Northern Ireland Overview ‘Scenic gem of the Emerald Isle’ Occupying the northeastern corner of an island brimming with superlatives, Northern Ireland contains many hidden facets of the Emerald Isle. This small province enjoys a diverse terrain, with a dramatic coastline, gently rolling fields and the lush Mountains of Mourne. The capital, Belfast, is a vibrant city with ornate Victorian architecture and lively nightlife. Central Derry contains one of the finest walled towns in Europe. Both have been too long overshadowed by the ‘Troubles’, but seem at last to be enjoying a more peaceful present. The Antrim Coast is one of the most scenic shorelines in Britain, winding past towering cliffs, sandy beaches, picturesque harbours and family resorts. You can hike deep into the glacier-carved Glens of Antrim or walk along the amazing volcanic columns of the Giant’s Causeway. Inland lies Lough Neagh, the largest lake in the British Isles, and the Fermanagh lakelands, sprinkled with tiny islands, wooded parks and monastic ruins. The six counties of Northern Ireland belonged to the ancient and powerful kingdom of Ulster. Tales of legendary heroes intertwine with those of St Patrick, who spread Christianity from his base near Downpatrick. The Ulster American Folk Park near Omagh, Old Bushmill’s whiskey distillery, the Belleek pottery, crumbling castle ruins and the stately mansions of the Anglo-Irish aristocracy offer more history and culture in a friendly, easy-going country that is a delight to explore. Donna Dailey General Information Area: 13,576 sq km (5242 sq miles). Population: 1,691,800 (1999). Population Density: 124.6 per sq km. Capital: Belfast. Population: 296,700 (1995). GEOGRAPHY: Northern Ireland contains some beautiful scenery, from the rugged coastline in the north and northeast to the gentle fruit-growing regions of Armagh. To the west are the Sperrin Mountains and the lake of Fermanagh, where the winding River Erne provides excellent fishing. The high moorland plateau of Antrim in the northeast gives way to the glens further south and to the Drumlin country of County Down; further south still, the Mountains of Mourne stretch down to the sea. Government: In 1998, the Good Friday Agreement between Northern Ireland’s political parties, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland provided for the transfer of responsibility for the administration of Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom to an elected Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive. Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II. Head of Government: First Minister David Trimble since 1998. Language: English. Irish is spoken by a minority. Note: For information on religion, time, electricity and communications, see the main United Kingdom section. Money For information on currency, credit cards, travellers cheques, exchange rates and currency restrictions, see the main United Kingdom section. Note: For travelling around and staying at small hotels, cash is needed. Elsewhere, as in England, cheques backed by a banker’s card are widely accepted. Changing money outside banking hours Thomas Cook, 11 Donegal Place, Belfast BT1 (tel: (028) 9088 3900) is open Mon-Sat 0900-1730. Some hotels will also change money, but Thomas Cook and the banks give the best rate of exchange. Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1600. In very small villages, the bank may open two or three days a week only, so aim to get cash in the bigger centres. Public Holidays Public holidays observed in Northern Ireland are the same as those observed in the rest of the UK (see the main United Kingdom section) with the addition of: Mar 17 2003 St Patrick’s Day. Jul 12 Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day). Aug 25 Summer Bank Holiday. Mar 17 2004 St Patrick’s Day. Jul 12 Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day). Aug 23 Summer Bank Holiday. Travel - International AIR: There are frequent direct flights to Belfast from London’s Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Stansted airports as well as other major regional UK airports. Airlines that serve Northern Ireland from the UK include British Airways, RyanAir, EasyJet and BMI British Midland. From North America, Aer Lingus operates flights from Boston and New York Shannon and Dublin. Other major airlines operate services from the USA and Canada to Belfast via London, Glasgow and Manchester. There are also direct charter flights from Toronto to Belfast. Belfast International Airport (BFS): Located 29km (18 miles) northwest of Belfast city centre. Airport information: (tel: (028) 9448 