledge that the status of Northern Ireland, and its relationships within the rest of the United Kingdom and with the Republic of Ireland, would only be changed with the agreement of a majority of voters in each jurisdiction. This aspect was also central to the Belfast Agreement which was signed in 1998 and ratified by referendums held simultaneously in both Northern Ireland and the Republic. At the same time, the UK Government recognised for the first time, as part of the prospective, the so-called "Irish dimension": the principle that the people of the island of Ireland as a whole have the right, without any outside interference, to solve the issues between North and South by mutual consent.The latter statement was key to winning support for the agreement from nationalists. It established a devolved power-sharing government, theNorthern Ireland Assembly, located on theStormont Estate, which must consist of both unionist and nationalist parties. These institutions were suspended by theUK Governmentin 2002 afterPolice Service of Northern Ireland(PSNI) allegations of spying by people working for Sinn Féin at the Assembly (Stormontgate). The resulting case against the accused Sinn Féin member collapsed.
On 28 July 2005, the Provisional IRA declared an end to its campaign and has since decommissioned what is thought to be all of itsarsenal. This final act of decommissioning was performed under the watch of theIndependent International Commission on Decommissioning(IICD) and two external church witnesses. Many unionists, however, remained sceptical. The IICD later confirmed that the main loyalist paramilitary groups, theUlster Defence Association, UVF, and theRed Hand Commando, had decommissioned what is thought to be all of their arsenals, witnessed by former archbishopRobin Eamesand a former top civil servant.
Politicians elected to the Assembly at the2003 Assembly electionwere called together on 15 May 2006 under the Northern Ireland Act 2006to elect aFirst Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Irelandand choose the members of an Executive (before 25 November 2006) as a preliminary step to the restoration of devolved government.
Following theelection on 7 March 2007, the devolved government returned on 8 May 2007 withDemocratic Unionist Party(DUP) leaderIan Paisleyand Sinn Féin deputy leaderMartin McGuinnesstaking office as First Minister and deputy First Minister, respectively.In itswhite paperonBrexitthe United Kingdom government reiterated its commitment to the Belfast Agreement. Concerning Northern Ireland's status, it said that the UK Government's "clearly-stated preference is to retain Northern Ireland's current constitutional position: as part of the UK, but with strong links to Ireland".
On 3 February 2022,Paul Givanresigned as first minister, which automatically resignedMichelle O'Neillas deputy first minister and collapsed the executive of Northern Ireland.On 30 January 2024, leader of the DUPJeffrey Donaldsonannounced that the DUP would restore an executive government on the condition that new legislation was passed by the UK House of Commons.
The main political divide in Northern Ireland is between unionists, who wish to see Northern Ireland continue as part of the United Kingdom, and nationalists, who wish to see Northern Ireland unified with the Republic of Ireland, independent from the United Kingdom. These two opposing views are linked to deeper cultural divisions. Unionists are predominantlyUlster Protestant, descendants of mainlyScottish, English, andHuguenotsettlers as well asGaelswho converted to one of the Protestant denominations. Nationalists are overwhelmingly Catholic and descend from the population predating the settlement, with a minority from theScottish Highlandsas well as some converts from Protestantism. Discrimination against nationalists under theStormontgovernment (1921–1972) gave rise to thecivil rights movementin the 1960s.
While some unionists argue that discrimination was not just due to religious or political bigotry, but also the result of more complex socio-economic, socio-political and geographical factors,its existence, and the manner in which nationalist anger at it was handled, were a major contributing factor to the Troubles. The political unrest went through its most violent phase between 1968 and 1994.
In 2007, 36% of the population defined themselves as unionist, 24% as nationalist, and 40% defined themselves as neither.According to a 2015 opinion poll, 70% express a long-term preference of the maintenance of Northern Ireland's membership of the United Kingdom (eitherdirectly ruledor withdevolved government), while 14% express a preference for membership of a united Ireland.This discrepancy can be explained by the overwhelming preference among Protestants to remain a part of the UK (93%), while Catholic preferences are spread across several solutions to the constitutional question including remaining a part of the UK (47%), a united Ireland (32%), Northern Ireland becoming an independent state (4%), and those who "don't know" (16%).
Official voting figures, which reflect views on the "national question" along with issues of the candidate, geography, personal loyalty, and historic voting patterns, show 54% of Northern Ireland voters vote for unionist parties, 42% vote for nationalist parties, and 4% vote "other". Opinion polls consistently show that the election results are not necessarily an indication of the electorate's stance regarding the constitutional status of Northern Ireland. Most of the population of Northern Ireland is at least nominally Christian, mostly Roman Catholic and Protestant denominations. Many voters (regardless of religious affiliation) are attracted to unionism'sconservativepolicies, while other voters are instead attracted to the traditionally leftist Sinn Féin and SDLP and their respective party platforms fordemocratic socialismandsocial democracy.
