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Understand
Northern Ireland has world heritage sites like the Giant's Causeway and unique landscapes, some featured on the hit TV series Game of Thrones.
Northern Ireland was created in 1921 when Ireland was divided by the Government of Ireland Act 1920. Most of the island became independent in 1922 as the Irish Free State (now the Republic of Ireland). Northern Ireland comprises six of the nine historic counties in Ulster, one of the four former Irish provinces, and the remaining three (Monaghan, Cavan and Donegal) are in what is now the Republic of Ireland. For this reason, Northern Ireland is sometimes referred to as "Ulster", even if that name is not geographically accurate in the strictest sense. However, such use has unionist overtones and will generally be rejected by nationalists.
Although some extremist paramilitary organizations are still active, the province is much safer to visit than before.
Weather
The weather in Northern Ireland is notoriously unpredictable and it is not uncommon to experience a full range of weather conditions in a single hour. Like the rest of the island of Ireland and Great Britain, the province is particularly susceptible to rain. As in England, the weather is a common topic of conversation.
History
The population of Northern Ireland is mainly made up of two groups. Although there have always been population movements between the west of Scotland and the northeast of Ireland, during the 16th and 17th centuries there was an organized settlement of people from Scotland known as Ulster Plantation . Most came to work on new plantations that had been established in the area (due to the forced relocation of the indigenous Irish population). The indigenous Irish population was predominantly Roman Catholic (at a time when this was the only Western Christian religion), while the Scottish settlers after the Reformation were predominantly Protestant.
The religious difference became a political divide: the majority of Protestants are unionists or loyal (more extreme), who support continued union with Great Britain, while most Catholics are nationalists or republicans (more extreme) .. Both Nationalists and Republicans want a united Ireland, but Nationalists (politically affiliated with the SDLP political party) use peaceful political means; while the Republican movement (politically affiliated with the Sinn Féin political party) sought violence as a means to a united Ireland until 2004. Although segregation always existed, the situation reached a boiling point in 1969 when the civil rights campaign to Catholics turned violent when protesters were attacked by loyal supporters. That was the beginning of the period known euphemistically as "The Troubles." In 1972, the British Forces fired real rounds instead of plastic bullets at unarmed protesters. 14 were buried, on a day known as "Bloody Sunday." The British government provided reparation to the families of the victims. This was a major turning point in support for the Republican movement, as the Catholic population felt they had nowhere to go. This also effectively repolarized segregation along religious lines. Previously inactive paramilitary groups re-established themselves in the province and new ones emerged, precariously on the brink of civil war for many years. During the riots there were multiple killings by extremists, and when the violence ceased, the final death toll was more than 1,000 police and soldiers, and approximately 370 Republicans and 160 loyalists. and new ones emerged, precariously on the brink of civil war for many years. During the riots there were multiple killings by extremists, and when the violence ceased, the final death toll was more than 1,000 police and soldiers, and approximately 370 Republicans and 160 loyalists. and new ones emerged, precariously on the brink of civil war for many years. During the riots there were multiple killings by extremists, and when the violence ceased, the final death toll was more than 1,000 police and soldiers, and approximately 370 Republicans and 160 loyalists.
In 1998, after years of sporadic negotiations between the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and local paramilitary groups and political parties, the Agreement , which marks the end of violence in the province. This is often referred to as the Belfast Agreement or the Agreement of the Holy Friday.after the place or day it was signed. Although there was an almost immediate drop in the level of terrorist acts and unrest, it took several years for stability to take hold in the region and for an agreement on the delegated government to be reached. As part of the agreement, Northern Ireland received a separate legislature from Westminster, known as the Northern Ireland Assembly, as well as limited autonomy to legislate on its internal affairs.