4848; website: www.bial.co.uk). Facilities include bureau de change, ATMs, duty-free/tax-free shop, a variety of catering facilities including an ‘international food court’, bar and coffee shop; general shops, nursing mothers’ room, facilities for the disabled, children’s play area and emergency medical services. There is also an executive lounge at the airport, which costs £12 to use and is run by the Fitzwilliam International Hotel nearby (tel: (028) 9442 2033; fax: (028) 9442 3500; e-mail: reception@fitzwilliaminternational.com). Train: There is at present no direct rail link to Belfast International Airport, but trains run from Londonderry (Derry), Coleraine, Portrush, Ballymoney, Ballymena and Belfast to Antrim (10km/6 miles away) from where a taxi may be hired, or a shuttle bus can be taken to the airport. There are eight services running daily from Monday to Friday. Trains to and from Dublin are via Belfast Central Station, which has its own Airbus stop. A rail timetable is on display at the main exit from the terminal. Bus: Airbus (Ulsterbus) runs to the city centre Mon-Sat every 40 minutes and Sun every 30-60 minutes (tel: 028) 9066 6630). Airporter Derrydirect coaches (tel: (028) 7126 9996) travel to the airport from Londonderry (Derry). Taxi: Travel time to city centre – 25 minutes. Taxis are available for hire outside the main airport building. Fares are displayed at the exit from the terminal or are available from the information desk. Car hire: Europcar, Avis, Hertz, Budget, Cosmo Thrifty, National Car Rental and Dan Dooley are represented at the airport. Private car: The M1 provides the main link with Fermanagh and the west of the Province whilst forming part of the journey to and from Dublin and the east coast of Ireland. The M2 is the airport’s main link with the centre of Belfast and to Londonderry (Derry), 116km (72 miles) to the northwest. There is nearby car parking for short and long stays. Access is from the M1 and M2 (parking is available) or train to Antrim and then taxi. The small Belfast City Airport (BHD) (tel: (028) 9093 9093; website: www.belfastcityairport.com) at Belfast Harbour is handy for flights to most regional airports. Regular train and bus services run to the city centre. Note: For approximate durations of a selection of domestic flights from Belfast, see Travel in the main United Kingdom section. Departure tax: None. SEA: Four ferry companies operate direct services between mainland Europe and Ireland. Irish Ferries (tel: (08705) 171 717) operates between between Cherbourg and Rosslare (approximate travel time – 19 hours). Brittany Ferries operates the Roscoff–Cork route with one departure per week in each direction from April to September only (travel time – 14 hours). For more information contact Brittany Ferries in Cork (tel: (00353) 21 427 7801). P&O Irish Sea run ferries between Cherbourg and Rosslare. The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company’s Seacat (tel: 01624 661 661; website: www.steampacket.com) runs a seacat crossing from Douglas (Isle of Man) to Belfast (travel time – 2 hours and 45 minutes). When travelling via Great Britain to Northern Ireland there is a choice of five services across the Irish Sea: Stena Line (tel: (00353) 1204 7700) operates frequent daily services between Stranraer (southern Scotland) and Belfast, (travel time – 1 hour 30 minutes); P&O Irish Sea (tel: (0870) 242 4777) offers frequent daily services between Cairnryan (southern Scotland) to Larne, (travel time – 1 hour 45 minutes) and between Fleetwood and Larne (travel time – 8 hours). In addition there are frequent crossings between Troon and Larne (travel time – 4 hours) and Heysham and Belfast (travel time – 4 hours) by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company’s Seacat. An overnight service and daily services are offered on the Liverpool to Belfast route and Liverpool to Dublin route by Norse Merchant Ferries (travel time – 7 hours and 30 minutes). For more information call Norse Merchant Ferries (tel: (028) 9077 9090). Irish Ferries also offer services between Rosslare and Pembroke (travel time – 3 hours and 45 minutes), Rosslare and Cherbourg or Roscoff (France) and also Dublin and Holyhead. Northern Ireland’s only inhabited island is Rathlin, a few kilometres off the north coast. There are frequent passenger boats between Ballycastle and the island. At peak holiday times a sailing/regulation ticket is required as well as a travel ticket. Check when booking. It is always advisable to book a return journey before leaving home. RAIL: There are four main rail routes from Belfast Central Station: north