For the most part, Protestants feel a strong connection with Great Britain and wish for Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom. Many Catholics however, generally aspire to a United Ireland or are less certain about how to solve the constitutional question. Catholics have a slight majority in Northern Ireland, according to the latest Northern Ireland census. The make-up of theNorthern Ireland Assemblyreflects the appeals of the various parties within the population. Of the 90Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), 37 are unionists and 35 are nationalists (the remaining 18 are classified as "other").
The 1998Good Friday Agreementacts as ade factoconstitutionfor Northern Ireland.Local government in Northern Irelandsince 2015 has been divided between 11 councils with limited responsibilities.TheFirst Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Irelandare the joint heads of government of Northern Ireland.
Since 1998, Northern Ireland has haddevolvedgovernment within the United Kingdom, presided over by theNorthern Ireland Assemblyand a cross-community government (theNorthern Ireland Executive). The UK Government and UK Parliament are responsible forreserved and excepted matters. Reserved matters comprise listed policy areas (such ascivil aviation,units of measurement, andhuman genetics) that Parliament may devolve to the Assembly some time in the future. Excepted matters (such asinternational relations, taxation and elections) are never expected to be considered for devolution. On all other governmental matters, the Executive together with the 90-member Assembly may legislate for and govern Northern Ireland. Devolution in Northern Ireland is dependent upon participation by members of the Northern Ireland executive in theNorth/South Ministerial Council, which coordinates areas of cooperation (such as agriculture, education, and health) between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Additionally, "in recognition of the Irish Government's special interest in Northern Ireland", theGovernment of IrelandandGovernment of the United Kingdomco-operate closely on non-devolved matters through theBritish–Irish Intergovernmental Conference.
Elections to theNorthern Ireland Assemblyare bysingle transferable votewith five Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) elected from each of 18parliamentary constituencies. In addition, eighteen representatives (Members of Parliament, MPs) are elected to thelower house of the UK parliamentfrom the same constituencies using thefirst-past-the-postsystem. However, not all of those elected take their seats. Sinn Féin MPs, currently seven, refuse to take the oath to serve the King that is required before MPs are allowed to take their seats. In addition, the upper house of the UK parliament, theHouse of Lords, currently has some 25 appointedmembers from Northern Ireland.
TheNorthern Ireland Officerepresents the UK Government in Northern Ireland on reserved matters and represents Northern Ireland's interests within the UK Government. Additionally, the Republic's government also has the right to "put forward views and proposals" on non-devolved matters about Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Office is led by theSecretary of State for Northern Ireland, who sits in theCabinet of the United Kingdom.
Northern Ireland is a distinct legaljurisdiction, separate from the two other jurisdictions in the United Kingdom (England and Wales, andScotland). Northern Ireland law developed from Irish law that existed before thepartition of Irelandin 1921. Northern Ireland is acommon lawjurisdiction and its common law is similar to that in England and Wales. However, there are important differences in law and procedure between Northern Ireland and England and Wales. The body ofstatute lawaffecting Northern Ireland reflects the history of Northern Ireland, including Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, theNorthern Ireland Assembly, the formerParliament of Northern Irelandand theParliament of Ireland, along with some Acts of theParliament of Englandand of theParliament of Great Britainthat were extended to Ireland underPoynings' Lawbetween 1494 and 1782.
There is no generally accepted term to describe what Northern Ireland is. It has been described as a country, province, region, and other terms officially, by the press, and in common speech. The choice of term can be controversial and can reveal one's political preferences.This has been noted as a problem by several writers on Northern Ireland, with no generally recommended solution.
ISO 3166-2:GBdefines Northern Ireland as a province.The UK's submission to the 2007United Nations Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Namesdefines the UK as being made up of two countries (England and Scotland), oneprincipality(Wales) and one province (Northern Ireland).However, this term can be controversial, particularly for nationalists for whom the title province is properly reserved for the traditional province of Ulster, of which Northern Ireland comprises six out of nine counties.Some authors have described the meaning of this term as being equivocal: referring to Northern Ireland as being a province both of the United Kingdom and the traditional country of Ireland.
The UKOffice for National Statisticsand the website of the Office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom describe the United Kingdom as being made up of four countries, one of these being Northern Ireland.Some newspaper style guides also consider country as an acceptable term for Northern Ireland.However, some authors reject the term.
"Region" has also been used by UK government agenciesand newspapers.Some authors choose this word but note that it is "unsatisfactory".Northern Ireland can also be simply described as "part of the UK", including by the UK government offices.
Many people inside and outside Northern Ireland use other names for Northern Ireland, depending on their point of view. Disagreement on names, and the reading of political symbolism into the use or non-use of a word, also attaches itself to some urban centres. The most notable example is whether Northern Ireland's second-largest city should be called"Derry" or "Londonderry".
Choice of language andnomenclaturein Northern Ireland often reveals the cultural, ethnic, and religious identity of the speaker. Those who do not belong to any group but lean towards one side often tend to use the language of that group. Supporters of unionism in the British media (notablyThe Daily Telegraphand theDaily Express) regularly call Northern Ireland "Ulster".Many media outlets in the Republic use "North of Ireland" (or simply "the North"),as well as the "Six Counties".The New York Timeshas also used "the North".