The 2016 referendum on leaving the European Union ("Brexit") resulted in an overall majority in the UK of just under 52% of voters in favor of leaving, while 56% of Irish voters from North were in favor of the UK staying within the EU. However, the "get out" vote was much more prevalent in primarily Protestant areas and several unionist parties have expressed Eurosceptic positions. Meanwhile, Irish Republicans, including Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, have taken the vote as the basis for renewing calls for Northern Ireland to join the Republic of Ireland. The border between Northern Ireland and the Republic has been open since the Good Friday Agreement, but part of the Brexit negotiations will deal with this then external border of the EU.
People
Most of the people who visit have heard of the different loyalties of the people of Northern Ireland. However, the people of Northern Ireland are friendly and warm to visitors. You have the feeling that people know the loyalty of others, but it can be difficult for visitors to determine.
Citizens can identify themselves as Irish or British only or Northern Irish. There are similar divisions when referring to places, for example, for nationalists, "Stroke City" is Derry , while for unionists it is Londonderry . Although the Northern Irish are British citizens by birth, they have the right to claim Irish citizenship and can therefore have an Irish passport in addition to or instead of a British passport.
Talk
English It is spoken everywhere, although the distinctive accent of Ulster may be more difficult to understand than other Irish dialects. Ulster Scots ( Ulstèr-Scotch ) e irish ( Gaeilge) are used in some small communities. These three are the officially recognized local languages. When speaking English, Northern Irishmen tend to speak quite fast compared to most English speakers and use a wide variety of local words. Expect to hear words like 'aye' (yes), 'wee' (small), 'hallion' (person who behaves in a deliberately careless manner), 'we'un' (literally 'wee', meaning child), 'dandruff '(casual walk) and' craic '(a good time / fun / a laugh, no connotations of controlled substances at all). Accents and dialects differ considerably across the country and even foreign visitors who are fluent in English may find it difficult to understand people with certain accents. But nevertheless,
In schools, English is taught as a literature and language subject. In most Catholic schools and some elementary schools it is normal for students to be taught Irish (although this is not used much) and therefore some schools have bilingual posters etc. French, Spanish and German are taught in most schools, and sometimes Latin. or at least some of these languages will be taught primarily in high school. Unfortunately for speakers of other languages, there is often no desire for native English speakers to learn a foreign language; therefore, most Northern Irish people will not be able to speak to you in your native language, but will try to make their English more understandable to a foreign visitor.
While used in various government and public organizations, the Irish and Ulster Scots are rarely seen in writing and even less spoken. Almost all education in the country is in English; therefore, it is not necessary to learn Irish, in part because most non-Catholic schools do not teach it. Many people in Northern Ireland have little or no knowledge of the Ulster Irish or Scots. The Falls Road area in Belfast has labeled itself a Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) neighborhood; otherwise Irish is mostly spoken on limited social media. That said, the BBC broadcasts a limited number of programs in Irish on BBC Two Northern Ireland. Scottish was previously widespread in eastern Ulster, particularly County Antrim, but is now largely dying except in a few rural communities, although many Scottish words and phrase-turns have made their way into Ulster English. .
Regions
- Belfast: The capital of Northern Ireland is situated between beautiful mountains and the shores of the estuary. It combines its Victorian architecture, fascinating industrial heritage, and beautiful natural surroundings with high hopes for the future and peace.
To get
Belfast International Airport (BFS IATA) Locally known as Aldergrove, after the former Royal Air Force base, the International Airport is further from Belfast than the City Airport (but is close to the city of Antrim) and offers many more international destinations.
Airlines include:
- Jet2 to Palma (Mallorca), Ibiza, Mahón (Menorca), Girona (Costa Brava), Reus (Costa Dorada), Alicante, Malaga, Tenerife, Arrecife (Lanzarote), Gran Canaria (Las Palmas), Fuerteventura, Faro (Algarve), Pisa (Tuscany), Dubrovnik, Zakynthos
- Ryanair to London Gatwick, Krakow, Milan B, Berlin, Lanzarote, Alicante, Tenerife, Malaga, Gdansk, Warsaw, Wroclaw.
