Northern Ireland history
Today, Northern Ireland is one of four countries that make up the United Kingdom. It’s located in the northeastern part of the island of Ireland and has been an independent country since May 1921, under the Government of Ireland Act of 1920. The six counties of Derry/Londonderry, Antrim, Tyrone, Fermanagh, Armagh, and Down create the country of Northern Ireland.
19th century
The 19th century was a time where the Irish people began to denounce the governing of Ireland by the British government. The Scottish and the English primarily colonized the province of Ulster, an important historical province within the country.
As time carried on, and the amount of Scottish and English settlers, and nobility became more prominent in the area, Northern Ireland began to follow a differing religious, cultural, and economic path from the rest of the Emerald Isle. As the 19th century moved forward, the majority of Irish citizens began to demand a proper Irish government and what is known as Home Rule.
Home Rule would establish Ireland as its own free state, however still under control of the British Empire. There were many drafts and votes upon the various Home Rule Bills, but the passing bill that created a separate state for Ireland included an amendment that would allow for some counties in Ulster to vote themselves out of the bill.
1914 – 1922
World War One saw tensions on the rise in Northern Ireland. The Irish Irelanders, and later the Irish Republicans rejected the idea of Home Rule in its entirety. The Irish Volunteers, what would later become the Irish Republican Army, began to gain support throughout the island, and in 1916 attempted a rebellion against the crown in the city of Dublin. This is also known as the Easter Rising of 1916.
The British government tried and executed the leaders of the rebellion for treason. The support for their cause grew when the British government tried to introduce conscription, or military drafting, to Ireland in 1918.
The end of the First World War in 1919 soon ended the crisis, and brought with it the return of battle hardened soldiers to their homeland of Ireland. Sinn Féin, a prominent political party leader, gained extreme popularity within the country and with the returning soldiers, and soon controlled the majority of the seats in the Irish Parliament. The election ended with guerilla warfare raging across the nation and lead to the Anglo-Irish War.
The Anglo-Irish Treaty allowed for Ireland to become a Free State in 1922. The Unionists in Northern Ireland who were in favor of being apart of the United Kingdom were able to opt out of the new country by presenting an address to the King of England. Northern Ireland was once again apart of the United Kingdom, and gained the title of Free State.
Quick fact!
The Titanic was built and launched from Belfast Harbour.
1923 – 1969
The first few years of the newly appointed government were wrought with violence. The IRA was extremely opposed to the idea of separating the country, and religious differences between Protestants and Catholics led to chaos and viciousness. The violence was relatively rare between 1924 and 1960, as Belfast became one of the most economically prosperous cities in manufacturing. The 1960’s however brought with them what the Irish now call The Troubles.
The Troubles began with the rising civil unrest in Northern Ireland. Tensions reached a boiling point in 1969 with the Battle of Bogside. The Unionist forces fought against rioters in Derry for two days. As a result of what happened in Derry, extreme riots also broke out in Belfast as well. The Unionist Government requested that British soldiers be sent to maintain order in Northern Ireland.
1970s – present
The 1970’s through to the 1990’s were filled with violence from the IRA, the British military, and even imposing curfews and martial law in some cities. The British Government refused Northern Ireland powers, and eventually dissolved the Parliament of Northern Ireland in 1972 with the Northern Ireland Constitution Act. It wasn’t until the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 (also known as the Belfast Agreement) that Northern Ireland was permitted to elect a new Northern Ireland Assembly, and generally rule itself.
The turn into the 21st century saw great economic and political changes throughout Northern Ireland. Turmoil had raged for a century, and as social peace began to gain a positive footing within the counties, the British Government allowed for the devolution of power to return to Northern Ireland in 2007. The vast beauty of the area has seen its fair share of hardship over the last century. Northern Ireland continues to grow economically, socially, and politically.
Northern Ireland language and culture
Culture of Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is part of Great Britain and located in the north-east of the Republic of Ireland. It was separated by the latter in 1921, by order of the British Parliament. Its customs and traditions are quite complex, as Northern Ireland shares the cultural features of both the UK and Ireland.
Sport
Football is one of the most important sports in Northern Ireland, and the Irish Football Association also runs the women’s national football team!
Rugby is also popular, competitions take place in the Celtic League between the four Irish provinces (Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster).
Cricket has recently gained popularity due to Northern Ireland’s success in the Cricket World Cup. However, the basketball team has a completely different story: the Republic of Ireland has joined forces with Northern Ireland, and they’re both representing the isle as a whole!
Festivals and traditions
Northern Ireland is the perfect travel destination if you’re looking to attend the different cultural events taking place every season. The Dalriada festival brings Ireland’s music, sports and food culture together for a week of celebration and concerts in the lovely village of Glenarm.
The Eleventh Night is celebrated a night before the 12th of July, when Protestants commemorate the Battle of the Boyne (which took place in 1690). Large bonfires made of wooden pallets are lit, and for that reason the celebration is often associated with Guy Fawkes’ Night.
Literature
Literature in the Irish language gradually lost popularity after the Gaelic revival (during the 19th century, people regained interest in the Irish language, which is also known as Gaelic).
James Joyce is one of the most important Irish writers, best known for its novels “Ulysses” and “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man”. If you like contemporary literature, Jennifer Johnston, Sean O’Reilly and Eoin McNamee are some of the notable fiction writers today.
Languages of Northern Ireland
The official language of Northern Ireland is English and is spoken by almost the entire population. Irish is also spoken as a second language in some parts of Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland weather
Northern Irish weather is quite manageable as there are no major temperature differences between the seasons. Rain is common throughout the year, with every other day being soaking wet. Temperatures are generally mild, rarely dipping below freezing during the winter or rising above 30C in the summer.
Spring in Northern Ireland
Average temperatures gradually rise through the spring, beginning in the single digits and nearing 12C by the end of the season. The warming rains are sometimes a relief from the cool winters. A long sleeved shirt and a light rain jacket are perfect for this subtle rise in temperature.
Summer in Northern Ireland
The mild summers of Northern Ireland hover around 16 degrees Celsius. Highs average around 20C and lows are just around 10 degrees. Heavy rains cool the occasionally warm day, but an altogether light summer should be expected. Light clothing, perhaps short sleeves and a pair of jeans coupled with a rain jacket is the perfect outfit for the season.
Autumn in Northern Ireland
A slight cool down begins in September and by the end of the season average temperatures are in the upper single digits. Highs are in the lower teens and average lows can be as cold as 4C during November. A long sleeved shirt and a medium weight coat will keep you dry and warm as the temperature begins to chill.
Winter in Northern Ireland
Average winter temperatures in Northern Ireland are around 4C to 6C. Average lows are slightly above freezing, with the occasional day dipping below zero. Highs are around the upper single digits throughout the winter months. The relatively warm waters keep winter temperatures quite bearable, but the rains become much colder and occasionally turn to snow. Bundle up tight and keep yourself dry, walking around the city drenched will put a shiver down your spine.
Average temperatures in Belfast and Derry
Average rainfall in Belfast and Derry
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