to Londonderry via Ballymena and Coleraine, north east to the port of Larne, east to Bangor along the shores of Belfast Lough; and south to Dublin, in the Irish Republic, via Newry. The Belfast–Dublin non-stop express takes approximately two hours. There are eight trains daily in both directions (only five Sunday). The busiest times are holiday weekends and the first and last trains Friday and Sunday, when it is best to reserve seats. Freedom of Northern Ireland passes are available for unlimited travel on trains and buses (costing £12 for one day; £30 for three days and £42 for seven days to be used within eight days of purchase) and are available from main Northern Ireland railway stations. For information on timetables for all rail services, contact Translink for Northern Ireland Railways Information Centre, Central Station, East Bridge Street, Belfast BT1 3PB (tel: (028) 9066 6630). ROAD: Bus: Northern Ireland has an excellent bus network and there are particularly good bus links between those towns which are not served by rail. Translink operates both Citylink, which provides services in Belfast, and Ulsterbus, which is responsible for all other services in Northern Ireland. Belfast has three main bus stations: Great Victoria Street, Newtonabbey and Laganside. Centrelink buses (service 100) provide links between Belfast’s principal rail and bus stations as well as main shopping centres and the Waterfront Hall. In total, Citybus operates over 60 different routes in and around the capital, including two express services between Glengormley and Newtonabbey and the centre, and eight nightlink services that depart from Donegal Square West, Fri-Sat 0100-0200. Ulsterbus operates a comprehensive network of services across the rest of the country including some scenic routes such as the Antrim Coaster (Belfast–Antrim Coast–Portrush–Coleraine), the Lakeland Express (Enniskillen–Belfast) and the Orchard Express (Belfast–Portadown–Armagh). For more information on any of these services, timetables or prices contact Translink (tel: (028) 9066 6630; website: www.translink.co.uk). Traffic regulations: Traffic drives on the left. The speed limit is 30mph (48kph) in towns and cities unless signs show 40mph (64kph) or 50mph (80kph). On country roads the limit is 60mph (96kph); on dual carriageways, trunk roads and motorways 70mph (112kph) unless signs show otherwise. Breakdowns: If the car is rented, contact the rental company. Members of the continental equivalent of the Automobile Association (AA) (tel: (0800) 887 766) can contact their 24-hour breakdown service. The Royal Automobile Club (RAC) (tel: (0800) 828 282) provides a similar service. They can be contacted from their roadside phones or from any call box. Non-members should consult the Yellow Pages for breakdown services. Parking: Permitted where there is a blue ‘P’ sign, which indicates a car park in towns or a lay-by at the roadside outside towns. Drivers can park elsewhere on the street except when there is a single yellow line, when parking is permitted only at the times shown on the yellow signs nearby; or when there is a double yellow line which prohibits all parking. Control Zones, which are usually in town centres, are indicated by yellow signs ‘Control Zone. No Unattended Parking’. An unattended car in a Control Zone is treated as a security risk. Never park on zigzag markings near pedestrian crossings. In some towns the centre may be sealed off at certain times, particularly overnight. Alternative routes will be signposted. Taxi: Available at main stations, ports and Belfast Airport and are also bookable by telephone in larger towns and cities. Car hire: The main firms – Avis, Hertz and Europcar – all operate in Northern Ireland and have desks at Belfast International Airport with cars available on the spot. There is also a host of smaller firms. Accommodation A wide range of accommodation is available in Northern Ireland. Contact the Northern Ireland Tourist Board for the Where to stay in Northern Ireland Guide and The B&B Guide, which give full lists of available accommodation. HOTELS: Brochures from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board give full details of services. Most establishments belong to the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation. For further information, contact the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation, Midland Building, Whitla Street, Belfast BT15 1JP (tel: (028) 9035 1110; fax: (028) 9035 1509; e-mail: office@nihf.co.uk; website: www.nihf.co.uk). Grading: The Northern Irish Tourist Board operates a ‘star’ classification system which is used throughout their publications. The main hotel classifications are as follows: 5-star: International standard luxurious accommodation with superb facilities, room service and top-quality restaurants and bars. 4-star: High standard of comfort and service, including room service and well-equipped premises. Food and beverages are obliged to meet the most exacting standards. 