Northern Ireland
21265
226166210
2008-07-17T03:13:19Z
MichiganCharms
4604856
{{otheruses1|the constituent country}}
{{Infobox Country
|native_name = <!--
-->Northern Ireland{{spaces|2}}{{resize|75%|([[English language|English]])}}<br/><!--
-->''Tuaisceart Éireann''{{spaces|2}}{{resize|75%|([[Irish language|Irish]])}}<br/><!--
-->''Norlin Airlann''{{spaces|2}}{{resize|75%|([[Ulster Scots (linguistics)|Ulster Scots]])}}
|conventional_long_name = |national_anthem = ''[[Londonderry Air|Londonderry Air/Derry Air]]'' <small>(unofficial)<br />(the anthem of the [[United Kingdom]] is "[[God Save the Queen]]")
|image_map = NI UK.png
|map_caption = {{map_caption|location_color=orange|region=the [[United Kingdom]]|region_color=camel}}
|official_languages = [[English language|English]] <small>(''de facto'')</small>, [[Irish language|Irish]] and [[Ulster Scots (linguistics)|Ulster Scots]]{{smallsup|1}}
|common_name = Northern Ireland
|capital = [[Belfast]]
|latd=54 |latm=35.456 |latNS=N |longd=5 |longm=50.4 |longEW=W
|largest_city = Belfast
|government_type = {{nowrap|[[Constitutional monarchy]]}}<br/>[[Consociationalism]]
|leader_title1 = [[British monarchy|Monarch]]
|leader_name1 = [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]]
|leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] (of the United Kingdom)
|leader_name2 = [[Gordon Brown]] [[MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 2005|MP]]
|leader_title3 = [[First Minister and deputy First Minister|First Minister]]
|leader_name3 = [[Peter Robinson (politician)|Peter Robinson]] [[Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly elected in 2007|MLA]]
|leader_title4 = [[First Minister and deputy First Minister|Deputy First Minister]]
|leader_name4 = {{nowrap|[[Martin McGuinness]] [[Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly elected in 2007|MLA]]}}
|leader_title5 = [[Secretary of State for Northern Ireland|Secretary of State]]
|leader_name5 = [[Shaun Woodward]] [[MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 2005|MP]]
|sovereignty_type = Establishment
|established_event1 = {{nowrap|[[Government of Ireland Act 1920|Government of Ireland Act]]}}
|established_date1 = 3 May, 1921
|area_rank =
|area_magnitude = 1 E10
|area_km2 = 13,843
|area_sq_mi = 5,345
|percent_water =
|population_estimate = 1,741,600
|population_estimate_rank =
|population_estimate_year = 2006
|population_census = 1,685,267
|population_census_year = 2001
|population_density_km2 = 122
|population_density_sq_mi = 315
|population_density_rank =
|GDP_PPP = £33.2 billion
|GDP_PPP_year = 2002
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = £19,603
|currency = [[Pound sterling]]
|currency_code = GBP
|country_code = UKN
|time_zone = GMT
|utc_offset = +0
|time_zone_DST = BST
|utc_offset_DST = +1
|cctld = [[.uk]]{{smallsup|2}}, [[.ie]]{{smallsup|2}}
|calling_code = 44
|calling_code_note = {{smallsup|3}}
|patron_saint = [[St. Patrick|St Patrick]]{{smallsup|4}}
|footnote1 = [[Languages in the United Kingdom|Officially recognised languages]]: Northern Ireland has no official language; the use of English has been established through precedent. Irish and Ulster Scots are officially recognised minority languages
|footnote2 = Also [[.eu]], as part of the [[European Union]], and [[.ie]] shared with [[Republic of Ireland| Ireland]]. [[ISO 3166-1]] is [[Great Britain|GB]], but [[.gb]] is unused.
|footnote3 = +44 is always followed by 28 when calling landlines. The code is 028 within the UK and 048 from the [[Republic of Ireland]]
|footnote4 = In common with [[Republic of Ireland| Ireland]].
}}
'''Northern Ireland''' ({{lang-ga|Tuaisceart Éireann}}, [[Ulster Scots (linguistics)|Ulster Scots]]: ''Norlin Airlann'') is a [[constituent country]] within the [[United Kingdom]], lying in the northeast of the island of [[Ireland]], covering 5,459 square miles (14,139 km²), about a sixth of the island's total area.<ref>The [[Northern Ireland Act 1998]] describes Northern Ireland as "part of the United Kingdom". The term "[[constituent country]]" is sometimes applied to Northern Ireland by [[Unionist (Ireland)|Unionist]]s and British sources. [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/en2003/2003en33.htm] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/bbcandyou/accountable/charterrev4.shtml].</ref> It shares a border with the [[Republic of Ireland]] to the south and west. At the time of the [[United Kingdom Census 2001|UK Census in April 2001]], its population was 1,685,000, constituting between a quarter and a third of the island's total population and about 3% of the population of the United Kingdom.
Northern Ireland consists of [[Counties of Northern Ireland|six]] of the nine counties of the historic Irish [[Provinces of Ireland|province]] of [[Ulster]]. In the UK, it is generally known as one of the four [[Home Nations]] that form the Kingdom.
Northern Ireland was established as a distinct administrative region of the [[United Kingdom]] on 3 May 1921 under the [[Government of Ireland Act 1920]].<ref>NSR&O 1921, No. 533. Northern Ireland did not become a state (or pejoratively, a ''statelet''). Its constitutional roots remain the [[Act of Union 1800|Act of Union]], two complimentary Acts, one passed by the [[Parliament of Great Britain]], the other by the [[Parliament of Ireland]].</ref> For over 50 years it was the only part of the UK to have its own form of [[devolved government]] until it was suspended in 1972.<ref>[[Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972]] (c. 22)</ref> Northern Ireland's current devolved government bodies, the [[Northern Ireland Assembly]] and [[Northern Ireland Executive| Executive]] were established in 1998 but were suspended several times. They were restored on [[8 May]], [[2007]].<ref>{{cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6634373.stm |work= [[BBC news]] |title= Historic return for NI Assembly |accessdate= 2007-05-08 |date= [[2007-05-08]]}}</ref><ref>The Assembly operates on consociational democracy principles requiring cross community support. Due to a lack of cross party support, the Assembly was prorogued by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.</ref> Northern Ireland's [[Northern Ireland law|legal system]] descends from the pre-1921 Irish legal system (as does the [[legal system of the Republic of Ireland]]). It is based on [[common law]]. Northern Ireland is a distinct [[jurisdiction]], separate from [[English law|England and Wales]] and [[Scots law|Scotland]].<ref>{{PDFlink|[http://assets.cambridge.org/052178/2600/sample/0521782600ws.pdf pdf file]|64.6 [[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 66181 bytes -->}} "For the purposes of the English [[conflict of laws]], every country in the world which is not part of [[England and Wales]] is a foreign country and its foreign laws. This means that not only totally foreign independent countries such as [[France]] or [[Russia]]... are foreign countries but also [[British Colonies]] such as the [[Falkland Islands]]. Moreover, the other parts of the United Kingdom - Scotland and Northern Ireland - are foreign countries for present purposes, as are the other [[British Islands]], the [[Isle of Man]], [[Jersey]] and [[Guernsey]]." ''Conflict of Laws'', JG Collier, Fellow of [[Trinity Hall, Cambridge|Trinity Hall]] and lecturer in Law, [[University of Cambridge]]</ref>
Northern Ireland has been for many years the site of a violent and bitter ethno-political conflict between those claiming to represent [[Nationalists (Ireland)|Nationalists]], who are predominantly [[Roman Catholic]], and those claiming to represent [[Unionists (Ireland)|Unionists]], who are predominantly [[Protestant]].<ref>Northern Ireland LIFE & TIMES survey. Question: [http://www.ark.ac.uk/nilt/2005/Political_Attitudes/UNINATID.html Generally speaking, do you think of yourself as a unionist, nationalist or neither?], ARK Research, 2005</ref> In general, Nationalists want Northern Ireland to be unified with the Republic of Ireland, and Unionists want it to remain part of the United Kingdom. Unionists are in the majority in Northern Ireland, though Nationalists represent a significant minority.<ref>[http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=980 National Statistics Online - Communities in Northern Ireland] Retrieved on 2007-05-11</ref> In general, Protestants consider themselves British and Catholics see themselves as Irish but there are some who see themselves as both British and Irish. People from Northern Ireland are entitled to both British and Irish citizenship (see [[#Citizenship and identity|Citizenship and identity]]). The campaigns of violence have become known popularly as [[The Troubles]]. The majority of both sides of the community have had no direct involvement in the violent campaigns waged. Since the signing of the [[Belfast Agreement]] (also known as the Good Friday Agreement or the G.F.A.) in 1998, many of the major [[paramilitary]] campaigns have either been on [[ceasefire]] or have declared their war to be over.
==History==
{{main|History of Northern Ireland}}
''For events before 1900 see [[Ulster]] or [[History of Ireland]].''
The area now known as Northern Ireland has had a diverse history. From serving as the bedrock of [[Nine Years War (Ireland)|Irish resistance]] in the era of the [[Plantations of Ireland|plantation]]s of [[Elizabeth I of England|Queen Elizabeth]] and [[James I of England|James I]] in other parts of Ireland, it became the subject of major planting of [[Scotland|Scottish]] and [[England|English]] settlers after the [[Flight of the Earls]] in 1607 (when the [[Gaels|Gaelic]] [[aristocracy]] fled to [[Catholic]] Europe).