Government and cultural organisations in Northern Ireland often use the word "Ulster" in their title; for example, theUniversity of Ulster, theUlster Museum, theUlster Orchestra, andBBC Radio Ulster.
Although some news bulletins since the 1990s have opted to avoid all contentious terms and use the official name, Northern Ireland, the term "the North" remains commonly used by broadcast media in the Republic.
The volcanic activity which created the Antrim Plateau also formed the geometric pillars of theGiant's Causewayon the north Antrim coast. Also in north Antrim are theCarrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge,Mussenden Templeand theGlens of Antrim. Northern Ireland was covered by anice sheetfor most of thelast ice ageand on numerous previous occasions, the legacy of which can be seen in the extensive coverage ofdrumlinsin Counties Fermanagh, Armagh, Antrim and particularly Down.
The centrepiece of Northern Ireland's geography isLough Neagh, at 151 square miles (391 km) the largest freshwater lake both on the island of Ireland and in theBritish Isles. A second extensive lake system is centred on Lower and UpperLough Ernein Fermanagh. The largest island of Northern Ireland isRathlin, off the north Antrim coast.Strangford Loughis the largest inlet in the British Isles, covering 150 km(58 sq mi).
There are substantial uplands in theSperrin Mountains(an extension of theCaledonian mountain belt) with extensive gold deposits, thegraniteMourne Mountainsand thebasaltAntrim Plateau, as well as smaller ranges inSouth Armaghand along the Fermanagh–Tyrone border. None of the hills are especially high, withSlieve Donardin the dramatic Mournes reaching 850 metres (2,789 ft), Northern Ireland's highest point. Belfast's most prominent peak isCavehill.
The Lower and UpperRiver Bann,River FoyleandRiver Blackwaterform extensive fertile lowlands, with excellentarable landalso found in North and East Down, although much of the hill country is marginal and suitable largely for animal husbandry. The valley of theRiver Laganis dominated by Belfast, whose metropolitan area includes over a third of the population of Northern Ireland, with heavy urbanisation and industrialisation along the Lagan Valley and both shores ofBelfast Lough.
The vast majority of Northern Ireland has atemperate maritime climate, (Cfbin theKöppen climate classification) rather wetter in the west than the east, although cloud cover is very common across the region. The weather is unpredictable at all times of the year, and although the seasons are distinct, they are considerably less pronounced than in interior Europe or the eastern seaboard of North America. Average daytime maximums in Belfast are 6.5 °C (43.7 °F) in January and 17.5 °C (63.5 °F) in July. The highest maximum temperature recorded was 31.4 °C (88.5 °F), registered in July 2021 atArmagh Observatory's weather station.The lowest minimum temperature recorded was −18.7 °C (−1.7 °F) atCastlederg,County Tyroneon 23 December 2010.
Until the end of theMiddle Ages, the land was heavily forested. Native species includedeciduoustrees such asoak,ash,hazel,birch,alder,willow,aspen,elm,rowanandhawthorn, as well asevergreentrees suchScots pine,yewandholly.Today, only 8% of Northern Ireland is woodland, and most of this is non-nativeconiferplantations.
As of the 21st century, Northern Ireland is the least forested part of the United Kingdom and Ireland, and one of the least forested countries in Europe.
The only native reptile in Northern Ireland is theviviparous lizard, or common lizard, which is widely distributed, particularly in heaths, bogs and sand dunes. Thecommon frogis a very widespread species. Some lakes support internationally important bird populations,Lough NeaghandLough Beghold up to 80,000 wintering waterfowl of some 20 species, includingducks,geese,swansandgulls. Theotteris the fourth largest land mammal in Northern Ireland. It can be found along the river systems, although it is seldom seen and will avoid contact with humans.356 species of marinealgaehave been recorded in the northeast of Ireland; 77 species are considered rare.
Northern Ireland is much less ethnically diverse than the rest of the UK.   3.4% of the population (65,600 people) in 2025 were from a minority ethnic group  compared to 18.3% in England and Wales and 12.9% in Scotland.
Northern Ireland consists of six historiccounties:County Antrim,County Armagh,County Down,County Fermanagh,County Londonderry,andCounty Tyrone.
These counties are no longer used for local government purposes; instead, there are elevendistricts of Northern Irelandwhich have different geographical extents. These were created in 2015, replacing the twenty-six districts which previously existed.
Although counties are no longer used for local governmental purposes, they remain a popular means of describing where places are. They are officially used while applying for anIrish passport, which requires one to state one's county of birth. The name of that county then appears in both Irish and English on the passport's information page, as opposed to the town or city of birth on the United Kingdom passport. TheGaelic Athletic Associationstill uses the counties as its primary means of organisation and fields representative teams of eachGAA county. The original system ofcar registration numberslargely based on counties remains in use. In 2000, thetelephone numbering systemwas restructured into an 8-digit scheme with (except for Belfast) the first digit approximately reflecting the county.
The county boundaries still appear on Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland Maps and the Philip's Street Atlases, among others. With their decline in official use, there is often confusion surrounding towns and cities which lie near county boundaries, such as Belfast andLisburn, which are split between counties Down and Antrim (the majorities of both cities, however, are in Antrim).
