Northern Ireland Packages/Deals & Travel Agents Near Me

In Northern Ireland, you will find many of the same delights as in the Republic: ancient stone circles, Celtic high crosses, historic towns and treasures, lively pubs and friendly people. You will notice a slightly different accent, but you'll be welcomed with the same warm hospitality.

From the vibrant capital of Belfast to the walled city of Londonderry to seaside resorts and pretty coastal villages, there is much to explore. Inland, there are tranquil loughs (lakes) and woodlands, the beautiful Antrim glens and Mourne Mountains, and the stunning scenery of the Antrim coast—including the phenomenal Giant's Causeway.

History

Ireland was first settled more than 9,000 years ago. Remnants from the Stone Age, Bronze Age and later eras abound, and Vikings, Normans and English invaders had a lasting impact on the entire island. By the end of the 16th century, England's monarchs exerted control over most regions.

The seeds for the conflict between the Catholics and Protestants were sown during the Plantation of Ulster. In 1607, after the Flight of the Earls during which Irish Chieftains left the country, King James I of England, who was also James VI of Scotland, confiscated all of their lands and settled them with colonists from Scotland and England. They had to be Protestants, they could not sell their lands to any Irishmen, have Irish tenants or workers and instead were supposed to bring tenants and workers from their own countries. The vast bulk of the settlers were Scottish.

When Ireland gained its independence from Britain in 1921, six northern counties in the province of Ulster elected to remain a part of the U.K. Northern Ireland remained fairly stable until 1968, when the Catholic minority's anger over discrimination turned into riots. The Catholic Provisional Irish Republican Army and the Protestant Ulster Defense Association, two violent paramilitary groups, increased their activity. This period of civil unrest became known as the Troubles.

The peace settlement approved in 1998 created a Northern Ireland Assembly and two other consultative bodies aimed at balancing the needs of Catholics and Protestants—for Protestants to reaffirm their status as British, and for Catholics to pursue the goal of unity with the Republic of Ireland to the south. Differences between opposing parties within the Assembly caused difficulties that led to its suspension. These difficulties appear to have been resolved.

On 8 May 2007, the suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly was lifted. The Democratic Unionist Party leader, the Rev. Ian Paisley, took office as First Minister, with Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness as his Deputy. In March of 2008, Paisley announced his retirement from politics. In June, he was replaced as First Minister by Peter Robinson. Following the 2011 elections, Robinson and McGuinness were both re-elected to these posts.

McGuinness resigned in January 2017, resulting in the forced resignation of the DUP's Arline Foster, who took office in December 2015, as well. This left Northern Ireland without a functioning government until January 2020, when an agreement to restore a power-sharing government was finally accepted.

In a June 2016 referendum, commonly known as Brexit, the U.K. voted by a slim margin to withdraw from the European Union. The most immediate effect of Brexit was a drop in value of the pound sterling; economic uncertainty is expected to continue for some time. The separation became official on 31 January 2020, and terms of the new trade deal went into effect on 1 January 2021.

Snapshot

The main attractions of Northern Ireland are spectacular sea and mountain scenery, the Giant's Causeway, traditional music, pubs, theater, cultural events, golf, hiking, historical sites, bird-watching, good food, ruins, driving along the Antrim Coast and castles.

Northern Ireland will be most appreciated by those who enjoy the pleasures found in green rolling hills, beautiful loughs (lakes) and people who are welcoming to strangers.

Potpourri

Some remarkable films have been made about the Troubles in Northern Ireland, particularly The Boxer. Written and directed by Jim Sheridan, it dramatizes the divisions caused by sectarian violence among friends and family as well as countrymen.

The county of Londonderry was originally known as Daire but was Anglicized during the reign of King James I. By the early 17th century, when land within the county borders was transferred to the city of London, the prefix London was added to the name. Nowadays, Catholics (who enjoy a two-thirds majority in the city) call it Derry, while Protestants prefer Londonderry. Take care—whichever name you use is bound to upset somebody.

The ill-fated Titanic was built at the Harland and Wolfe Shipyards in Belfast. There is a memorial to the victims at City Hall.

Four U.S. presidents—Andrew Jackson, Ulysses Grant, Chester Arthur and Woodrow Wilson—could trace their ancestry to Northern Ireland.

You may happen upon a game of road bowls, a variation of bowling played on streets. It was invented in Armagh.

Northern Ireland is about one-third the size of the Republic of Ireland.

If azaleas are in bloom, visit Rowallane, a large house 20 minutes from Belfast.

County Antrim has had a license to distill Irish whiskey since 1608. The distillery in the village of Bushmills was officially registered as a company in 1784.

There are many haunted castles reported in Northern Ireland.

The popular television show, Game of Thrones was filmed in several locations throughout Northern Ireland. The Dark Hedges have really exploded in popularity. Many Game of Thrones tours can be found in Belfast and throughout the region.