The all-island [[Kingdom of Ireland]] (1541—1800) merged into the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]] in 1801 under the terms of the [[Act of Union 1800|Act of Union]], under which the kingdoms of [[Kingdom of Ireland|Ireland]] and [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]] merged under a government and monarchy based in [[London]]. In the early 20th century, [[Unionists (Ireland)|Unionists]], led by [[Edward Carson|Sir Edward Carson]] (generally regarded as the founder of Northern Ireland), opposed the introduction of [[Home Rule]] in Ireland. [[Unionists (Ireland)|Unionists]] were in a minority on the island of Ireland as a whole, but were a majority in the northern province of [[Ulster]], a very large majority in the counties of [[County Antrim|Antrim]] and [[County Down|Down]], small majorities in the counties of [[County Armagh|Armagh]] and [[County Londonderry|Londonderry]], with substantial numbers also concentrated in the nationalist-majority counties of [[County Fermanagh|Fermanagh]] and [[County Tyrone|Tyrone]]. These six counties, containing an overall unionist majority, would later form Northern Ireland.
The clash between the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] and [[British House of Lords|House of Lords]] over the controversial budget of [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] [[David Lloyd-George]] produced the ''[[Parliament Act 1911]]'', which enabled the veto of the Lords to be overturned. Given that the Lords had been the unionists' main guarantee that a home rule act would not be enacted, because of the majority of pro-unionist peers in the House, the Parliament Act made [[Home Rule]] a likely prospect in Ireland. Opponents to Home Rule, from [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] leaders like [[Andrew Bonar Law]] to militant unionists in Ireland, threatened the use of violence, producing the [[Larne Gun Running]] incident in 1912, when they smuggled thousands of rifles and rounds of ammunition from [[Imperial Germany]] for the [[Ulster Volunteer Force]]. Lord Randolph Churchill famously told a unionist audience in Ulster that "Ulster will fight, and Ulster will be right". The prospect of civil war in Ireland loomed.
{{NIPMs}}
In 1914, the ''[[Third Home Rule Act]],'' which contained provision for a ''temporary'' partition, received the [[Royal Assent]]. Its implementation was suspended for the duration of the intervening [[First World War]], which was expected to last only a few weeks, but, in fact, lasted four years.
By the end of the war, the Act was seen as dead in the water, with public opinion in the majority nationalist community having moved from a demand for home rule to something more substantial: independence. [[David Lloyd George]] proposed in 1919 a new bill which would divide Ireland into two Home Rule areas, twenty-six counties being ruled from [[Dublin]], six being ruled from [[Belfast]], with a shared [[Lord Lieutenant of Ireland]] appointing both executives and a [[Council of Ireland]], which Lloyd George believed would evolve into an all-Ireland parliament.<ref>
{{cite book
| last = Pilkington
| first = Colin
| authorlink = Colin Pilkington
| title = Devolution in Britain Today
| publisher = Manchester University Press
| year = 2002
|pages= 75
| isbn = 0719060761 }}</ref>
===1920-1925: Partition of Ireland, partition of Ulster===
The island of Ireland was partitioned in 1921 under the terms of the [[Government of Ireland Act 1920]].<ref>Northern Ireland became a distinct region of the United Kingdom, by [[Order in Council]] on 3 May 1921 (SR&O 1921, No. 533). It did not become a state (or pejoratively, a ''statelet''). Its constitutional roots remain the [[Act of Union 1800|Act of Union]], two complimentary Acts, one passed by the [[Parliament of Great Britain]], the other by the [[Parliament of Ireland]].</ref> Six of the nine [[Ulster]] counties in the north-east formed Northern Ireland and the remaining three counties (including [[County Donegal]], despite it having a large Protestant minority as well as it being the most northern county in all of Ireland) joined those of [[Leinster]], [[Munster]] and [[Connacht]] to form [[Southern Ireland]]. Whilst Southern Ireland had only a brief existence between 1921 and 1922, a period dominated by the [[Anglo-Irish War]] and its aftermath, Northern Ireland was to continue on.
Northern Ireland provisionally became an autonomous part of the [[Irish Free State]] on 6 December 1922. However, as expected, the [[Parliament of Northern Ireland]] chose, under the terms of the [[Anglo-Irish Treaty]], to ''opt out'' of the Irish Free State the following day.<ref>On 7 December 1922 (the day after the establishment of the Irish Free State) the [[Parliament of Northern Ireland| Parliament]] resolved to make the following address to the [[George V of the United Kingdom| King]] so as to ''opt out'' of the Irish Free State: ''”MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN, We, your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Senators and Commons of Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled, having learnt of the passing of the [[Irish Free State Constitution Act 1922]], being the Act of Parliament for the ratification of the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty between Great Britain and Ireland, do, by this humble Address, pray your Majesty that the powers of the Parliament and Government of the Irish Free State shall no longer extend to Northern Ireland"''. Source: [http://stormontpapers.ahds.ac.uk/stormontpapers/pageview.html?volumeno=2&pageno=1145#bak-2-1149 Northern Ireland Parliamentary Report, 7 December 1922] and [http://www.nationalarchives.ie/topics/anglo_irish/dfaexhib2.html Anglo-Irish Treaty, sections 11, 12]</ref> Shortly after Northern Ireland had exercised its ''opt out'' of the Irish Free State, a [[Irish Boundary Commission| Boundary Commission]] was established to decide on the territorial boundaries between the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland. Though leaders in Dublin expected a substantial reduction in the territory of Northern Ireland (with nationalist areas like [[south Armagh]], [[Tyrone]], southern [[County Londonderry]] and urban territories like [[Derry]] and [[Newry]] moving to the Free State), the Boundary Commission decided against this. This decision was approved by the [[Dáil]] in Dublin on 10 December 1925 by a vote of 71 to 20.<ref>[http://historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/D/0013/D.0013.192512100009.html Dáil Éireann - Volume 13 - 10 December, 1925].</ref>
===1926 to the present===
In June 1940, to encourage the Irish state to join with the [[Allies]], British Prime Minister [[Winston Churchill]] indicated to the [[Taoiseach]] [[Éamon de Valera]] that the United Kingdom would push for [[United Ireland|Irish unity]], but believing that Churchill could not deliver, de Valera declined the offer.<ref>"Anglo-Irish Relations, 1939—41: A Study in Multilateral Diplomacy and Military Restraint" in ''Twentieth Century British History'' (Oxford Journals, 2005). ISSN 1477-4674.</ref> The British did not inform the Northern Ireland government that they had made the offer to the Dublin government, and De Valera's rejection was not publicized until 1970.
The ''[[Ireland Act 1949]]'' gave the first legal guarantee to the [[Parliament of Northern Ireland|Parliament]] and [[Government of Northern Ireland|Government]] that Northern Ireland would not cease to be part of the [[United Kingdom]] without consent of the majority of its citizens, and this was most recently reaffirmed by the [[Northern Ireland Act 1998]]. This status was echoed in the [[Anglo-Irish Agreement]] in 1985, which was signed by the governments of the United Kingdom and [[Republic of Ireland| Ireland]]. [[Bunreacht na hÉireann]], the constitution of the Republic, was amended in 1999 to remove a claim of the "Irish nation" to sovereignty over the whole of Ireland (in Article 2), a claim qualified by an acknowledgement that Ireland only could exercise legal control over the territory formerly known as the Irish Free State. The new [[Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution of Ireland|Articles 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 United Kingdom and with Ireland, would only be changed with the agreement of a majority of voters in both jurisdictions Ireland (voting separately). This acknowledgement was also central to the [[Belfast Agreement]] which was signed in 1998 and ratified by referenda held simultaneously in both Northern Ireland and the Republic.
A [[plebiscite]] within Northern Ireland on whether it should remain in the United Kingdom, or form part of a united Ireland, was[[Northern Ireland referendum, 1973| held in 1973]]. The vote went heavily in favour (98.9%) of maintaining the status quo with approximately 57.5% of the total electorate voting in support, but most nationalists [[boycott]]ed the poll. Though legal provision remains for holding another plebiscite, and former [[Ulster Unionist Party]] leader [[David Trimble]] some years ago advocated the holding of such a vote, no plans for such a vote have been adopted as of 2007.
By 2005 Northern Ireland had established 100% broadband coverage. This was achieved by a partnership between the Northern Ireland Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and BT Northern Ireland.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3578763.stm BBC NEWS | Northern Ireland | NI set for 100% broadband<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
On [[8 May]] [[2007]] local authonomous government returned to Northern Ireland. DUP leader [[Ian Paisley]] and Sinn Féin politician [[Martin McGuinness]] took office as First Minister and Deputy First Minister, respectively.<ref>(BBC)</ref>
===Lives lost and injured in "the Troubles"===
{{main|The Troubles}}
During the Troubles bombings in [[Great Britain]] tended to have had more publicity, since attacks there were comparatively rare (in the context of the troubles); indeed 93% of killings happened in Northern Ireland. Republican paramilitaries have contributed to nearly 60% (2056) of these. Loyalists have killed nearly 28% (1020) while the security forces have killed just over 11% (362), with 9% of the total (296) attributed to the [[British Army]].
====Civilians killed====
Civilians account for the highest death toll at 53% or 1798 fatalities. Loyalist paramilitaries account for a higher proportion of civilian deaths (those with no military or paramilitary connection) according to figures published in Malcolm Sutton’s book, “Bear in Mind These Dead: An Index of Deaths from the Conflict in Ireland 1969 - 1993”. According to research undertaken by the CAIN organisation, based on Sutton's work, 85.6% (873) of Loyalist killings, 52.9% (190) by the security forces and 35.9% (738) of all killings by Republican paramilitaries took the lives of civilians between 1969 and 2001. The disparity of a relatively high civilian death toll yet low Republican percentage is explained by the fact that they also had a high combatants' death toll.