In March 2018,The Sunday Timespublished its list of Best Places to Live in Britain, including the following places in Northern Ireland:Ballyhackamorenear Belfast (overall best for Northern Ireland); Holywood, County Down; Newcastle, County Down; Portrush, County Antrim; Strangford, County Down.
The population of Northern Ireland has risen yearly since 1978. The population at the time of the 2021 census was 1.9 million, having grown 5% over the previous decade.The population in 2011 was 1.8 million, a rise of 7.5% over the previous decade.The current population makes up 2.8% of the UK's population (67 million) and 27% of the island of Ireland's population (7.03 million). The population density is 135 inhabitants / km.
As of the 2021 census, the population of Northern Ireland is almost entirelywhite(96.6%).In 2021, 86.5% of the population were born in Northern Ireland, with 4.8% born in Great Britain, 2.1% born in the Republic of Ireland, and 6.5% born elsewhere (more than half of them in another European country).In 2021 the largest non-white ethnic groups wereblack(0.6%),Indian(0.5%), andChinese(0.5%).In 2011, 88.8% of the population were born in Northern Ireland, 4.5% in Great Britain, and 2.9% in the Republic of Ireland. 4.3% were born elsewhere; triple the amount there were in 2001.
As of the 2021 Census 1,165,168 (61.2%) residents lived in an urban environment and 738,007 (38.8%) lived in a non-urban environment.
In Northern Ireland censuses, respondents can choose more than one national identity. In 2021:
The main national identities given in recent censuses were:
As of the 2021 census, regarding national identity, four of the six traditional counties had an Irish plurality and two had a British plurality.
At the 2021 census, 42.3% of the population identified asRoman Catholic, 37.3% as Protestant/other Christian, 1.3% as other religions, while 17.4% identified with no religion or did not state one.The biggest of the Protestant/other Christian denominations were thePresbyterian Church(16.6%), theChurch of Ireland(11.5%) and theMethodist Church(2.3%).At the2011 census, 41.5% of the population identified as Protestant/other Christian, 41% as Roman Catholic, 0.8% as other religions, while 17% identified with no religion or did not state one.In terms of background (i.e. religion or religion brought up in), at the 2021 census 45.7% of the population came from a Catholic background, 43.5% from a Protestant background, 1.5% from other religious backgrounds, and 5.6% from non-religious backgrounds.This was the first time since Northern Ireland's creation that there were more people from a Catholic background than Protestant.At the 2011 census, 48% came from a Protestant background, 45% from a Catholic background, 0.9% from other religious backgrounds, and 5.6% from non-religious backgrounds.
In recent censuses, respondents gave their religious identity or religious upbringing as follows:
As of the 2021 census, regarding religious background, four of the six traditional counties had a Catholic majority, one had a Protestant plurality, and one had a Protestant majority.
Several studies and surveys carried out between 1971 and 2006 have indicated that, in general, most Protestants in Northern Ireland see themselves primarily as British, whereas most Catholics see themselves primarily as Irish.This does not, however, account for thecomplex identities within Northern Ireland, given that many of the population regard themselves as "Ulster" or "Northern Irish", either as a primary or secondary identity.
A 2008 survey found that 57% of Protestants described themselves as British, while 32% identified as Northern Irish, 6% as Ulster, and 4% as Irish. Compared to a similar survey in 1998, this shows a fall in the percentage of Protestants identifying as British and Ulster and a rise in those identifying as Northern Irish. The 2008 survey found that 61% of Catholics described themselves as Irish, with 25% identifying as Northern Irish, 8% as British, and 1% as Ulster. These figures were largely unchanged from the 1998 results.
People born in Northern Ireland are, with some exceptions, deemed by UK law to becitizens of the United Kingdom. They are also, with similar exceptions, entitled to becitizens of Ireland. This entitlement was reaffirmed in the 1998Good Friday Agreementbetween the British and Irish governments, which provides that:
As a result of the Agreement, theConstitution of the Republic of Irelandwas amended. The current wording provides that people born in Northern Ireland are entitled to be Irish citizens on the same basis as people from any other part of the island.
Neither government, however, extends its citizenship to all persons born in Northern Ireland. Both governments exclude some people born in Northern Ireland, in particular persons born without one parent who is a British or Irish citizen. The Irish restriction was given effect by thetwenty-seventh amendment to the Irish Constitutionin 2004. The position in UK nationality law is that most of those born in Northern Ireland are UK nationals, whether or not they so choose. Renunciation of British citizenship requires the payment of a fee, currently £372.
In recent censuses, residents said they held the following passports:
Irish is an official language of Northern Ireland as of 6 December 2022 when the Irish Language Act (Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022) became law. The Irish Language Act officially repealed legislation from 1737 that banned the use of Irish in courts.English is ade factoofficial language.English is also spoken as a first language by 95.4% of the Northern Ireland population.