- Wizz to Katowice, Vilnius
- Easyjet to Alicante, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Birmingham, Bordeaux, Bristol, Edinburgh, Faro, Geneva, Glasgow, Ibiza, Jersey, Krakow, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Luton, London Stansted, Lyon, Lanzarote Malaga, Malta, Manchester, Newcastle , Nice, Palma de Mallorca, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Reykjavik, Split
- Norwegian Newburgh and Providence (seasonal)
The terminal is served up to thirty minutes from 04:20 to 23:30 by Airport Bus 300 (£ 7.50 single, £ 10.50 return) to Belfast Laganside and Europa Buscentres. Depending on traffic, the trip to Laganside from Belfast and Europe Buscentres takes around 45 minutes. Taxis shouldn't cost more than £ 25 - £ 30 to Belfast City Center.
You can also do it in a much cheaper way by taking the Ulsterbus 109A service to Antrim from the parking lot outside the airport, which stops at the Antrim train / bus station and once you get off the bus in Antrim, walk up the steps to the adjoining train station and buy a ticket, you can use this service to go to all stations to Belfast City Center (Great Victoria Street) or use this service to go to all stations to Portrush and Derry / Londonderry. adjoining train and take a train to Great Victoria Street if you want to go to Belfast city center. Please do not get off at the "Central Station" as it is on the edge of the city center and not in the "Central" part of the city center at all
Translink is the public transport company in Northern Ireland and operates all trains and buses. A "Trip Planner" can be found on their website (www.translink.co.uk). (in English)
Immigration and visa requirements
Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, so it has the exact same entry requirements as England, Scotland, and Wales.
- Citizens of the United Kingdom and Crown Dependencies can travel to Northern Ireland without a passport and have the automatic right to reside, work and enjoy benefits.
- Irish citizens have the same rights as UK citizens, and this will continue after the Brexit transition ends on December 31, 2020.
- Citizens of other European Union countries do not need a visa and have rights to reside, work and benefits in the UK until December 31, 2020. Thereafter, they may need a visa to travel and will only have rights of UK citizens if granted. Permanent Settlement Status - Check Brexit to find out what could happen.
- Citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland have (and probably will continue to have) the same rules as for the EU.
- Citizens of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, the United States and Uruguay do not require a visa for visits of less than 6 months.
- Most other countries will require a visa, which can be obtained from the nearest British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate.
- There is no passport control or border control between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. However, visitors must carry all relevant documents that allow them to enter the UK, such as passport / identity card and visa.
- The UK has a Working Tourist Scheme for citizens of the Commonwealth of Nations and British dependent territories. This allows residence in the UK for up to 2 years, with limited employment rights.
For more information on these requirements, see the UK government website.
By plane
George Best Airport: Flybe went bankrupt in 2020, but other airlines took their routes to Belfast Almost all direct flights to Northern Ireland come from the UK, Western Europe and the Mediterranean. There are no flights from the Republic of Ireland as the distances are too short.
George Best Belfast City Airport (BHDIATA) is located 2 miles east of Belfast city center, with flights mainly from the UK. British Airways flies from London Heathrow and KLM from Amsterdam, both with global connections. There is a frequent bus into the city, or you can take the free shuttle bus to Sydenham train station, see Belfast # Get in for more information.
Belfast International Airport (BFSIATA), also known as Aldergrove, is 20 miles west of Belfast. It has several connections in the UK and is the main airport for flights from Europe, mainly with EasyJet. There is a bus to Belfast city center and another between Lisburn and Antrim for transport to other parts of Northern Ireland; see Belfast # Enter.
Derry City Airport (LDYIATA) has Ryanair flights from Liverpool and Edinburgh, and seasonally the Med. The airport is at Eglinton five miles east of Derry, with a bus into the city.