====Combatants killed====
Republican paramilitaries account for a higher proportion of combatants killed (those within paramilitaries or the military) Again from Malcolm Sutton's research, Republicans killed 1318 combatants, the security forces killed 192 and the Loyalists killed 147. Both Republicans and Loyalists killed more of their own than each other, over twice as many for Loyalists and nearly four times as many for Republicans.
80 people, mainly civilians, have died without any organisation claiming responsibility. The British Army has also lost 14 soldiers to Loyalists while the security forces overall in the Republic have lost 10 to Republicans.
According to a submission by Marie Smith to the Northern Ireland Commission on Victims, 40,000 people have also been injured, though she believes that to be a conservative figure.
==Demography and politics==
[[Image:Northern-irland-religions-1991.png|thumb|Communities in Northern Ireland - 1991 census.]]
{{Politics of Northern Ireland}}
{{main|Demography and politics of Northern Ireland}}
The population of Northern Ireland was estimated as being 1,710,300 on [[30 June]] [[2004]]. In the 2001 census, 45.6% of the population identified as belonging to Protestant denominations (of which 20.7% [[Presbyterian Church in Ireland|Presbyterian]], 15.3% [[Church of Ireland]]), 40.3% identified as Catholic, 0.3% identified with non-Christian religions and 13.9% identified with no religion. <ref>[http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census/Excel/KS07a%20DC.xls Northern Ireland Census 2001, Table KS07a: Religion]</ref> In terms of community background, 53.1% of the Northern Irish population came from a Protestant background, 43.8% came from a Catholic background, 0.4% from non-Christian backgrounds and 2.7% non-religious backgrounds.<ref>[http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census/Excel/KS07b%20DC.xls Northern Ireland Census 2001, Table KS07b: Community background: religion or religion brought up in]</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/2590023.stm BBC News: Fascination of religion head count]</ref> The population is forecast to pass the 1.8 million mark by 2011.<ref>[http://www.nisra.gov.uk/archive/demography/population/projections/popproj06.pdf Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency population projections]</ref>
A [[plurality]] of the present-day population define themselves as [[Unionist (Ireland)|Unionist]], 22% as [[Irish Nationalism|Nationalist]] and 35% define themselves as neither.<ref>[http://www.ark.ac.uk/nilt/2005/Political_Attitudes/UNINATID.html Ark survey, 2005. Answer to the question "Generally speaking, do you think of yourself as a unionist, a nationalist or neither?"]</ref> According to a 2005 opinion poll, 58% express long term preference of the maintenance of Northern Ireland's membership of the United Kingdom, while 23% express a preference for membership of a united Ireland.<ref>[http://www.ark.ac.uk/nilt/2005/Political_Attitudes/NIRELAND.html Ark survey, 2005. Answers to the question "Do you think the long-term policy for Northern Ireland should be for it [one of the following]"</ref> This discrepancy can be explained by the overwhelming preference among Protestants to remain a part of the UK (85%), while Catholic preferences are spread across a number of solutions to the constitutional question including remaining a part of the UK (25%), a united Ireland (50%), Northern Ireland becoming an independent state (9%), and those who "don't know" (14%).<ref>[http://www.ark.ac.uk/nilt/2005/Political_Attitudes/NIRELAND.html Ark survey, 2005. Answers to the question "Do you think the long-term policy for Northern Ireland should be for it to [one of the following]"</ref> Official voting figures, which reflect views on the "national question" along with issues of candidate, geography, personal loyalty and historic voting patterns, show 54% of Northern Ireland voters vote for Pro-Unionist parties, 42% vote for Pro-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 are at least nominally [[Christian]]. The ethno-political loyalties are allied, though not absolutely, to the [[Roman Catholic]] and [[Protestant]] denominations and these are the labels used to categorise the opposing views. This is, however, becoming increasingly irrelevant as the [[Irish Question]] is very complicated. Many voters (regardless of religious affiliation) are attracted to Unionism's [[National conservatism|conservative]] policies, while other voters are instead attracted to the traditionally leftist, nationalist [[Sinn Féin]] and [[Social Democratic and Labour Party]] (SDLP) and their respective party platforms for [[Democratic Socialism]] and [[Social 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]]. Catholics generally desire a greater connection with the Republic of Ireland, or are less certain about how to solve the constitutional question. In a survey by Northern Ireland Life and Times, a fifth of Northern Irish Catholics were said to support Northern Ireland remaining a part of the United Kingdom <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ark.ac.uk/nilt/2006/Political_Attitudes/NIRELAND.html |title=NI Life and Times Survey 2006: NIRELAND |publisher= NILT |accessdate=2008-07-16 }}</ref> (see [[Catholic Unionist]]). Despite this 2% Catholics in the survey stated they would vote for Unionist Parties and 3% would vote for the Alliance Party.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ark.ac.uk/nilt/2006/Political_Attitudes/NIPARTY.html |title=NI Life and Times Survey 2006: NIPARTY |publisher= NILT |accessdate=2008-07-16 }}</ref>
Protestants have a slight majority in Northern Ireland, according to the latest Northern Ireland Census.<ref>[http://www.nicensus2001.gov.uk/nica/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Cultural&mainLevel=CountryProfile&mainArea=Northern+Ireland&mainText=&mainTextExplicitMatch=null&compLevel=CountryProfile&compArea=Northern+Ireland&compText=&compTextExplicitMatch=null 2001 Census Cultural Profile for Northern Ireland]</ref> The make-up of the [[Northern Ireland Assembly]] reflects the appeals of the various parties within the population. Of the 108 [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (Northern Ireland)|MLA]]'s, 55 are Unionists and 44 are Nationalists (the remaining nine are classified as "other"). The largest single religious denomination is the Roman Catholic Church, which comprises a plurality, followed by the [[Presbyterian Church in Ireland]], the [[Church of Ireland]] ([[Anglicanism|Anglican]]) and the [[Methodist Church]].
The two opposing views of British unionism and Irish nationalism are linked to deeper cultural divisions. Unionists are overwhelmingly [[Protestantism|Protestant]], descendants of mainly [[Scotland|Scottish]], [[England|English]], [[Wales|Welsh]] and [[Huguenot]] settlers and [[Indigenous (ecology)|indigenous]] Irishmen who had converted to one of the Protestant denominations.
[[Nationalists]] are predominantly [[Catholic]] and descend from the population predating the settlement, with a minority from Scottish Highlanders as well as some converts from Protestantism. Discrimination against nationalists under the [[Parliament Buildings (Northern Ireland)|Stormont]] government (1921–1972) gave rise to the nationalist [[Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association|civil rights movement]] in the 1960s.<ref>[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/discrimination/whyte.htm Professor John H. Whyte paper on discrimination in Northern Ireland]</ref> Some Unionists argue that any discrimination was not just because of religious or political bigotry, but also the result of more complex socio-economic, socio-political and geographical factors.<ref>[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/discrimination/sum.htm CAIN website key issues discrimination summary]</ref> Whatever the cause, the existence of discrimination, and the manner in which Nationalist anger at it was handled, was a major contributing factor which led to the long-running conflict known as [[the Troubles]]. The political unrest went through its most violent phase in recent times between 1968 and 1994.<ref>Lord Scarman, "Violence and Civil Disturbances in Northern Ireland in 1969: Report of Tribunal of Inquiry" Belfast: HMSO, Cmd 566. (known as the ''Scarman Report'')</ref>
The main actors have been the [[Provisional Irish Republican Army]] and other republican groups who wish to bring about an end of the union with Great Britain, and various [[loyalist]] paramilitary groups who wish to maintain the union. The police force (the [[Royal Ulster Constabulary]]) and the [[British army]] were charged with maintaining law and order, though were frequently attacked by the nationalist community and republican paramilitaries who claimed that they were protagonists in the conflict.
As a consequence of the worsening security situation autonomous regional government for Northern Ireland was suspended in 1972. Since mid-1997, the main paramilitary group, the Provisional IRA, has observed a [[ceasefire]]. Following negotiations, the [[Belfast Agreement]] of 1998 provides for an elected [[Northern Ireland Assembly]], and a power-sharing [[Northern Ireland Executive]] comprising representatives of all the main parties. These institutions were suspended by the [[British Government]] in 2002 after [[Police 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 and the defendant later admitted to being a British agent. Politicians elected to the Assembly at the [[Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2003|2003 Assembly Election]] were called together on [[15 May]] [[2006]] under the Northern Ireland Act 2006 <ref>[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2006/20060017.htm Northern Ireland Act 2006 (c. 17)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> for the purpose of electing a [[First Minister of Northern Ireland]] and a [[deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland]] and choosing the members of an Executive (before [[25 November]], [[2006]]) as a preliminary step to the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland. Another [[Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2007|election]] was held on [[7 March]] [[2007]] and this Assembly sat following the return of devolved government in May 2007
On [[28 July]] [[2005]], the Provisional IRA declared an end to its campaign and has since decommissioned what is thought to be all of its [[arsenal]]. This final act of decommissioning was performed in accordance with the Belfast Agreement of 1998, and under the watch of the International Decommissioning Body and two external church witnesses. Many unionists, however, remain sceptical. This IRA decommissioning is in contrast to Loyalist paramilitaries who have so far failed to decommission many weapons. It is not thought that this will have a major effect on further political progress as political parties linked to Loyalist paramilitaries do not attract significant support and will not be in a position to form part of a government in the near future. ''See [[Independent International Commission on Decommissioning]]
===Citizenship and identity===
{{further|[[British nationality law]] and [[Irish nationality law]]}}
People from Northern Ireland are [[British nationality law|British citizens]] on the same basis as people from any other part of the United Kingdom.