Under theGood Friday Agreement, Irish andUlster Scots(an Ulster dialect of theScots language, sometimes known asUllans), are recognised as "part of the cultural wealth of Northern Ireland".The Irish Language Act of 2022 also legislated commissioners for both Irish and Ulster Scots.
Two all-island bodies for the promotion of these were created under the Agreement:Foras na Gaeilge, which promotes the Irish language, and theUlster Scots Agency, which promotes the Ulster-Scots dialect and culture. These operate separately under the aegis ofthe North/South Language Body, which reports to theNorth/South Ministerial Council.
TheUK Governmentin 2001 ratified theEuropean Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Irish (in Northern Ireland) was specified under Part III of the Charter, with a range of specific undertakings about education, translation of statutes, interaction with public authorities, the use of placenames, media access, support for cultural activities, and other matters. A lower level of recognition was accorded to Ulster-Scots, under Part II of the Charter.
According to the 2021 census, in 94.74% of households, all people aged 16 and above spoke English as their main language.The dialect of English spoken in Northern Ireland shows influence from the lowlandScots language.There are supposedly some minute differences in pronunciation between Protestants and Catholics, for instance; the name of the letterh, which Protestants tend to pronounce as "aitch", as inBritish English, and Catholics tend to pronounce as "haitch", as inHiberno-English.However, geography is a much more important determinant of dialect than religious background.
The Irish language (Irish:an Ghaeilge), orGaelic, is the second most spoken language in Northern Ireland and is a native language of Ireland.It was spoken predominantly throughout what is now Northern Ireland before theUlster Plantationsin the 17th century and most place names in Northern Ireland areanglicisedversions of a Gaelic name. Today, the language is often associated with Irish nationalism (and thus with Catholics). However, in the 19th century, the language was seen as a common heritage, with Ulster Protestants playing a leading role in theGaelic revival.
In the 2021 census, 12.4% (compared with 10.7% in 2011) of the population of Northern Ireland claimed "some knowledge of Irish" and 3.9% (compared with 3.7% in 2011) reported being able to "speak, read, write and understand" Irish.In another survey, from 1999, 1% of respondents said they spoke it as their main language at home.
The dialect spoken in Northern Ireland, Ulster Irish, has two main types, East Ulster Irish and Donegal Irish (or West Ulster Irish),is the one closest toScottish Gaelic(which developed into a separate language from Irish Gaelic in the 17th century). Some words and phrases are shared with Scots Gaelic, and the dialects of east Ulster – those ofRathlin Islandand theGlens of Antrim– were very similar to the dialect ofArgyll, the part of Scotland nearest to Ireland. The dialects of Armagh and Down were also very similar to the dialects of Galloway.
The use of the Irish language in Northern Ireland today is politically sensitive. The erection by somedistrict councilsof bilingual street names in both English and Irish,invariably in predominantly nationalist districts, is resisted by unionists who claim that it creates a "chill factor" and thus harms community relationships. Efforts by members of theNorthern Ireland Assemblyto legislate for some official uses of the language have failed to achieve the required cross-community support. In May 2022, the UK Government proposed a bill in the House of Lords to make Irish an official language (and support Ulster Scots) in Northern Ireland and to create an Irish Language Commissioner.The bill has since been passed, and received royal assent in December 2022.There has recently been an increase in interest in the language among unionists in East Belfast.
Ulster Scots comprises varieties of theScots languagespoken in Northern Ireland. For a native English speaker, "[Ulster Scots] is comparatively accessible, and even at its most intense can be understood fairly easily with the help of a glossary."
Along with the Irish language, the Good Friday Agreement recognised the dialect as part of Northern Ireland's unique culture and theSt Andrews Agreementrecognised the need to "enhance and develop the Ulster Scots language, heritage and culture".
At the time of the 2021 census, approximately 1.1% (compared to 0.9% in 2011) of the population claimed to be able to speak, read, write and understand Ulster-Scots, while 10.4% (compared to 8.1% in 2011) professed to have "some ability".
The most commonsign languagein Northern Ireland isNorthern Ireland Sign Language(NISL). However, because in the past Catholic families tended to send their deaf children to schools in DublinwhereIrish Sign Language(ISL) is commonly used, ISL is still common among many older deaf people from Catholic families.
Irish Sign Language (ISL) has some influence from the French family of sign language, which includesAmerican Sign Language(ASL). NISL takes a large component from the British family of sign language (which also includesAuslan) with many borrowings from ASL. It is described as being related to Irish Sign Language at thesyntacticlevel while much of thelexiconis based onBritish Sign Language(BSL).
As of March 2004theUK Governmentrecognises only British Sign Language and Irish Sign Language as the official sign languages used in Northern Ireland.
Unlike most areas of the United Kingdom, in the last year of primary school, many children sit entrance examinations forgrammar schools.Integrated schools, which attempt to ensure a balance in enrolment between pupils of Protestant, Roman Catholic, and other faiths (or none), are becoming increasingly popular, although Northern Ireland still has a primarilyde factoreligiously segregated education system. In the primary school sector, 40 schools (8.9% of the total number) are integrated schools and 32 (7.2% of the total number) areGaelscoileanna(Irish language-medium schools).