3-star: Good facilities and a wide range of services in comfortable surroundings, including en-suite bathroom. Refreshments are available during the day. 2-star: Good facilities, offering satisfactory standards of accommodation and food, with en-suite bathroom. 1-star: Acceptable standards of accommodation and food. Some bedrooms offer en-suite bathroom. FARM & COUNTRY HOUSE HOLIDAYS: This is currently one of the most popular forms of holidaying in Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Farm & Country Holidays Association (tel: (028) 2074 1608; fax: (028) 2074 1319; e-mail: valerie.mcfall@btinternet.com) produces an accommodation voucher, valid for bed and breakfast for one night. The Northern Ireland Town & Seaside Association has houses in some of Northern Ireland’s most beautiful areas, from the Mourne Mountains to the Causeway Coast, and from the Fermanagh Lakes to the Ards Peninsula, each house offering good home-cooking and a traditional Ulster welcome. The Association offers a Tour Operator rate and is happy to arrange ‘go as you please’ itineraries. SELF-CATERING: There are self-catering establishments in all of Northern Ireland’s six counties. For further information contact Tourism Ireland offices or the Northern Ireland Self-Catering Association (tel: (028) 9077 6174; fax: (028) 9080 8956; e-mail: info@nischa.com; website: www.nischa.com). Rural Cottage Holidays Ltd also provides a range of self-catering cottages in rural locations (tel: (028) 9024 1100; fax: (028) 9024 1198; website: www.cottagesinireland.com). CAMPING/CARAVANNING: There are over 100 caravan and campsites throughout the six counties of Northern Ireland. Details of the prices and facilities are contained in an information bulletin Camping & Caravan Parks, available from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. The Northern Ireland Forest Service issues permits for camping in forest areas. Contact Forest Services, Department of Agriculture, Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 3SB (tel: (028) 9052 4480; fax: (028) 9052 4570; e-mail: customer.forestservice@dardni.gov.uk; website: www.forestserviceni.gov.uk). YOUTH HOSTELS: There are eight youth hostels throughout the six counties of Northern Ireland including; Armagh City youth hostel and Belfast International youth hostel. For further information contact the Youth Hostel Association of Northern Ireland, 22-32 Donegall Road, Belfast BT12 5JN (tel: (028) 9032 4733; fax: (028) 9043 9699; e-mail: info@hini.org.uk; website: www.hini.org.uk). Introduction COUNTY ANTRIM: To the northwest lies the Causeway Coast with its holiday resorts; the Giant’s Causeway, 38,000 hexagonal basalt columns formed by cooling volcanic flow (listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site); and the Old Bushmills Distillery, one of the oldest whiskey distilleries in the world. Nearby, massive ruined Dunluce Castle stands atop the cliffs. The nine Glens of Antrim, and the spectacular coast road running north from Larne, are prime draws in the east of the county, as is Carrickfergus Castle, on the north shore of Belfast Lough. Castle Gardens at Antrim, on the northeast shore of Lough Neagh, exemplify 17th-century horticultural design. Nearby, Patterson’s Spade Mill at Templepatrick is an unusual attraction. Ferries serve Rathlin Island, where Robert the Bruce supposedly observed the persistent spider, nowadays a bird sanctuary, from Ballycastle. BELFAST: The capital stands on the River Lagan at the head of Belfast Lough. It offers excellent shopping, and a wide range of visitor attractions. A uniquely Belfast experience is the guided bus tour around focal points of Belfast’s recent history, including Falls Road and Shankill Road, to see the famous murals. The Ulster Museum, in the Botanic Gardens, covers an eclectic mix of archaeology, art and natural sciences. North of the city centre are Belfast Zoo, Belfast Castle and Cave Hill, a popular lookout point. The Lagan Lookout on Donegall Quay explains the river’s role in Belfast’s development. Opposite the refurbished Grand Opera House in Great Victoria Street is the ornate Crown Liquor Saloon, a Victorian public house owned by the National Trust. For younger visitors, the Dreamworld indoor theme park