The 1998 [[Belfast Agreement]] between the British and Irish governments provides that:
''it is the birthright of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish or British, or both, as they may so choose, and accordingly [the two governments] confirm that their right to hold both British and Irish citizenship is accepted by both Governments and would not be affected by any future change in the status of Northern Ireland.''
As a result of the Agreement, the [[Constitution of Ireland]] was amended so that people from Northern Ireland are regarded as [[Irish nationality law|Irish citizens]] on the same basis as people from any other part of the island of Ireland.
Neither government, however, extends its citizenship to all persons born in Northern Ireland. Both governments exclude some people born in Northern Ireland (e.g. certain persons born in Northern Ireland neither of whose parents is a UK or Irish national).
In general, Protestants in Northern Ireland see themselves primarily as being British, while Roman Catholics regard themselves primarily as being Irish. Several studies and surveys performed between 1971 and 2006 show this.<ref>Breen, R., Devine, P. and Dowds, L. (editors), 1996. ''"Social Attitudes in Northern Ireland: The Fifth Report"'' ISBN 0-86281-593-2. Chapter 2 retrieved from http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/research/nisas/rep5c2.htm on August 24, 2006. Summary: In 1989—1994, 79% Protestants replied "British" or "Ulster", 60% of Catholics replied "Irish."</ref><ref>[http://www.ark.ac.uk/nilt/1999/Community_Relations/NINATID.html Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey, 1999. Module:Community Relations. Variable:NINATID.] Summary:72% of Protestants replied "British". 68% of Catholics replied "Irish".</ref><ref>[http://www.ark.ac.uk/nilt/1999/Community_Relations/BRITISH.html Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey. Module:Community Relations. Variable:BRITISH.] Summary: 78% of Protestants replied "Strongly British."</ref><ref>[http://www.ark.ac.uk/nilt/1999/Community_Relations/IRISH.html Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey, 1999. Module:Community Relations. Variable:IRISH.] Summary: 77% of Catholics replied "Strongly Irish."</ref><ref>Institute of Governance, 2006. ''"National identities in the UK: do they matter?"''
Briefing No. 16, January 2006. Retrieved from {{PDFlink|[http://www.institute-of-governance.org/forum/Leverhulme/briefing_pdfs/IoG_Briefing_16.pdf IoG_Briefing]|211 [[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 216792 bytes -->}} on August 24, 2006. Extract:"Three-quarters of Northern
Ireland’s Protestants regard themselves as British, but only 12
per cent of Northern Ireland’s Catholics do so. Conversely, a
majority of Catholics (65%) regard themselves as Irish, whilst
very few Protestants (5%) do likewise. Very few Catholics
(1%) compared to Protestants (19%) claim an Ulster identity
but a Northern Irish identity is shared in broadly equal
measure across religious traditions."<small>''Details from attitude surveys are in [[Demographics and politics of Northern Ireland]].''</small></ref><ref>[http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/Plain_English_Summaries/governance_and_citizenship/structure/index32.aspx?ComponentId=17242&SourcePageId=11746] University of York Research Project 2002-2003 L219252024 - Public Attitudes to Devolution and National Identity in Northern Ireland</ref><ref>[http://www.jstor.org/view/00346705/ap050158/05a00060/0] Northern Ireland: Constitutional Proposals and the Problem of Identity, by J. R. Archer
The Review of Politics, 1978</ref><ref>{{PDFlink|[http://www.ucd.ie/spire/text%20files/todd-achangedirishnationalism.pdf]|131 [[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 134372 bytes -->}} A changed Irish nationalism? The significance of the Belfast Agreement of 1998, by Joseph Ruane and Jennifer Todd </ref>
This does not however, account for the complex identities within Northern Ireland, given that many of the population regard themselves as "Ulster" or "Northern Irish", either primarily, or as a secondary identity. A 1999 survey showed that 51% of Protestants felt "Not at all Irish" and 41% only "weakly Irish"<ref>[http://www.ark.ac.uk/nilt/1999/Community_Relations/IRISH.html Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey, 1999. Module:Community Relations. Variable:IRISH.]</ref>
==Symbols==
{{see also|Northern Ireland flags issue}}
[[Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg|thumb|right|150px|The [[Union Flag]]]]
[[Image:Ulster banner.svg|150px|thumb|Former [[Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland|Government of Northern Ireland]] 1953-72.|right]]
[[Image:Flag of Ireland.svg|thumb|right|150px|[[Flag of Ireland]]]]
[[Image:Northern Ireland coat of arms.png|150px|thumb|Former Governmental [[Coat of Arms of Northern Ireland]] 1925-72|right]]
Today, Northern Ireland comprises a diverse patchwork of communities, whose national loyalties are represented in some areas by flags flown from lamp posts. The [[Union Flag]] and former [[Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland|Government of Northern Ireland]] therefore appear in some loyalist areas, with the [[Flag of the Republic of Ireland|Irish national flag]] of the [[Republic of Ireland]], the tricolour, appearing in some republican areas. Even [[curb (road)|kerbstones]] in some areas are painted red-white-blue or green-white-orange (or gold), depending on whether local people express unionist/loyalist or nationalist/republican sympathies.
The only official flag is the [[Union Flag]].<ref>[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/sr/sr2000/20000347.htm Statutory Rule 2000 No. 347<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The former Governmental Northern Ireland banner (also known as the "[[Ulster Banner]]" or "Red Hand Flag") was based on the arms of the former [[Parliament of Northern Ireland]], and was used by the Government of Northern Ireland and its agencies between 1953 and 1972. The Ulster Banner has not been used by the government since the abolition of the Parliament of Northern Ireland under the [[Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973]]. It remains, however used uniquely to represent Northern Ireland in certain sporting events. The arms from which the Ulster Banner derives were themselves based on the [[flag of Ulster]].
The Union Flag and the Ulster Banner are typically only used by Unionists.<ref>[http://flags.net/NOIR.htm Northern Irish flags from the World Flag Database]</ref> Nationalists generally eschew symbols which uniquely represent Northern Ireland; some instead use the [[Flag of Ireland|Irish Tricolour]], particularly at sporting events. Many people, however, prefer to avoid flags altogether because of their divisive nature. Paramilitary groups on both sides have also developed their own flags. Some unionists also occasionally use the flags of secular and religious organisations to which they belong.
Some groups, including the [[Irish Rugby Football Union]] and the [[Church of Ireland]] have used the [[Flag of St. Patrick#Saint Patrick's Flag|Flag of St. Patrick]] as a symbol of Ireland which lacks nationalist or unionist connotations. However, it is felt by some to be a loyalist flag, as it was used to represent Ireland when the whole island was part of the UK and is used by some [[British army]] regiments. Foreign flags are also found, such as the [[Palestinian territories|Palestinian]] flags in some Nationalist areas and [[Israel]]i flags in some Unionist areas, which represent general comparisons made by both sides with conflicts in the wider world.
The United Kingdom [[national anthem]] ''[[God Save the Queen]]'' is often played at state events in Northern Ireland. At some cross-community events, however, the ''[[Londonderry Air]]'' (also known as ''[[Danny Boy]]'') may be played as a neutral substitute.
At the [[Commonwealth Games]], the Northern Ireland team uses the Ulster Banner as its flag and ''Danny Boy'' / ''A Londonderry Air'' is used as its [[national anthem]]. The [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland football team]] also uses the Ulster Banner as its flag but uses ''God Save The Queen'' as its national anthem.<ref>[http://www.fifa.com/en/organisation/confederations/associationdetails/0,1483,NIR,00.html?countrycode=NIR FIFA.com: Northern Ireland, Latest News]</ref>
Major [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] matches are opened by the Ireland national anthem, ''[[Amhrán na bhFiann]] (The Soldiers Song)'', which is also used by some other all-Ireland sporting organisations.<ref>{{Cite news
|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/ireland/politics/article3346089.ece
|title=DUP minister seeks end to Irish anthem at GAA matches
|publisher=[[Belfast Telegraph]]
|date=2008-01-17
|accessdate=2008-05-26
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web
|url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/csc/reports/sugdenharvie/sugdenharvie95-3.htm
|title=Sport and Community Relations in Northern Ireland 3.2 Flags and anthems
|author=John Sugden and Scott Harvie
|year=1995
|accessdate=2008-05-26
}}</ref>
Since 1995, the [[Ireland national rugby union team]] has used a specially commissioned song, ''[[Ireland's Call]]'', in place of, or alongside, the Ireland national anthem at international matches.<ref>{{Cite news
|quote=the band played ''Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika'' and ''Die Stem'' for the Springboks and ''Soldier's Song,'' the national anthem that is otherwise known as ''Amhran na bhFiann,'' and ''Ireland's Call,'' the team's official rugby anthem.
|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-103809383.html
|author=Peter Berlin
|publisher=[[International Herald Tribune]] via HighBeam Research
|date=2004-12-29
|accessdate=2008-05-26
|title=Long unsung teams live up to anthems: Rugby Union
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news
|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/features/daily-features/article2889336.ece
|title=Gavin Mairs: Why it's time to take a stand on anthems
}}</ref>
[[Northern Irish murals]] have become well-known features of Northern Ireland, depicting past and present divisions, both also documenting peace and cultural diversity. Almost 2,000 murals have been documented in Northern Ireland since the 1970s (see [http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/ Conflict Archive on the Internet/Murals]).
