Northern Ireland & Belfast

Welcome to Northern Ireland

THE natural beauty of Northern Ireland surpasses its recent troubled history and since the advent of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, visitors to these shores from Britain and beyond, have reached record levels.

Northern Ireland (poulation 1,698,814) was established as a country in its own right in 1920 and is made up of the six counties of the province of Ulster namely, Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone.

The province contains some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe, from the rugged County Antrim coastline in the north and northeast to the gentle fruit-growing regions of Armagh. To the west of the province are the Sperrin Mountains and the Fermanagh Lakeland's which are sprinkled with tiny islands, wooded parks and monastic ruins.

The Ulster American Folk Park near Omagh, Old Bushmills whiskey distillery, the Belleek Pottery, crumbling castle ruins and the stately mansions of the Anglo-Irish aristocracy offer more history and culture in an easy-going country that is a delight to explore.

Northern Ireland has also produced a vast array of talented performers and broadcasters in the music and entertainment industry such as the actors James Nesbitt, Liam Neeson and Kenneth Brannagh, musicians Van Morrison and James Galway, Blue Peter presenter Zoe Salmon, comedian Patrick Kielty, radio and television presenters Gloria Hunniford and Eamonn Holmes to mention just a few.

No matter where one visits in the province, in today's climate of reconciliation, tourists to Northern Ireland are assured of a warm and friendly welcome.

For further information on Northern Ireland please visit:-

www.discovernorthernireland.com
www.inyourpocket.com

Welcome to Belfast

THE capital city of Northern Ireland (pop. 277,100) has undergone a huge transformation over the past decade. Icons such as the City Hall and the Grand Opera House remain at its heart, but new visitor attractions, as well as a host of new bars and restaurants have now joined them.

Perhaps the most startling development in Belfast has been Laganside, an area beside the River Lagan which was, until relatively recently, disregarded and ignored.

The flagship building of the Laganside is the impressive Waterfront Hall which is a state-of-the-art concert and conference centre providing a wide range of entertainments. It can accommodate up to 2,300 people and has excellent facilities including restaurants and bars that provide great views of both the river Lagan and City itself.

In the spring of 2001, the multi-functional Odyssey Arena opened in the Queen's Quay area of Belfast. The Centre was Northern Irelands' Landmark Millennium Project and was built at a cost of £91.5 million. The Odyssey offers an indoor arena, which can seat up to 10,000 people, a 12 screen multiplex cinema, IMAX® Cinema, W5 - whowhywhenwhatwhere, an interactive discovery centre along with a whole range of leisure facilities.

Get a unique perspective of Belfast from an open-topped bus with Belfast City Sightseeing. The tour includes the Botanic Gardens, the Harland & Wolff shipyards (where of course the Titanic was built) and the infamous wall murals of the Shankill and the Falls.

For more information on Belfast please visit:-

www.gotobelfast.com