is a new venue in the Windsor district. COUNTY ARMAGH: Northern Ireland’s smallest county rises from Lough Neagh to rocky Slieve Gullion, Cuchulain’s mountain, in the south. Armagh City is the all-Ireland religious capital, with two cathedrals; the Armagh County Museum; Georgian Mall; and the Planetarium/Space Centre. Outside the City, the Navan Centre, built at the site of ancient Ulster capital, Emain Macha, is an exciting multimedia window on the past. At Craigavon, the Lough Neagh Discovery Centre explains the UK’s largest lake. The lough and the Blackwater River both offer watersports and angling. COUNTY DOWN: From Silent Valley in the mysterious Mountains of Mourne, to Strangford Lough (according to legend St Patrick’s landfall when he arrived in Ireland in AD 432) and the resort coast of Belfast Lough, this is a county of great variety. At Holywood, west of Belfast, the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum is a major attraction, while in Bangor, the Castle and the North Down Heritage Centre are highlights. Mount Stewart House, near Newtonards, is a fine stately home. Portaferry offers the Exploris Aquarium, while students of St Patrick flock to Downpatrick, where his grave reputedly lies in the cathedral grounds, and the Saint Patrick Centre tells his story. The linen industry is important to west Down culture, and visitors to Banbridge can take appropriately themed guided tours. COUNTY FERMANAGH: Ulster’s Lakeland is the predominant feature of the county. Enniskillen, the county town, straddles the narrows between Upper and Lower Lough Erne. Pleasure boats run to Devenish Island, an important early monastic site complete with round tower. Enniskillen Castle incorporates a Heritage Centre and the Museum of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers regiment. Golf, sailing, water-skiing and even pleasure flying are available nearby. Fishermen make record catches here – the lakes are said to be ‘polluted with fish’. Two nearby stately homes, Florence Court and Castle Coole, are open to the public. Upon entering Marble Arch Caves to the south of Enniskillen, visitors take an underground boat trip to the showcaves. At historic Belleek Pottery in the far west of the county, craftspeople demonstrate their skills in fine porcelain manufacture. COUNTY LONDONDERRY: Massive 17th-century city walls and ‘singing pubs’ are famous features of Derry/Londonderry, on the River Foyle. The Tower Museum sensitively – and vividly – interprets the city’s turbulent history, while the Fifth Province celebrates Irish Celtic culture. The Foyle Valley Railway Centre focuses on the region’s former narrow-gauge network. The wild Sperrin Mountains lie south of Limavady, near which is the beautiful Roe Valley Country Park, where Ulster’s first hydroelectric power station, the Power House, is open to visitors. At Draperstown to the east, the Ulster Plantation Centre tells the story of a notorious aspect of Irish history. COUNTY TYRONE: Between the Sperrins in the north and green Clogher Valley with its village cathedral in the south lies a region of great historical interest. The Ulster-American Folk Park near Omagh acknowledges the county’s close connections with the USA. The Ulster History Park is nearby. Gray Printers’ Museum at Strabane still has its original 19th-century presses. There are forest parks at Gortin Glen and Drum Mano. Dungannon, in the southeast of the county, is home to Tyrone Crystal – whose glassworks are open to visitors. Sport & Activities Walking: Northern Ireland’s scenic beauty and variety of landscapes make it a rewarding country to explore on foot. Forest trails, cliff-top paths and mountain hikes are easily accessible from the widely scattered villages and towns. Lake trails are particularly good around Lough Neagh and the Fermanagh Lakeland. The Mourne Mountains and forest parks in County Down and the Nine Glens in County Antrim are also considered excellent for hiking. Archaeological sites, such as stone-age tombs, stone circles (notably in Beaghmore), Celtic crosses, monasteries, Norman castles and 17th-century fortified houses, offer interesting stopovers. The best known and longest trail (896km/560 miles) is the circular Ulster Way, now largely marked, which runs all around Northern Ireland. Another well known marked trail is the North Down Coastal Path. Pony trekking: This is widely practised, particularly in areas such as the mountains and forests around Newcastle and Castlewellan, the North Down coast and the Causeway coast. Fishing: Sea fishing is popular all along the coast and skippered boats of all sizes can be hired