==Geography and climate==
[[Image:NImap-CIA.jpg|thumb|350px|Map of Northern Ireland]]
{{main|Geography of Ireland|Geography of the United Kingdom}}
Northern Ireland was covered by an [[ice sheet]] for most of the last [[ice age]] and on numerous previous occasions, the legacy of which can be seen in the extensive coverage of [[drumlin]]s in Counties Fermanagh, Armagh, Antrim and particularly Down. The centrepiece of Northern Ireland's geography is [[Lough Neagh]], at 151 square miles (392 km²) the largest freshwater lake both on the island of Ireland and in the [[British Isles]]. A second extensive lake system is centred on Lower and Upper [[Lough Erne]] in Fermanagh. The largest island of Northern Ireland is [[Rathlin Island|Rathlin]], off the Antrim coast. [[Strangford Lough]] is the largest inlet in the British Isles, covering 150 km² (58 sq mi).
There are substantial uplands in the [[Sperrin Mountains]] (an extension of the [[Caledonian fold mountains]]) with extensive gold deposits, [[granite]] [[Mourne Mountains]] and [[basalt]] [[Antrim Plateau]], as well as smaller ranges in [[South Armagh]] and along the Fermanagh–Tyrone border. None of the hills are especially high, with [[Slieve Donard]] in the dramatic Mournes reaching 848 m (2782 ft), Northern Ireland's highest point. Belfast's most prominent peak is [[Cave Hill]]. The volcanic activity which created the Antrim Plateau also formed the eerily geometric pillars of the [[Giant's Causeway]] on the north Antrim coast. Also in north Antrim are the [[Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge]], [[Mussenden Temple]] and the [[Glens of Antrim]].
The Lower and Upper [[River Bann]], [[River Foyle]] and [[River Blackwater, Northern Ireland|River Blackwater]] form extensive fertile lowlands, with excellent [[arable land]] also found in North and East Down, although much of the hill country is marginal and suitable largely for animal husbandry.
The valley of the [[River Lagan]] is 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 of [[Belfast Lough]].
The whole of Northern Ireland has a [[Maritime climate|temperate maritime climate]], rather wetter in the west than the east, although cloud cover is persistent 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 damp climate and extensive deforestation in the 16<sup>th</sup> and 17<sup>th</sup> centuries resulted in much of the region being covered in rich green grassland.
'''Highest maximum temperature''': 30.8 °C (87.4 °F) at Knockarevan, near [[Garrison, County Fermanagh]] on [[30 June]] [[1976]] and at [[Belfast]] on [[12 July]] [[1983]].
'''Lowest minimum temperature''': -17.5 °C (0.5 °F) at Magherally, near [[Banbridge]], [[County Down]] on [[1 January]] [[1979]].<ref>[http://www.metoffice.com/climate/uk/location/nireland/#temperature British Meteorological Office figures] </ref>
===Counties===
{{main|Counties of Northern Ireland}}
[[Image:Causeway-code poet-4.jpg|thumb|300px|right|The [[Giant's Causeway]].]]
Northern Ireland consists of six [[Counties of Ireland|counties]]:
* [[County Antrim]]
* [[County Armagh]]
* [[County Down]]
* [[County Fermanagh]]
* [[County Londonderry]]<ref>Many Nationalists use the name ''County Derry''. {{selfref|Wikipedia policy is to use Londonderry for the county and Derry for the city. The name usage does not indicate an endorsement for either community's opinions.}}</ref>
* [[County Tyrone]]
These counties are no longer used for local government purposes; instead there are twenty-six [[districts of Northern Ireland]] which have different geographical extents, even in the case of those named after the counties from which they derive their name. [[Fermanagh District Council]] most closely follows the borders of the county from which it takes its name. Coleraine Borough Council, on the other hand, derives its name from the town of Coleraine in County Londonderry.
Although counties are no longer used for governmental purpose, they remain a popular means of describing where places are. They are officially used while applying for an Irish Passport, which requires the applicant to state their 'County of Birth' - which then appears in both [[Irish language|Irish]] and [[English language|English]] on the Passport's information page, as opposed to the town or city of birth on the United Kingdom Passport.
The county boundaries still appear on Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland Maps and the Phillips 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]] and [[Lisburn]], which are split between counties Down and Antrim (the majorities of both cities, however, are in Antrim)
===Cities===
There are 5 major settlements with [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]] in Northern Ireland:
*[[Armagh]]
*[[Belfast]]
*[[Derry]]<ref>Most Nationalists use the name ''Derry'', while Unionists often use ''Londonderry'', the name specified on the city's [[Royal Charter]]. {{selfref|Wikipedia policy is to use the name as designated by the elected council. The name usage does not indicate an endorsement for either community's opinions.}}</ref>
*[[Lisburn]]
*[[Newry]]
===Towns and villages===
{{main|Towns in Northern Ireland|Villages in Northern Ireland}}
:''See also the [[list of places in Northern Ireland]] for all villages, towns and cities''
*[[Ahoghill]], [[Antrim, County Antrim|Antrim]], [[Annalong]], [[Annaclone]]
*[[Ballycastle]], [[Ballyclare]], [[Ballykelly]], [[Ballymena]], [[Ballymoney]], [[Ballynahinch]], [[Banbridge]], [[Bangor, Northern Ireland|Bangor]], [[Bushmills]]
*[[Carnmoney]], [[Carrickfergus]], [[Castledawson]], [[Castlerock]], [[Coalisland]], [[Comber]], [[Coleraine]], [[Cookstown, County Tyrone|Cookstown]], [[Craigavon]], [[Crossmaglen]], [[Crumlin, County Antrim|Crumlin]],
[[Corbet]], [[Cushendall]]
*[[Donaghadee]], [[Downpatrick]], [[Dromore, County Down|Dromore]], [[Dundonald]], [[Dungannon]], [[Dungiven]], [[Dromore]], [[Donaghcloney]]
*[[Enniskillen]]
*[[Glengormley]], [[Garvagh]], [[Gilford]]
*[[Garrison, County Fermanagh|Garrison]]
*[[Hillsborough, County Down|Hillsborough]], [[Holywood]]
*[[Kilkeel]]
*[[Larne]], [[Limavady]], [[Lurgan]], [[Loughbrickland]]
*[[Magherafelt]], [[Macosquin]]
*[[Newcastle, Northern Ireland|Newcastle]], [[Newtownards]], [[Newtownstewart]]
*[[Omagh]]
*[[Portrush]], [[Portstewart]], [[Portadown]], [[Portaferry]], [[Poyntzpass]], [[Portballintrae]]
*[[Rasharkin]], [[Rathfriland]]
*[[Strabane]], [[Scarva]], [[Seapatrick]]
*[[Warrenpoint]]
==Variations in geographic nomenclature==
{{main|Alternative names for Northern Ireland}}
Many people inside and outside Northern Ireland use other names for Northern Ireland, depending on their point of view.
===Unionist/Loyalist===
* '''''[[Ulster]]''''' (''Ulaidh'') is strictly the historic province of Ulster, six of its nine counties are in Northern Ireland. The term "Ulster" is widely used by the Unionist community and the British press as shorthand for Northern Ireland.<ref>Examples of usage of this term include [[Radio Ulster]], [[Ulster Orchestra]] and [[Royal Ulster Constabulary|RUC]]; political parties like the ''[[Ulster Unionist Party]]''; paramilitary organisations like ''[[Ulster Defence Association]]'' and ''[[Ulster Volunteer Force]]''. ''Ulster'' was also used political campaigns such as ''"[[Ulster Says No]]"'' and ''[[Save Ulster from Sodomy]]''.</ref> There have, in the past, been calls for the official name of Northern Ireland to be changed to Ulster.<ref>Parliamentary Reports of the Parliament of Northern Ireland, Vol. 20 (1937).</ref>
* '''''The Province''''' (''an Chúige'') refers literally the historic Irish province of Ulster but today is used widely, within this community, as shorthand for Northern Ireland.<ref>DUP Press Release ''"PAISLEY REACTS TO PRIME MINISTER’S STATEMENT"''. Date unknown. Extract ''"The DUP will be to the fore in representing the vast majority of unionists in the Province."''—example of [[Ian Paisley]] referring to Northern Ireland as ''The Province''. Retrieved from [http://66.249.93.104/search?q=cache%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.dup.org.uk%2Farticles.asp%3FArticle_ID%3D2178&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official Google cache] on October 11, 2006.</ref> United Kingdom Government documents (when referring to England and Scotland as countries and to Wales as "The Principality", typically refer to Northern Ireland as "the Province" <ref>{{cite web |title=Editorial Policy, Guidance Note |publisher=BBC |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/editorialguidelines/assets/advice/reporting_the_uk.pdf | accessdate=2008-07-16 }}"The term “province” is often used synonymously with Northern Ireland and it is
normally appropriate to make secondary references to “ the province”"</ref>
===Nationalist/Republican===
* '''''North of Ireland''''' (''Tuaisceart na hÉireann'') - to link Northern Ireland to the rest of the island, by describing it as being in the 'north ''of'' Ireland' and so by implication playing down Northern Ireland's links with [[Great Britain]]. (The northernmost point in Ireland, in [[County Donegal]], is in fact in the Republic.)<ref>[http://larkspirit.com/history/ni.html Example of "North of Ireland"]</ref>
* '''''North-East Ireland''''' (''Oirthuaisceart Éireann'') - used in the same way as the "North of Ireland" is used.
* '''''The Six Counties''''' (''na Sé Chontae'') - language used by republicans e.g. Republican Sinn Féin, which avoids using the name given by the British-enacted ''Government of Ireland Act 1920''. (The Republic is similarly described as the ''Twenty-Six Counties''.)<ref>[http://sinnfein.ie/history Sinn Féin usage of "Six Counties"]</ref> Some of the users of these terms contend that using the official name of the region would imply acceptance of the legitimacy of the ''Government of Ireland Act''.