Dublin airport (DUB IATA) is a good choice for flights outside of Europe, for example the USA, and through the Gulf states. It is north of Dublin City on the main road north, with hourly buses to Newry and Belfast.
By train
From the station Dublin Connolly, the Enterprise Train runs eight times M-Sat and five on Sundays through Drogheda, Dundalk, Newry and Portadown to Belfast Lanyon Place. It does not serve Great Victoria Street Station, which is next to Europe's main bus station.
Other trains stop at various stations in Belfast:
From Derry and Portrush hourly via Coleraine, Ballymena and Antrim (for Belfast International Airport) to Lanyon Place and Great Victoria Street.
From Portadown every 30 minutes through Lisburn and a dozen city stations, Sydenham (for Belfast City Airport) and Bangor.
From Larne every hour through Carrickfergus to Lanyon Place and Great Victoria Street.
By bus
Dublin Bus Route 400 has a direct hourly service (5:30 AM to 8:30 PM Daily) from Dublin Custom House Quay to Belfast Glengall Street. As of October 2020, tickets are £ 8 / € 10 one-way and £ 16 / € 20 round-trip, and two children can travel for free with an adult. Motorway coaches leave every 1-2 hours (7:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily) from Dublin Busáras and the airport to the Belfast Europe bus hub; some stop at Newry and all stop at Banbridge and the Sprucefield Shopping Center on the edge of Lisburn. The adult rates are very similar, but the children's rate is more expensive and payment is only accepted in euros.
The Citylink / Ulsterbus runs 2-3 times a day from Edinburgh via Glasgow, Ayr and the Cairnryan ferry to Belfast.
There are normally National Express buses every day from London Victoria and Manchester via Cairnryan to Belfast, but they remain suspended as of October 2020. Your trip planner suggests taking a bus to Glasgow and switching to the Citylink, but it will probably be longer easy to travel through Dublin.
By car
The M1 / N1 / A1 connects Dublin to Belfast and there are many other crossing points from the Republic. There are no checkpoints and all you see at the border is a reminder to the north that the speed limits are in miles per hour. To the south you are offered a choice of speed limits in km / hr or teorainneacha luais ciliméadair san uair. It is up to you to verify that you are eligible to enter the UK (see above), that you have all the necessary travel documents and that your car insurance or rental agreement is valid for Northern Ireland; this should be automatic in any rental in the Republic.
By ferry
Passengers traveling by foot should always look for direct bus / train and ferry tickets as they are considerably cheaper than separate tickets.
- From Cairnryan near Stranraer in Scotland, the Stena Line sails to Belfast five times a day, 2:15.
- Ferries from Cairnryan to Larne are suspended in 2020.
- From Birkenhead, near Liverpool, Stena Line sails daily to Belfast, 8am.
- Ferries from the Isle of Man are suspended in 2020.
- Ferries sail to Dublin from Birkenhead, Holyhead (this is the fastest route from England) and the mainland. Dublin Port is connected by a tunnel to the northern motorway, so drivers bypass city center traffic and reach Northern Ireland in 3 hours.
- From Campbeltown in Scotland, a foot passenger ferry departs from April to September to Ballycastle and then to Islay, returning in the afternoon. It's scheduled for day trips, but you can take a one-way trip. It did not set sail in 2020 and the future schedule is tba.
- From Greenore east of Dundalk in the Republic, a ferry crosses the Carlingford Lough entrance to Greencastle in County Down. See Newry # Get in for more details, but in 2020 this ferry is suspended.
Move
By car
If you can rent a car, driving in Northern Ireland is a very pleasant experience. Most drivers follow the rules of the road (except for speeding) and are very nice to other drivers. In some areas it is a nice gesture to greet a passing car, even if you don't know the person. Many of the roads on the north coast are quite winding, but they offer beautiful scenery and there are plenty of places to stop along the way and take in the natural beauty.