at most resorts. Strangford Lough is famous for its skate and tope. Carlingford Lough is nearly as good and the coast of Belfast Lough is dotted with sea angling clubs. There are superb waters for river and lake fishing, particularly in the Mournes area of Down, the Glens of Antrim and the River Bann, which is well known for excellent salmon fishing. In most areas a rod licence and a coarse fishing permit are necessary. Day permits are available. Check at the nearest tackle shop or contact the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (see Contact Addresses section). Golf: Some of the best golf courses are situated on the coast – at Whitehead, Bangor, Royal Portrush, Ballycastle, Royal County Down at Newcastle and the Chairndhu Club near Larne. Weekly and daily rates for playing on the courses are available from the club itself or the nearest tourist information centre. Diving: Northern Ireland can offer the experienced diving enthusiast several areas to explore; these include Strangford Lough, some 29km (18 miles) long and averaging 6km (3.5 miles) wide, a fascinating underwater world with many contrasting diving sites. The long history of sea traffic has left a legacy of wrecks in and around the Lough such as the ‘Lees’ wreck, an old liberty ship now lying at 12m (39ft), or the remains of the largest vessel wrecked on the Co Down coast, the American troop carrier ‘Georgetown Victory’. Also of interest to experienced divers are the rugged, towering coast of Rathlin Island, and Northern Ireland’s famous north coast. Cruising: Loch Erne has in recent years become very popular for cruising holidays and several tour operators and local companies can arrange holidays. Contact the Tourist Board for further details. Special interest: Northern Ireland offers good opportunities for special interest holidays, from poetry and pottery to cooking, painting, gardening or music. For details of companies offering tailor-made special interest holidays, contact the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (see Contact Addresses section). Other: Both hang-gliding and rock climbing can be practised in the Mournes, Co Down, Magilligan, Bellarena and Aghadowey, Co Londonderry. The River Bann at Coleraine is good for water-skiing while canoeing is widespread at Bangor and Newcastle. Social Profile Food & Drink: The best value for money meals in Ulster are to be had at lunchtime (midday), when many restaurants and pubs offer special menus. Most Ulster families have high tea at about 1800 and many hotels and restaurants offer the same. High tea usually consists of a light cooked meal (an Ulster fry – eggs, sausages, ham or fish with chips) and a wide variety of bread, scones and cakes. Dinner is served from about 1900. Typical Northern Ireland foods include shellfish, home-made vegetable soups, potato dishes, dried seaweed, locally grown fruit and home-baked cakes and pastries. A useful booklet is Where to Eat in Northern Ireland, available from newsagents and Tourist Information Centres, which lists all the places where food is served, a price indication and brief description of the sort of food. It is advisable to book ahead for the more popular restaurants, especially towards the weekend. The pubs are open all day Mon-Sat 1130-2300 and Sun 1230-2200 with half an hour ‘drinking-up’ time. Popular drinks are, of course, Guinness – a dark heavy stout with a creamy head – and whiskey (Northern Ireland also boasts the world’s oldest whiskey distillery at Bushmills). Irish whiskey is often drunk along with a bottle of stout. Real ale fans can try Hilden produced at Lisburn and obtainable locally. Nightlife: Northern Ireland has a strong tradition for muscial entertainment, from the toe-tapping live folk bands playing in crowded pubs to the soulful lyrics of Van Morrison and the world-famous talent of flautist James Galway. Visitors will be able to find something to suit, from the latest dance music in nightclubs to opera or classical concerts. Traditional Irish music in ‘singing pubs’ provides a good evening’s entertainment in many places, particularly Belfast and Londonderry. Special musical events include the summer Jazz and Blues Festival in Londonderry and Limavady and the October International Guitar Festival held in Newtownards. Details of bands, concerts and venues are listed in ‘That’s Entertainment’ magazine, found in pubs, record stores and bookshops. There is also a wealth of theatres and art galleries located in and around Belfast, including the famous Lyric Theatre, where Liam Neeson started his career. There are summer theatres in Newcastle and Portrush, plus