* '''''The Occupied Six Counties'''''. The Republic, whose legitimacy is not recognised by republicans opposed to the [[Belfast Agreement]], is described as being "The Free State", referring to the [[Irish Free State]], the Republic's old name.<ref>[http://www.irishfreedomcommittee.net/FAQs.htm Examples of usage by the United States-based extreme republican "Irish Freedom Committee"]</ref>
* '''''British-Occupied Ireland'''''. Similar in tone to the ''Occupied Six Counties'' this term is used by more dogmatic anti-[[Good Friday Agreement]] republicans who still hold that the [[First Dáil]] was the last legitimate government of Ireland and that all governments since have been foreign imposed usurpations of Irish national self-determination.<ref>[http://www.geocities.com/athens/atrium/1678/ian.html Usage on "Gaelmail.com", a republican website]</ref>
* '''''Fourth Green Field''''' (''An Cheathrú Gort Glas''). From the song ''[[Four Green Fields]]'' by [[Tommy Makem]] which describes Ireland as divided with one of the four green fields (the traditional [[provinces of Ireland]]) being ''In strangers hands'', referring to the partition of Ireland.
===Other===
* '''''The North''''' (''An Tuaisceart'') - used to describe Northern Ireland in the same way that "The South" is used to describe the Republic of Ireland.
* '''''[[Norn Iron]]''''' - is an informal and affectionate local nickname used by both nationalists and unionists to refer to Northern Ireland, derived from the pronunciation of the words "Northern Ireland" in an exaggerated Ulster accent (particularly one from the Greater Belfast area). The phrase is seen as a light-hearted way to refer to the province, based as it is on regional pronunciation. Often refers to the [[Northern Ireland national football team]].
===Use of language for geography===
[[Image:Derry mural.jpg|thumb|300px|right|[[Free Derry]] mural.]]
Notwithstanding the ancient realm of Dál Riata which extended into Scotland, 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 famous example is whether Northern Ireland's second city should be called [[Derry-Londonderry name dispute|"Derry" or "Londonderry"]].
Choice of language and nomenclature in Northern Ireland often reveals the cultural, ethnic and religious identity of the speaker. The first [[Deputy First Minister]] of Northern Ireland, [[Seamus Mallon]], was criticised by unionist politicians for calling the region the "North of Ireland" while Sinn Féin has been criticised in some newspapers in the Republic for still referring to the "Six Counties".<ref>[http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=607210&issue_id=6095 Sunday Independent article on Mallon and the use of "Six Counties".]</ref>
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 (notably the ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'' and the ''[[Daily Express]]'') regularly call Northern Ireland "Ulster".<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/01/31/nira31.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/01/31/ixhome.html Example of Daily Telegraph use of "Ulster" in text of an article, having used "Northern Ireland" in the opening paragraph.]</ref> Some nationalist and republican-leaning media outlets in Ireland almost always use "North of Ireland" or the "Six Counties".<ref>[http://dailyireland.televisual.co.uk/home.tvt?_scope=DailyIreland/Content/News&id=25810&opp=1&_ticket=YA8OSC32RGSGX237CAMAAQ6FJUKACK3URGQFIR0CANZEEMQAJJTJWQRFLZ9KMMTEDYLABHSI7RXEIOPNFYSEANYPFGSGW4UGHONCNU0DALOL6Z5FURUSJORE9NTHLF8WBHSJ7QRFOSMAAT2DALOL0 Daily Ireland usage of "The North" and the "Six Counties".]</ref>
Government and cultural organizations in Northern Ireland, particularly those pre-dating the 1980s, often use the word "Ulster" in their title; for example, the ''[[University of Ulster]]'', the ''[[Ulster Museum]]'' the ''[[Ulster Orchestra]]'', and [[BBC Radio Ulster]].
Many news bulletins since the 1990s have opted to avoid all contentious terms and use the official name, ''Northern Ireland''. ''The North'' is still used by some news bulletins in the Republic of Ireland, to the annoyance of some Unionists. [[Bertie Ahern]], the previous [[Taoiseach]], now almost always refers to ''Northern Ireland'' in public, having previously only used ''The North''. For Northern Ireland's second largest city, broadcasting outlets which are unaligned to either community and broadcast to both use both names interchangeably, often starting a report with "Londonderry" and then using "Derry" in the rest of the report. However, within Northern Ireland, print media which are aligned to either community (the ''[[News Letter]]'' is aligned to the unionist community while the ''[[Irish News]]'' is aligned to the nationalist community) generally use their community's preferred term. British newspapers with unionist leanings, such as the ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'', usually use the language of the unionist community,<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2003%2F06%2F16%2Fnblud16.xml Daily Telegraph usage]</ref> while others, such as [[The Guardian]] use the terms interchangeably.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/bloodysunday/article/0,2763,184915,00.html The Guardian example]</ref> The media in the [[Republic of Ireland]] use the names preferred by nationalists.<ref>[http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0609/northviolence.html RTÉ News usage]</ref> Whether this is all an official editorial policy or a personal preference by the writers is unknown.
The division in nomenclature is seen particularly in sports and religions associated with one of the communities. [[Gaelic Athletic Association|Gaelic games]] use ''Derry'', for example. Nor is there clear agreement on how to decide on a name. When the nationalist-controlled local council voted to re-name the city "Derry" unionists objected, stating that as it owed its city status to a [[Royal Charter]], only a charter issued by [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|the Queen]] could change the name. The Queen has not intervened on the matter and thus the council is now called "Derry City Council" while the city is still officially "Londonderry". Nevertheless, the council has printed two sets of stationery - one for each term - and their policy is to reply to correspondence using whichever term the original sender used.
At times of high communal tension, each side regularly complains of the use of the nomenclature associated with the other community by a third party such as a media organisation, claiming such usage indicates evident "bias" against their community.
==Law==
{{main|Northern Ireland law}}
Northern Ireland's legal and administrative systems were adopted from those in place in [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|pre-partition United Kingdom]], and was developed by its devolved government from 1922 until 1972. From 1972 until 1999 (except for brief periods), laws and administration relating to Northern Ireland have been handled directly from [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Westminster]]. Between the year 1999 and 2002, and since May 2007 devolution has returned to Northern Ireland.
==Economy==
{{main|Economy of Northern Ireland}}
The Northern Ireland economy is the smallest of the four economies making up the [[United Kingdom]]. Northern Ireland has traditionally had an industrial economy, most notably in shipbuilding, rope manufacture and textiles, but most heavy industry has since been replaced by services, primarily the public sector. Tourism also plays a big role in the local economy. More recently the economy has benefited from major investment by many large multi-national corporations into high tech industry. These large organisations are attracted by government subsidies and the highly skilled workforce in Northern Ireland.
'''East/West Bias'''
For some time there have been allegations that the east of the province (mainly the Belfast area) has been given preferential treatment over the towns and cities in the western region (mainly Derry/Londonderry), the divisionary boundary being seen as the Bann River which divides Northern Ireland into two regions.
This belief was further advanced when, in 1969, plans were revealed for a second university (Queens University in Belfast being the first). The decision to place this into Coleraine, rather than the second largest city - Derry/Londonderry, was taken against the wishes of many of the unionist leaders in Stormont at the time.
According to figures obtained from Hansard, and questions raised by Foyle MP Mark Durkan in the House of Commons, the parliamentary area of South Belfast has received more funding from Invest NI than all the council areas in the west of the province combined. Furthermore, in terms of civil service jobs, the vast majority are centred in the greater Belfast area.
==Culture==
{{main|Culture of Northern Ireland}}
{{see also|Culture of Ulster|Culture of Ireland|Culture of the United Kingdom}}
With its improved international reputation, Northern Ireland has recently witnessed rising numbers of tourists who come to appreciate the area's unique heritage. Attractions include cultural festivals, musical and artistic traditions, countryside and geographical sites of interest, [[pub]]s, welcoming hospitality and sports (especially [[golf]] and [[fishing]]). Since 1987 [[pub]]s have been allowed to open on Sundays, despite some limited vocal opposition.
===Mythology===
====Ulster Cycle====
{{main|Ulster Cycle}}
The Ulster Cycle is a large body of prose and verse centring around the traditional heroes of the [[Ulaid]] in what is now eastern Ulster. This is one of the four major cycles of [[Irish Mythology]]. The cycle centres around the reign of [[Conchobar mac Nessa]], who is said to have been king of Ulster around the time of Christ. He ruled from [[Emain Macha]] (now Navan Fort near Armagh), and had a fierce rivalry with queen [[Medb]] and king Ailill of Connacht and their ally, [[Fergus mac Róich]], former king of Ulster. The foremost hero of the cycle is Conchobar's nephew [[Cúchulainn]].