As with the island of Ireland as a whole, Northern Ireland has one of the youngest populations in Europe and, among the four UK nations, it has the highest proportion of children aged under 16 years (21% in mid-2019).
In the most recent full academic year (2021–2022), the region's school education system comprised 1,124 schools (of all types) and around 346,000 pupils, including:
Enrolments in further and higher education were as follows (in 2019–2020) before disruption to enrolments and classes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic:
Statistics on education in Northern Ireland are published by theDepartment of Educationand theDepartment for the Economy.
The main universities in Northern Ireland areQueen's University BelfastandUlster University, and the distance learningOpen Universitywhich has a regional office in Belfast.
Since 1948 Northern Ireland has a health care system similar to England, Scotland and Wales, though it provides not only health care, but also social care. Health care performance has been decreasing since the mid-2010s and reached crisis levels since 2022.
Northern Ireland traditionally had an industrial economy, most notably featuring shipbuilding, rope manufacture, and textiles. In 2019, 53% of GVA was generated by services, 22% by the public sector, 15% by production, 8% by construction and 2% by agriculture.
In the coal industry,John Kelly Limitedwas the largest coal firm in Northern Ireland, spanning 150 years.It started inQueen's Quay, Belfast, bySamuel Kellyas a coal commissions and grocer. After his death, sonJohn Kellytook over and expanded the fleet of coasters. The business saw the most growth under John Kelly's son,Sir Samuel Kelly, who incorporated the business as alimited companyin 1911. John Kelly Limited expanded along the docks, likewise with their offices, expansion to Ballymena and Carrickfergus took place, and coal boats would travel to Larne Harbour. The company was renamed to Kelly's Fuels in the 1990s, and quickly became one of the biggest oil distributors in the Northern Ireland.
Belfast is the United Kingdom's second largest tech hub outside of London with more than 25% of their jobs being technology related. Many established multinational tech companies such as Fujitsu, SAP, IBM and Microsoft have a presence here. It is regarded an appealing place to live for tech professionals and has a low cost of living compared to other cities.
In 2019 Northern Ireland welcomed 5.3m visitors, who spent over £1billion. A total of 167 cruise ships docked at Northern Ireland ports in 2019.Tourism in recent years has been a major growth area with key attractions including the Giants Causeway and the many castles in the region with the historic towns and cities of Belfast, Derry, Armagh and Enniskillen being popular with tourists. Entertainment venues include the SSE Arena, Waterfront Hall, the Grand Opera House and Custom House Square. Tourists use various means of transport around Northern Ireland such as vehicle hire, guided tours, taxi tours, electric bikes, electric cars and public transport.
Belfast currently has an 81-acre shipyard which was purposely developed to be able to take some of the world's largest vessels. It has the largest dry dock for ships in Europe measuring 556m x 93m and has 106m high cranes, it is ideally situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea.The shipyard can build ships and complete maintenance contracts such as the contracts awarded by P&O and Cunard cruise ships in 2022.
Northern Ireland feeds around 10 million people when their population is only 1.8 million.The predominant activity on Northern Ireland farms in 2022 was cattle and sheep. 79 per cent of farms in Northern Ireland have some cattle, 38 per cent have some sheep. Over three-quarters of farms in Northern Ireland are very small, in 2022 there were 26,089 farms in Northern Ireland with approximately one million hectares of land farmed.
Northern Ireland is in a unique position where it can sell goods to the rest of the United Kingdom and the European Union tariff-free, free from customs declarations, rules of origin certificates and non-tariff barriers on the sale of goods to both regions.
Below is a comparison of the goods being sold and purchased between Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, compared with the goods being exported and imported between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland:
Northern Ireland has underdeveloped transport infrastructure, with most infrastructure concentrated around Greater Belfast, Greater Derry, and Craigavon. Northern Ireland is served by three airports—Belfast InternationalnearAntrim,George Best Belfast Cityintegrated into the railway network atSydenhamin East Belfast, andCity of Derryin County Londonderry. There are upgrade plans to transform the railway network in Northern Ireland including new lines from Derry to Portadown and Belfast to Newry, though it will take the best part of 25 years to deliver.There are major seaports atLarneandBelfastwhich carry passengers and freight between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Passenger railways are operated byNI Railways. WithIarnród Éireann(Irish Rail),NI Railwaysco-operates in providing the jointEnterpriseservice betweenDublin ConnollyandBelfast Grand Central. The whole of Ireland has a mainline railway network with agauge of 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm), which is unique in Europe and has resulted in distinct rolling stock designs. The only preserved line of this gauge on the island is theDownpatrick and County Down Railway, which operates heritage steam and diesel locomotives. Main railway lines linking to and fromBelfast Grand Central Stationand Lanyon Place railway station are:
The Derry line is the busiest single-track railway line in the United Kingdom, carrying 3 million passengers per annum, the Derry-Londonderry Line has also been described by Michael Palin as "one of the most beautiful rail journeys in the world".