the Riverside Theatre at Coleraine. The Belfast Festival at Queen’s (three weeks in November each year) is Europe’s biggest arts festival after Edinburgh. Other main venues for drama performances and concerts are the Grand Opera House, Ulster Hall, King’s Hall, Crescents Art Centre, (all in Belfast), and the Armagh Theatre and Arts Centre, the new Millennium Forum theatre in Derry and numerous regional theatres. Further information can be obtained from the Northern Ireland’s Arts Council’s monthly magazine ‘art.ie’ or from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (see Contact Addresses section). Shopping: Ulster is well known for its pure Irish linen; cut-glass goblets, decanters and bowls; creamy Belleek pottery; handwoven tweed; pure wool jumpers and cardigans hand-knitted in traditional patterns; hand-embroidered wall hangings; Carrickmacross lace and silver jewellery. Shopping hours: Shops are generally open 0900-1730 six days a week (late-night shopping Thursday in Belfast city centre). Other cities and towns close for a half day one day a week (it differs from town to town). Modern shopping centres on the outskirts of towns have late night shopping Thurs-Fri to 2100. Special Events: For a complete list of festivals and other special events celebrated in 2003 in Northern Ireland, contact the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. Jan 2003 Belfast at Queens; New Year Viennese Concert Ulster Orchestra, Belfast; Northern Ireland Festival of Racing, Lisburn. Feb Heart of the Glens Festival, Lisburn. Mar Third Belfast Film Festival; Coleraine International Choral Festival; Balmoral Show; Belfast City Marathon. Jun Jazz and Blues Festival, Enniskillen; Northern Ireland Game and Country Fair, Walled City Festival, Londonderry (Derry). Jul 12th of July Parades, countrywide; 25th Annual Kingdom of Mourne Festival, Kilkeel. Sep 11th Hillsborough International Oyster Festival; Aspects Irish Literature Festival; European Heritage Open Days 2003, Belfast. Social Conventions: Due to the political situation in Northern Ireland, visitors should take care when visiting certain parts of the main cities and the border area. No problems should arise providing the visitor follows local advice and avoids expressing dogmatic opinions on political or religious topics. Business Profile Economy: The 25-plus years of the Troubles had a profound impact on the economy of Northern Ireland. Historically, the province’s main economic strengths were manufacturing, concentrated on the shipbuilding and aerospace industries in the eastern part of the province, and agriculture, which is prevalent throughout. However, manufacturing has, in common with the rest of the UK, been in long-term decline, although a steady stream of government contracts has enabled it to survive in a reduced form. Agriculture has performed steadily, underpinned by the policies of the European Union. The public sector is now the largest single part of the economy and subventions from the British government in one form or another account for the bulk of the province’s income. The political settlement in the province has presented a number of new opportunities for Northern Ireland’s economy, as well as a number of problems. The most important of these is tourism which is particularly sensitive to political circumstances in the province and has been largely depressed since the early 1970s. Similar considerations apply to foreign investment which the province is seeking to attract – especially in view of the success enjoyed by the Irish government during the 1990s. Indeed, the growing economic links between Northern Ireland and the Republic may offer the best prospects for the future development of the province’s economy. Along with the rest of the UK, the Republic of Ireland already accounts for the bulk of Northern Ireland’s external trade. Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 22 Great Victoria Street, Belfast BT2 7BJ (tel: (028) 9024 4113; fax: (028) 9024 7024; e-mail: mail@northernirelandchamber.com; website: www.northernirelandchamber.com). Conferences/Conventions: Contact Northern Ireland Conference Bureau, St Anne’s Court, 59 North Street, Belfast BT1 1NB (tel: (028) 9031 5513; fax: (028) 9031 5544; e-mail: nicb@nitb.com). Climate In general, the weather is similar to the rest of the UK but Northern Ireland tends to have less sunshine and more rain. Extremes of temperature are rare but conditions can be changeable. Required clothing: Similar to the rest of the UK, according to season. Waterproofs are advisable throughout the year. Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.