===Languages and Dialects===
====English language====
The [[Mid Ulster English|Mid Ulster]] dialect of [[English language|English]] spoken in Northern Ireland shows influence from [[Scotland]], with the use of such [[Scots language|Scots]] words as ''wee'' for 'little' and ''aye'' for 'yes'. Some jocularly call this dialect phonetically by the name ''Norn Iron''. There are supposedly some minute differences in pronunciation between Protestants and Catholics, the best known of which is the name of the letter ''h'', which Protestants tend to pronounce as "aitch", as in [[British English]], and Catholics tend to pronounce as "haitch", as in [[Hiberno-English]]. However, geography is a much more important determinant of dialect than ethnic background. English is spoken as a first language by almost 100% of the Northern Irish population, though under the [[Belfast Agreement|Good Friday Agreement]], [[Irish language|Irish]] and [[Ulster Scots (linguistics)|Ulster Scots]] (one of the dialects of the Scots language), sometimes known as ''Ullans'', have recognition as "part of the cultural wealth of Northern Ireland".<ref>{{PDFlink|http://www.nio.gov.uk/agreement.pdf|204 [[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 209346 bytes -->}}</ref>
====Irish (Irish Gaelic) language====
{{main|Irish language in Northern Ireland}}
The [[Irish language]] is the native language of the whole island of [[Ireland]].<ref>{{cite book | last = Ryan | first = James G. | authorlink = | title = Irish Records: Sources for Family and Local History | publisher = Flyleaf Press | date = 1997 | pages = p. 40 | doi = | isbn = 978-0916489762}}</ref> It was spoken predominantly throughout what is now Northern Ireland prior to the settlement of Protestants from [[Great Britain]] in the 17th Century. Most placenames throughout Northern Ireland are anglicised versions of their Gaelic originals. These Gaelic placenames include thousands of lanes, roads, townlands, towns, villages and all of its modern cities. Examples include Belfast- derived from ''Béal Feirste'', Shankill- derived from ''Sean Cill'' and Lough Neagh- derived from ''Loch nEathach''.
In Northern Ireland the Irish language has long been associated with Irish nationalism, however this association only developed gradually.
The language was seen as a common heritage and indeed the object of affection by many prominent 19th century Protestant republicans and Protestant unionists.
Verbally there are 3 main dialects in the island of Ireland - Ulster, Munster and Connaught. Speakers of each dialect often find others difficult to understand. Speakers in Northern Ireland are naturally from the Ulster dialect.
The early years of the 20th century, the language became a political football throughout Ireland as Republican activists became increasing linked with it. In the 20th century, the language became in Unionist eyes increasingly polarised for political ends and many in that community would blame [[Sinn Féin]] in this regard. After Ireland was partitioned, the language was largely rejected in the education system of the new Northern Ireland. It is argued <ref>Protestants and the Irish Language:
Historical Heritage and Current Attitudes
in Northern Ireland
Rosalind M.O. Pritchard
University of Ulster at Coleraine, UK[http://www.multilingual-matters.net/jmmd/025/0062/jmmd0250062.pdf]</ref>that the predominant use of the English language may have served to exacerbate the Troubles.
The erection by some Local District Councils of legal bilingual street names (English/Irish)<ref>The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (No. 759 (N.I. 5))[http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/content.aspx?LegType=All+Primary&PageNumber=25&NavFrom=2&parentActiveTextDocId=1011237&activetextdocid=1011254]</ref>, invariably in predominantly Catholic/Nationalist/Republican districts, may be perceived as creating a 'chill factor' by Unionists and as such not conducive to fostering good cross community relationships. However other regions in the United Kingdom, such as Wales and Scotland, enjoy the use of Bilingual signs in Welsh and Scots Gaelic respectively. Because of this, nationalists in Northern Ireland argue for equality in this regard. In responses to the 2001 census in Northern Ireland 10% of the population claimed "some knowledge of Irish"<ref name = "nisra.gov.uk-Census2001">Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency [http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/Census/Census2001Output/UnivariateTables/uv_tables1.html#irish%20language Census 2001 Output</ref>, 4.7% to "speak, read, write and understand" Irish<ref name = "nisra.gov.uk-Census2001"/>. It was not asked as part of the census but in a poll, 1% of respondents said they speak it as their main language at home.<ref name = "Survey-NorthernIreland">Northern Ireland LIFE & TIMES Survey: [http://www.ark.ac.uk/nilt/1999/Community_Relations/MAINLANG.html What is the main language spoken in your own home?]</ref> Following a public consultation, the decision was taken not to introduce specific legislation for the Irish language at this time, despite 75% of respondants stating that they were in favour of such legislation.<ref>[http://www.dcalni.gov.uk/minister_s_statement.pdf A Statement by Edwin Poots MLA, Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, to the Northern Ireland Assembly on the proposal to introduce Irish Language legislation. 16 October 2007]</ref>
====Ulster Gaelic ====
[http://www.ultach.dsl.pipex.com/english/faqs.htm Ulster Gaelic/Ulster Irish] or [http://www.ultach.dsl.pipex.com/english/faqs.htm Donegal Gaelic/Irish], is the dialect which is nearest to Scots Gaelic. Some aspects of the dialect are more similar to Scots Gaelic than to the Gaelic dialects of Connacht and Munster. The dialects of East Ulster - those of Rathlin Island and the Glens of Antrim - were very similar to the Scots Gaelic dialect formerly spoken in Argyll, the part of Scotland nearest to Rathlin Island. The Ulster Gaelic is the most central dialect of Gaelic, both geographically and linguistically, of the once vast Gaelic speaking world, stretching from the south of Ireland to the north of Scotland.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Munster Irish was favoured by many revivalists, with a shift to Connaught Irish in the 1960s, which is now the preferred dialect by many in the Republic. Many younger speakers of Irish experience less confusion with dialects due to the expansion of Irish-language broadcasting (TG4) and the exposure to a variety of dialects. There are fewer problems regarding written Irish as there is a standardised spelling and grammar, created by the government of the Republic, which claimed to reflect a compromise between various dialect forms. However, Ulster Irish speakers find that Ulster forms are generally not favoured by the standard.
The dialect is often stigmatised in the non Ulster counties of the Republic of Ireland, although all learners of Irish in Northern Ireland use this form of the language. Self-instruction courses in Ulster Irish include ''Now You’re Talking'' and ''Tús maith''.
The writer Séamus Ó Searcaigh RIP, once warned about the Irish Government's attempts at producing a ''Caighdeán'' or ''Standard'' for the Gaelic language in Ireland in 1953, when he wrote that what will emerge will be "Gaedhilg nach mbéidh suim againn inntí mar nár fhás sí go nádúrtha as an teangaidh a thug Gaedhil go hÉirinn" (A Gaelic which is of no interest to us, for it has not developed naturally from the language brought to Ireland by the Gaels).
The Ulster Irish dialect is spoken throughout the area of the historical nine county Ulster, in particular the Gaeltacht region of County Donegal and the [http://www.visitnorthernireland.com/opencontent/default.asp?itemid=77§ion=%2F Gaeltacht Quarter] of West Belfast.
====Ulster Scots====
[[Ulster Scots (linguistics)|Ulster Scots]] comprises varieties of the [[Scots language]] spoken in Northern Ireland. Aodán Mac Poilín<ref name = "Poilin-BBC">Aodan Mac Poilin, 1999, [http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/learning/history/stateapart/agreement/culture/support/cul2_c011.shtml "Language, Identity and Politics in Northern Ireland"] in Ulster Folk Life Vol. 45, 1999</ref> states that "While most argue that Ulster-Scots is a dialect or variant of Scots, some have argued or implied that Ulster-Scots is a separate language from Scots. The case for Ulster-Scots being a distinct language, made at a time when the status of Scots itself was insecure, is so bizarre that it is unlikely to have been a linguistic argument." Approximately 2% of the population claim to speak Ulster Scots,<ref>Northern Ireland LIFE & TIMES Survey: [http://www.ark.ac.uk/nilt/1999/Community_Relations/USPKULST.html Do you yourself speak Ulster-Scots?]</ref> however the number speaking it as their main language in their home is negligible.<ref name = "Survey-NorthernIreland"/> Classes at colleges can now be taken<ref>{{cite web |title=Stranmillis University College - Ulster Scots Project |publisher=Stranmillis University College |url=http://www.stran.ac.uk/informationabout/research/ulsterscotsproject/ | accessdate=2008-07-16 }}</ref> but for a native English speaker "[the language] is comparatively accessible, and even at its most intense can be understood fairly easily with the help of a glossary."<ref name = "Poilin-BBC"/> The St Andrews Agreement recognises the need to "enhance and develop the Ulster Scots language, heritage and culture".<ref>{{PDFlink|[http://www.nio.gov.uk/st_andrews_agreement.pdf St Andrews Agreement]|131 [[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 134984 bytes -->}}</ref>
====Ethnic minority languages====
There are an increasing number of [[ethnic minorities in Northern Ireland]]. [[Chinese language|Chinese]] and [[Urdu]] are spoken by Northern Ireland's Asian communities; though the Chinese community is often referred to as the "third largest" community in Northern Ireland, it is tiny by international standards. Since the accession of new member states to the [[European Union]] in 2004, Central and Eastern European languages, particularly [[Polish language|Polish]], are becoming increasingly common.
====Sign language====
The most common [[sign language]] in Northern Ireland is [[British Sign Language]] (BSL), but as Catholics tended to send their deaf children to schools in Dublin (St Joseph's Institute for Deaf Boys and St. Mary's Institute for Deaf Girls), [[Irish Sign Language]] (ISL) is commonly used in the Nationalist community. The two languages are not related: BSL is in the British family (which also includes [[Auslan]]), and ISL is in the French family (which also includes [[American Sign Language]]).
==Education==
{{main|Education in Northern Ireland}}
Education in Northern Ireland differs slightly from systems used elsewhere in the [[United Kingdom]]. Unlike most areas of the United Kingdom, in the last year of [[Primary education|Primary school]], children can sit the [[Eleven plus|eleven plus transfer test]], and the results determine whether they attend [[Grammar schools in the United Kingdom|grammar schools]] or [[High school|secondary schools]]. This system is due to be changed in 2008 amidst some controversy.