Main motorways are:
Additional short motorway spurs include:
The cross-border road connecting the ports ofLarnein Northern Ireland andRosslare Harbourin the Republic of Ireland is being upgraded as part of an EU-funded scheme.European route E01runs from Larne through the island of Ireland, Spain, and Portugal toSeville.
Northern Ireland shares both theculture of Ulsterand theculture of the United Kingdom.
Northern Ireland has witnessed rising numbers of tourists. Attractions include concert venues, cultural festivals, musical and artistic traditions, countryside and geographical sites of interest, public houses, welcoming hospitality, and sports (especially golf and fishing).Since 1987 public houses have been allowed to open on Sundays, despite some opposition.
Parades are a prominent featureof Northern Ireland society,more so than in the rest of Ireland or the United Kingdom. Most are held by Protestant fraternities such as theOrange Order, and Ulster loyalist marching bands. Each summer, during the "marching season", these groups have hundreds of parades,deck streets with British flags, bunting and specially-made arches, and light large towering bonfires in the"Eleventh Night" celebrations.The biggest parades are held on 12 July (The Twelfth). There is often tension when these activities take place near Catholic neighbourhoods, which sometimes leads to violence.
TheUlster Cycleis a large body of prose and verse centring on the traditional heroes of theUlaidin what is now eastern Ulster. This is one of the four major cycles ofIrish mythology. The cycle centres on the reign ofConchobar mac Nessa, who is said to have been the king of Ulster around the 1st century. He ruled fromEmain Macha(now Navan Fort near Armagh), and had a fierce rivalry with queenMedband king Ailill of Connacht and their ally,Fergus mac Róich, former king of Ulster. The foremost hero of the cycle is Conchobar's nephewCúchulainn, who features in theepic prose/poemAnTáin Bó Cúailnge(The Cattle Raid of Cooley, acasus bellibetween Ulster andConnaught).
Northern Ireland comprises a patchwork of communities whose national loyalties are represented in some areas by flags flown from flagpoles or lamp posts. TheUnion Jackand the formerNorthern Ireland flagare flown in many loyalist areas, and the Tricolour, adopted by republicans as theflag of Irelandin 1916,is flown in some republican areas. Even kerbstones in some areas are painted red-white-blue or green-white-orange, depending on whether local people express unionist/loyalist or nationalist/republican sympathies.
The official flag is that of the state having sovereignty over the territory, i.e. the Union Flag.The former Northern Ireland flag, also known as the "Ulster Banner" or "Red Hand Flag", is a banner derived from the coat of arms of theGovernment of Northern Irelanduntil 1972. Since 1972, it has had no official status. The Union Flag and the Ulster Banner are used exclusively by unionists. The UK flags policy states that in Northern Ireland, "The Ulster flag and theCross of St Patrickhave no official status and, under the Flags Regulations, are not permitted to be flown from Government Buildings."
TheIrish Rugby Football Unionand theChurch of Irelandhave used theSaint Patrick's Saltireor "Cross of St Patrick". This redsaltireon a white field was used to represent Ireland in theflag of the United Kingdom. It is still used by someBritish Armyregiments. Foreign flags are also found, such as thePalestinianflags in some nationalist areas andIsraeliflags in some unionist areas.
The United Kingdom national anthem of "God Save the King" is often played at state events in Northern Ireland. At theCommonwealth Gamesand some other sporting events, the Northern Ireland team uses the Ulster Banner as its flag—notwithstanding its lack of official status—and the "Londonderry Air" (usually set tolyricsas "Danny Boy"), which also has no official status, as itsnational anthem.TheNorthern Ireland national football teamalso uses the Ulster Banner as its flag but uses "God Save The King" as its anthem.MajorGaelic Athletic Associationmatches are opened by the national anthem of the Republic of Ireland, "Amhrán na bhFiann(The Soldier's Song)", which is also used by most other all-Ireland sporting organisations.Since 1995, theIreland rugby union teamhas used a specially commissioned song, "Ireland's Call" as the team's anthem. The Irish national anthem is also played at Dublin home matches, being the anthem of the host country.
Northern Irish muralshave become well-known features of Northern Ireland, depicting past and present events and documenting peace and cultural diversity. Almost 2,000 murals have been documented in Northern Ireland since the 1970s.
TheBBChas a division calledBBC Northern Irelandwith headquarters in Belfast and operatesBBC One Northern IrelandandBBC Two Northern Ireland. As well as broadcasting standard UK-wide programmes, BBC NI produces local content, including a news break-out calledBBC Newsline. TheITVfranchise in Northern Ireland isUTV. The state-ownedChannel 4and the privately ownedChannel 5also broadcast in Northern Ireland. Access is also available to satellite and cable services.All Northern Ireland viewers must obtain a UKTV licenceto watch live television transmissions or useBBC iPlayer.
RTÉ, the national broadcaster of the Republic of Ireland, is available over the air to most parts of Northern Ireland via reception overspill of the Republic'sSaorviewservice,or via satellite and cable. Since the digital TV switchover,RTÉ One,RTÉ2and the Irish-language channelTG4, are now available over the air on the UK'sFreeviewsystem from transmitters within Northern Ireland.Although they are transmitted in standard definition, a Freeview HD box or television is required for reception.
