Northern Ireland
Constituent part of the United Kingdom
Area:
13,460 sq km/5,196 sq mi
Capital:
Belfast
Towns and Cities:
Londonderry, Enniskillen, Omagh, Newry, Armagh, Coleraine
Features:
Mourne Mountains, Belfast Lough and Lough Neagh; Giant's Causeway;
comprises the six counties (Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry,
and Tyrone) that form part of Ireland's northernmost province
of Ulster
Exports:
Engineering, shipbuilding, textile machinery, aircraft components;
linen and synthetic textiles; processed foods, especially dairy
and poultry products; rubber products, chemicals
Population:
(1993 est) 1,632,000
Language:
English; 5.3% Irish- speaking
Religion:
Protestant 51%, Roman Catholic 38%
Famous People:
Viscount Montgomery, Lord Alanbrooke
Government:
Direct rule from the UK since 1972. Northern Ireland is entitled to
send 18 members to the Westminster Parliament. Local government:
26 district councils. The province costs the UK government £ 3
billion annually.
History
The creation of Northern Ireland dates from 1921 when the Irish Free
State (subsequently the Republic of Ireland) was established separately
from the mainly Protestant counties of north and northeastern
Ireland (six out of the nine counties of the province of Ulster),
which were given limited self-government as Northern Ireland,
but continued to send members to the House of Commons in Westminster.
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