The Northern Ireland motorway system connects Belfast with Dungannon, Ballymena and Newtownabbey. All large towns and cities are well connected by road. The speed limits are:
Highways and expressways: 112 km / h (70 miles per hour)
Other highways (outside urban areas): 60 miles per hour (96 km / h)
Urban areas (towns and cities): 30 miles per hour (48 km / h) and occasionally 40 mph if signposted.
Many drivers accelerate constantly, usually 10-20 miles per hour over the speed limit. It is common for someone to drive 60 or 70 miles per hour and be overtaken by many other cars. It's no wonder, then, that speed cameras and cameras are often quite rare, except in Belfast and near the border, and many drivers take advantage of this. There have been many publicity campaigns over the years to combat the problem of speeding and driving under the influence, conducted by the Department of the Environment, which often include graphic advertisements of the consequences of speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol. A notorious black spot for accidents in Northern Ireland is the main road circuit around Coleraine,
Most of the main A roads are of a very good grade and many have passing lanes at certain points to allow you to pass slower traffic. B-roads are often small country roads that are very narrow and have little or no road markings. Drivers must be careful on B-roads when passing other vehicles and may have to slow down and stop when they encounter larger traffic.
There is a relatively high incidence of road accidents in Northern Ireland, and the province has slightly different driving laws than the rest of the UK. One notable difference is that newly qualified drivers can be identified by "R" plates that are displayed on the car for the first twelve months after your license is issued. These plates are mandatory. Drivers displaying these plates are limited to 45 miles per hour (72 km / h) on all roads, including expressways and expressways. As with 'L' plates in the rest of the UK, drivers displaying 'R' plates are often the target of road rage and not given much patience. Many people in Northern Ireland feel that 'R' drivers are a hazard on the road when traveling at 45 mph, as it means that other drivers are more likely to pass them in risky situations.
Police security checks are once again very common. When approaching a checkpoint, lower your headlights and stop if instructed. The police may want to check your license and look at your trunk Don't worry, everything is perfectly routine.
If you find a place that sells diesel at too good a price to be true, you are probably right and it will be "clean" diesel that may well ruin your engine. The gangs buy "Green" or "Red" diesel duty free and then use a harmful and illegal chemical process to remove the dye and make huge illicit profits.
Be prepared for the difference in distance measurements when crossing the border from the Republic of Ireland (kilometers versus miles).
Car rental
Northern Ireland is not as well served by car rental companies as the Republic. Some Irish car rental companies offer a delivery option in Belfast, while others have locations in the city of Belfast. Check with your car rental company if you have coverage to go south of the border; it is not always automatically included.
By bus and train
Translink operates the Northern Ireland public transport system.
Buses are usually the most common form of public transport due to the small network of trains. Depending on where you go, you may find that groups of two or more can save money by renting a car if you plan to travel around the province.
Fares are reasonable, for example £ 12.30 from Derry / Londonderry to Belfast, after 09:30 Monday to Saturday on the train, then £ 8.00 for a "Day Tracker" ticket allowing you to travel anywhere in the city. NI railroad network on a Sunday and hop on and off all trains (except you can't cross the border).
Cycling
If you are considering traveling in Northern Ireland, it is worth considering purchasing the maps and guides produced by Sustrans to accompany the domestic routes they have helped develop. Routes can be found on Open Cycle Map, but Sustrans guides are helpful for nearby places to stay or visit.
To buy
The official currency of Northern Ireland is the British pound. Although Bank of England notes are universally accepted, the four Northern Ireland banks (Bank of Ireland, Danske Bank, Ulster Bank and First Trust) also print their own versions, which are used more frequently. Northern Ireland banknotes are not universally accepted in the rest of the UK, although some continental merchants do accept them. Northern Ireland banknotes can be exchanged for Bank of England notes for free at any bank in the rest of the UK Northern Ireland does a great deal of trade with the Republic of Ireland, where the euro is used, and therefore, many outlets in border areas and urban centers accept the euro. Most retailers will show whether they accept euros or not. While euro banknotes can be accepted, coins cannot. Virtually all shops and pubs in Derry, Strabane, Enniskillen and Newry will accept the euro as a form of payment. Also, many great pubs and shops in Belfast city center now accept it. In particular, the bar company Botanic Inns Ltd and the Castle Court shopping center accept the euro. Many telephone kiosks in Northern Ireland also accept euro coins, but they are by no means all outside of Belfast. Please note that providers in Northern Ireland are not required to accept the euro as it is not the official currency.