As well as the standard UK-wide radio stations from the BBC, Northern Ireland is home to many local radio stations, such asCool FM,Q Radio,Downtown RadioandU105. The BBC has two regional radio stations which broadcast in Northern Ireland,BBC Radio UlsterandBBC Radio Foyle.
Besides the UK and Irish national newspapers, there are three main regional newspapers published in Northern Ireland. These are theBelfast Telegraph,The Irish NewsandThe News Letter.According to theAudit Bureau of Circulations (UK)the average daily circulation for these three titles in 2018 was:
Northern Ireland uses the same telecommunications and postal services as the rest of the United Kingdom at standard domestic rates and there are no mobile roaming charges between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.People in Northern Ireland who live close to the border with the Republic of Ireland may inadvertently switch over to the Irish mobile networks, causing international roaming fees to be applied.Calls from landlines in Northern Ireland to numbers in the Republic of Ireland are charged at the same rate as those to numbers in Great Britain, while landline numbers in Northern Ireland can similarly be called from the Republic of Ireland at domestic rates, using the048prefix.
Many sports are organised on anall-Irelandbasis, with a single governing body or team for the whole island.The most notable exception is association football (soccer), which has a separate governing body, league and national team for Northern Ireland.
TheIrish Football Association(IFA) serves as the organising body for men's domestic and national association football in Northern Ireland, it is a member of theInternational Football Association Boardwhich sets the rules for association football.TheNIWFAare responsible for women's domestic and national association football in Northern Ireland.
TheNIFL Premiershipis a professional men's football league which operates at the highest division of theNorthern Ireland Football League, the current format has been organised with 12 clubs. The winners will enter the first qualifying round of theChampions League, if they do not progress they will enter theEuropa LeagueorEuropa Conference Leaguedepending on performance. The two runners-up progress to the Europa Conference League with play-offs for another Europa Conference League position.TheNLFL Women's Premiershipis a professional women's football league which operates at the highest division in Northern Ireland with 10 clubs. The winner qualifies for a spot in theUEFA Women's Champions League. The men'sNorthern Ireland national football teamqualified for the1958 FIFA World Cup,1982 FIFA World Cupand1986 FIFA World Cup, making it to the quarter-finals in 1958 and 1982 and made it the first knockout round in theEuropean Championshipsin 2016.
TheIRFUis the governing body for the sport of Rugby Union on the island of Ireland (Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland).Rugby in Northern Ireland is run within the historic province ofUlsterwhich includes Northern Ireland plus 3 counties from the Republic of Ireland - Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan.
TheIreland national rugby league teamhas participated in theEmerging Nations Tournament(1995), the Super League World Nines (1996), the World Cup (2000, 2008, 2013, 2017, 2021), European Nations Cup (since 2003) and Victory Cup (2004). The Ireland A rugby league team competes annually in the Amateur Four Nations competition (since 2002) and the St Patrick's Day Challenge (since 1995).
TheIreland cricket teamrepresents both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It is a full member of theInternational Cricket Council, having been grantedTest statusand full membership by the ICC in June 2017. The side competes in Test cricket, the highest level of competitive cricket in the international arena, and is one of the 12 full-member countries of the ICC. Ireland men's side has played in theCricket World CupandT20 World Cupand has won theICC Intercontinental Cupfour times. Thewomen's sidehas played in theWomen's World Cup. One of the men's side's regular international venues isStormontin Belfast.
The governing body for golf on the island of Ireland isGolf Ireland, it is the successor to the Golfing Union of Ireland, governing body for men's and boy's amateur golf, and the oldest golfing union in the world, which was founded in Belfast in 1891, and the Irish Ladies Golf Union. Northern Ireland's golf courses include theRoyal Belfast Golf Club(the earliest, formed in 1881),Royal Portrush Golf Club, which is the only course outside Great Britain to have hostedThe Open Championship, andRoyal County Down Golf Club(Golf Digestmagazine's top-rated course outside the United States).Northern Ireland had three major champions in the space of just 14 months from theU.S. Openin2010toThe Open Championshipin2011. Notable golfers includeFred Daly(winner of The Open in1947),Ryder CupplayersRonan RaffertyandDavid Feherty, leadingEuropean TourprofessionalsDavid Jones,Michael Hoey(a five-time winner on the tour) andGareth Maybin, as well as three recent major winnersGraeme McDowell(winner of the U.S. Open in 2010, the first European to do so since 1970),Rory McIlroy(winner of fourmajors) andDarren Clarke(winner of The Open in 2011).Northern Ireland has also contributed several players to the Great Britain and IrelandWalker Cupteam, includingAlan Dunbarand Paul Cutler who played on the victorious 2011 team in Scotland. Dunbar also wonThe Amateur Championshipin 2012, at Royal Troon.
54°37′N6°37′W﻿ / ﻿54.61°N 6.62°W﻿ /54.61; -6.62