North of Ireland facts for kids

The term North of Ireland can mean a few different things, depending on what you're talking about. Most often, it refers to Northern Ireland, which is a part of the United Kingdom. It can also mean Ulster, a historic region of Ireland, or simply the northern part of the entire island of Ireland.

What is Northern Ireland?

Northern Ireland is one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom. It is located in the north-east part of the island of Ireland. The capital city of Northern Ireland is Belfast, which is also its largest city.

Northern Ireland shares a border with the Republic of Ireland. This border is the only land border the United Kingdom has with another country.

Government in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland has its own government called the Northern Ireland Assembly. This Assembly makes decisions on many local matters, like education, health, and agriculture. However, bigger decisions, such as defense and foreign policy, are made by the UK government in London.

Culture and Symbols

Northern Ireland has a rich and diverse culture. It blends Irish and British traditions. You can see this in its music, sports, and festivals. For example, both Gaelic games (like Gaelic football and hurling) and sports popular in the UK (like football and rugby) are played there.

The flag of Northern Ireland is the Union Flag, which is the flag of the United Kingdom. However, some people also use the Ulster Banner, a historic flag, or the Tricolour, the flag of the Republic of Ireland, to show their identity.

A Brief Look at History

Northern Ireland was created in 1921. This happened when the island of Ireland was divided into two parts: the Irish Free State (which later became the Republic of Ireland) and Northern Ireland.

For many years, Northern Ireland experienced a period of conflict known as "The Troubles." This was a time of political and religious disagreement. It involved different groups with strong beliefs about Northern Ireland's future. The conflict largely ended with the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. This agreement helped bring peace and set up the current government.

What is Ulster?

Ulster is one of the four traditional provinces of Ireland. It is a historic region, not a political country like Northern Ireland. Ulster is made up of nine counties. Six of these counties are in Northern Ireland: Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, and Tyrone. The other three counties are in the Republic of Ireland: Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan.

Ulster vs. Northern Ireland

It's easy to get Ulster and Northern Ireland mixed up. Remember, Northern Ireland is a political part of the United Kingdom. Ulster is a larger, older, traditional region that includes Northern Ireland plus three counties from the Republic of Ireland. So, while all of Northern Ireland is in Ulster, not all of Ulster is in Northern Ireland.

The Northern Part of the Island of Ireland

Sometimes, "North of Ireland" simply means the geographical northern area of the entire island of Ireland. This can include parts of both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. For example, if someone talks about the "northern coastline of Ireland," they are referring to the coast along the top of the island, which stretches across both countries.