Northern Ireland's state (controlled) schools are open to all children in Northern Ireland, although in practice are mainly attended by those from Protestant or non-religious backgrounds . There is a separate publicly funded school system provided for Roman Catholics, although Roman Catholics are free to attend state schools (and some non-Roman Catholics attend Roman Catholic schools). [[Integrated Education|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 primarily ''de facto'' religiously segregated education system. In the Primary School Sector, forty schools (8.9% of the total number) are Integrated Schools and thirty two (7.2% of the total number) are [[Gaelscoileanna]].
See:
*[[List of Gaelic medium Primary schools in Northern Ireland]]
*[[List of Primary schools in Northern Ireland]]
*[[List of Grammar schools in Northern Ireland]]
*[[List of Secondary schools in Northern Ireland]]
*[[List of Integrated Schools in Northern Ireland]]
== See also ==
{{portalpar|Northern Ireland}}
{{portal|Ireland}}
*[[Common Travel Area]]
*[[National parks of Northern Ireland]]
*[[National Trust Properties in Northern Ireland]]
*[[Northern Ireland national football team]]
*[[Republic of Ireland-United Kingdom border]]
*[[The Ireland Funds]]
'''Lists'''
*[[List of Northern Irish people]]
==Footnotes==
<!-- ----------------------------------------------------------
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for a
discussion of different citation methods and how to generate
footnotes using the<ref>, </ref> and <reference /> tags
----------------------------------------------------------- -->
{{reflist|2}}
== Further reading ==
* [[Jonathan Bardon]], ''A History of Ulster'' (Blackstaff Press, Belfast, 1992), ISBN 0-85640-476-4
* Brian E. Barton, ''The Government of Northern Ireland, 1920—1923'' (Athol Books, 1980).
* [[Paul Bew]], Peter Gibbon and Henry Patterson '' The State in Northern Ireland, 1921—72: Political Forces and Social Classes, Manchester'' (Manchester University Press, 1979)
*{{cite book | author=[[Tony Geraghty]] | title=The Irish War | publisher= Johns Hopkins University Press | year=2000 | id=ISBN 0-8018-7117-4}}
* [[Robert Kee]], ''The Green Flag: A History of Irish Nationalism'' (Penguin, 1972–2000), ISBN 0-14-029165-2
* Osborne Morton, 1994. ''Marine Algae of Northern Ireland'' Ulster Museum, Belfast.
* Henry Patterson, "Ireland Since 1939: The Persistence of Conflict" (Penguin, 2006, ISBN 978-1-844-88104-8
==External links==
{{sisterlinks|Northern Ireland}}
=== General ===
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/default.stm BBC Northern Ireland News] The Northern Ireland news from [[BBC News Online]]
* [http://www.onlineni.net Online NI] Local Government Portal
* [http://www.ni-photos.jmcwd.com ni-photos.jmcwd.com] Photos From Around Northern Ireland
* [http://www.nicva.org NICVA] Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action
* [http://www.communityni.org Community NI] Community NI: Northern Ireland voluntary and community sector.
=== Geography ===
* [http://www.geographyinaction.co.uk/Geology%20files/Geol_index.html Geography in Action] The geology of Northern Ireland
* BBC Learning Northern Ireland: [http://www.bbc.co.uk/ni/schools/landscapes Landscapes Unlocked] - Aerial footage from the Sky High series explaining the physical, social and economic geography of Northern Ireland.
=== History ===
* [http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections Northern Ireland Elections]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/state/nations/ BBC Nations] History of Ireland on [[bbc.co.uk]]
* [http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/ Conflict Archive on the Internet] from the [[University of Ulster]]
* {{PDFlink|[http://www.psa.ac.uk/cps/1996/payt.pdf Inconvenient Peripheries : Ethnic Identity and the United Kingdom Estate]}} by Prof. Philip Payton
* [http://stormontpapers.ahds.ac.uk/index.html From Partition to Direct Rule: 50 Years of Northern Ireland Parliamentary Papers Online]
=== Tourism ===
* [http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/ Discover Northern Ireland] Northern Ireland Tourist Board
* [http://www.outdoorni.com/ Outdoor Activities NI] Directory of outdoor activities and activity providers in Northern Ireland. Provided by the Countryside Access & Activities Network and The Northern Ireland Tourist Board
* [http://www.walkni.com/ Walk NI] The definitive guide to walking in Northern Ireland from the Countryside Access & Activities Network and The Northern Ireland Tourist Board
* [http://peacelinetours.g2gm.com/northern-ireland-tourist.html Northern Ireland Tourist Guide] What has Northern Ireland got to offer tourists?
* [http://www.thenorthernirelandguide.co.uk/ The Northern Ireland Guide] - a travel guide to Northern Ireland for tourists and residents alike
* [http://www.armaghdowntourism.com/ Armagh Down Tourism]
* [http://www.gotobelfast.com/ Go To Belfast]
* [http://www.fermanaghlakelands.com/ Fermanagh Lakelands]
* [http://www.mournelive.com/ Mourne Mountains]
* [http://www.culturenorthernireland.org culturenorthernireland.org]
{{United Kingdom topics}}
{{Template group
|title = Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom
|list =
{{Northern Ireland topics |state=collapsed}}
{{Counties and cities of Northern Ireland |state=collapsed}}
{{Constituencies in Northern Ireland |state=collapsed}}
{{Districts of Northern Ireland |state=collapsed}}
{{United Kingdom constituents and affiliations}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = International membership and history
|list =
{{Celtic nations|state=collapsed}}
{{British Peoples}}
{{British Isles}}
<!-- Template removed per [[Wikipedia:Templates_for_deletion/Log/2008_April_7#Template:Germanic-speaking_regions_of_Europe]] -->
{{Irish states since 1171}}
}}
<!--Overcategorization?:
[[Category:NUTS 1 statistical regions of the European Union]]
[[Category:NUTS 2 statistical regions of the European Union]]
-->
<!--Categories-->
[[Category:Northern Ireland| ]]<!--Keep at top of list (eponymous category)-->
[[Category:History of Ireland]]
[[Category:Home Rule in the United Kingdom|Ireland, Northern]]
[[Category:1920 establishments]]
{{Link FA|sco}}
<!--Other languages-->
[[af:Noord-Ierland]]
[[ang:Norðerne Īrland]]
[[ar:أيرلندا الشمالية]]
[[an:Irlanda d'o Norte]]
[[ast:Irlanda del Norte]]
[[az:Şimali İrlandiya]]
[[zh-min-nan:Pak Éire]]
[[be:Паўночная Ірландыя]]
[[be-x-old:Паўночная Ірляндыя]]
[[bs:Sjeverna Irska]]
[[br:Norzhiwerzhon]]
[[bg:Северна Ирландия]]
[[ca:Irlanda del Nord]]
[[cs:Severní Irsko]]
[[cy:Gogledd Iwerddon]]
[[da:Nordirland]]
[[de:Nordirland]]
[[dsb:Pódpołnocna Irska]]
[[et:Põhja-Iirimaa]]
[[el:Βόρεια Ιρλανδία]]
[[es:Irlanda del Norte]]
[[eo:Nord-Irlando]]
[[eu:Ipar Irlanda]]
[[fa:ایرلند شمالی]]
[[fo:Norðurírland]]
[[fr:Irlande du Nord]]
[[ga:Tuaisceart Éireann]]
[[gv:Nerin Hwoaie]]
[[gd:Èirinn-a-Tuath]]
[[gl:Irlanda do Norte - Northern Ireland]]
[[ko:북아일랜드]]
[[hi:उत्तरी आयरलैंड]]
[[hsb:Sewjerna Irska]]
[[hr:Sjeverna Irska]]
[[io:Nord-Irlando]]
[[id:Irlandia Utara]]
[[ia:Irlanda del Nord]]
[[is:Norður-Írland]]
[[it:Irlanda del Nord]]
[[he:צפון אירלנד]]
[[jv:Irlandia Lor]]
[[ka:ჩრდილოეთი ირლანდია]]
[[kw:Iwerdhon Gledh]]
[[ht:Ilann dinò]]
[[ku:Îrlandaya bakur]]
[[la:Hibernia Septentrionalis]]
[[lv:Ziemeļīrija]]
[[lb:Nordirland]]
[[lt:Šiaurės Airija]]
[[lij:Irlanda do Nòrd]]
[[ln:Irlandí ya Nola]]
[[hu:Észak-Írország]]
[[mk:Северна Ирска]]
[[mt:Irlanda ta' Fuq]]
[[ms:Ireland Utara]]
[[nl:Noord-Ierland]]
[[ja:北アイルランド]]
[[no:Nord-Irland]]
[[nn:Nord-Irland]]
[[nrm:Irlande du Nord]]
[[oc:Irlanda del Nòrd]]
[[pms:Irlanda dël Nòrd]]
[[pl:Irlandia Północna]]
[[pt:Irlanda do Norte]]
[[ro:Irlanda de Nord]]
[[rmy:Nordutno Irland]]
[[rm:Irlanda dal Nord]]
[[qu:Chinchay Ilanda]]
[[ru:Северная Ирландия]]
[[sco:Northren Ireland]]
[[sq:Irlanda Veriore]]
[[simple:Northern Ireland]]
[[sk:Severné Írsko]]
[[sl:Severna Irska]]
[[sr:Северна Ирска]]
[[su:Irlandia Kalér]]
[[fi:Pohjois-Irlanti]]
[[sv:Nordirland]]
[[tl:Hilagang Irlanda]]
[[ta:வட அயர்லாந்து]]
[[th:ไอร์แลนด์เหนือ]]
[[vi:Bắc Ireland]]
[[tg:Ирландияи Шимолӣ]]
[[tpi:Noten Aialan]]
[[tr:Kuzey İrlanda]]
[[uk:Північна Ірландія]]
[[vec:Irlanda del Nord]]
[[zh:北爱尔兰]]