Watch
Giants Causeway
The Giants Causeway an interesting site to see (around £ 6), is a spectacular rock formation off the coast of Northern Ireland, consisting of 40,000 basalt prisms sticking out of the sea, but come prepared for a long and intense hike. It is best to wear waterproof clothing and sturdy shoes. This training is divided into six sections; in order to walk
- The camel.
- The grandmother
- The chair of wishes.
- The chimneys.
- The Giant's Boot.
- The organ.
- Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge , near Ballycastle: the name literally means the rock in the road. Carrick-A-Rede is a rope bridge connecting the mainland to an island that was first erected years ago by salmon fishermen for excellent salmon fishing. It became a tourist attraction due to the rope bridge in a very windy area.
- Ulster American Folk Park is an open-air museum near Omagh in County Tyrone, depicting the history of emigration from Ulster to North America in the 18th and 19th centuries. There is an Old World section, the journey itself, then the migrant life in the New World.
- Marble Arch Caves - Global Geopark near Belcoo in Co. Fermanagh.
- Political murals they are common in the "interface areas" where Protestant and Catholic neighborhoods adjoin, which is why West Belfast and Derry have many. They are painted on the gabled walls of the buildings and proclaim local allegiances. They come and go with political events - in 2014 a notable series in Strabane expressed solidarity with Palestine - so ask if there are any examples worth tracking down.
- Parades of the Orange Order They are a piece of living history, quintessential Northern Ireland, so grab one if you can. They wear their full fig garments and Carsonite bowlers and strut down the street to the roar of the fife and drumming. Of course, they are controversial: they symbolize Protestant and Unionist rule in the north, the lyrics of their melodies are anything but inclusive, and they have caused (and sought) trouble. However, they are now regulated by the Parade Commission, which examines their route and does not let them march through neighborhoods where they might offend them. Today's marching bands get it wrong about their Protestant / Unionist roots, and they use the word "community" a lot, even though you're still a brave Catholic who would join one. The summer marching season culminates on July 12, a public holiday commemorating the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, which consolidated Protestant hegemony in Ireland for the next 200 years, and for 300 in Northern Ireland. (When the 12th is Sunday, the marches and the public holiday are Monday the 13th; this next one occurs in 2026). All the major cities have parades, and Belfast is huge. The morning parades are peaceful because everyone is sober and knows their mothers are watching. The afternoon parades are like football crowds after a day at the pub, there may be an alcohol-fueled mess, just use your common sense to walk away. For the full parade calendar, check out the) All major cities have parades and Belfast's is huge. The morning parades are peaceful because everyone is sober and knows their mothers are watching. The afternoon parades are like football crowds after a day at the pub, there may be an alcohol-fueled mess, just use your common sense to walk away. For the full parade calendar, check out the) All major cities have parades, and Belfast is huge. The morning parades are peaceful because everyone is sober and knows their mothers are watching. The afternoon parades are like football crowds after a day at the pub, there may be an alcohol-fueled mess, just use your common sense to walk away. For the full parade schedule, check out the Commission's website - they regulate all of these events, not just the Orange Order, but they don't need to deliberate too much about vintage tractor rallies or Santa's charity sleigh.
external links
Wikipedia has an article on North Ireland.w: Northern Ireland
Wikimedia Commons houses multimedia content about North Ireland. Commons
Wikinews has news related to North Ireland.Wikinews
