I Am Northern Ireland
THe Ancestral home of the Scots Irish
Northern Ireland Centenary
This is to celebrate the one hundred year anniversary of the birth of Northern Ireland.
The 36th Division and their road to the Somme.
The 36 Division was one of the few divisions to make significant gains on the first day of the Somme. It attacked between the Ancre and Thiepval against a position known as the Schwaben Redoubt. The 36th (Ulster) Division was an infantry division in Lord Kitcheners, New Army formed in 1914. It was originally called the Ulster Division.
Some photos of people born in Northern Ireland
and places to explore.
These are just a few people from Northern Ireland who have risen to the top in their professions - music, sports, acting etc. There are so many more that can be found in these professions on Wikipedia. Gary Lightbody OBE singer song writer and front man from the group Snow Patrol. Gary Moore was a rock legend and was a guitarist singer-songwriter who plays with different groups including Thin Lizzie. James Nesbitt OBE actor has appeared in many movies and television shows like Cold Feet. Jamie Dornan actor on screen and television stared in fifty Shades of Grey.
Harry Greg OBE footballer played for Manchester United and Northern Ireland. Harry was one of the survivors of the Munich air disaster on their return from a European cup game. Harry saved lives as he dragged team mates from the burning plane. Pat Jennings OBE recognised as one of the best goal keepers to play in English football. Pat Jennings played 119 games for Northern Ireland hand also played for Tottenham and Arsenal in England. Christine Blakely television presenter who recently married Frank Lampard footballer and manager of Chelsea football club.. Eamonn Holmes OBE is a television presenter and co presented on GMTV for twelve years. Adrian Dunbar best known for his television role as Superintendent Ted Hastings in Line Of Duty. Michelle Fairley Actress best known for her roles in Game Of Thrones and New York series Suits. Carl Frampton MBE is a professional boxer. Carl is a former two weight world championing and also held the European and Commonwealth Super Bantamweight titles. Jonathan Rea MBE is a motorcycle racer competing in Super Bike World Championships. He has won the title five times making him the most successful World SBK rider in Championship ever.
Gary Lightbody Gary Moore
James Nesbitt Jamie Dornan
Harry Gregg Pat Jennings
Christine Blakely Eamonn Holmes
Adrian Dunbar Machelle Fairley
Jonathan Rea Carl Frampton
People with Northern Ireland connections
Burt Lancaster Sam Neil. Daniel Radcliffe Greer Garson
Charles Lawson Gloria Hunniford Curt Cobain Stephen Boyd
More Northern Ireland Connections
Stephen Ray Dick Strawbridge Frank Carson Graham Norton
Anne Robinson Paula Malcolmson Ray Stevenson. Clive Standen
More Northern Ireland connections
Patrick Kielty Ruby Murray. David Tennant Nadine Coyle
Kurt Cobain Eddie Ervine Bear Grylls James Ellis
The Ulster American Folk Museum is situated on the site of the original farm of the Mellon family and was donated back to the people of Northern Ireland. The Mellons originated from Tyrone and started the Mellon Bank in 1869 becoming one of the riches familys in America. The Museum is situated in Cappagh, Co Tyrone just outside Omagh about 45 to 60 mins from Belfast.
The Ulster American Folk Museum is an open air museum. It has more than thirty buildings that tells three centuries of immigration. Visitors can taste samples of traditional Irish and American pioneer foods. It also hosts a large Blue Grass festival every year.
The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum is easily accessied by car or train it is situated about fifteen minutes from Belfast. Many of the buildings are the original and have been knocked down and rebuilt again on the new site. They must have been a hardy race of people when you look at the conditions they lived in.
The Transport Museum is in the same area within walking distance. There, you will see many of the forms of transport going back to the turn of the last century.
This is the Newcastle area in Co Down about a forty five minute drive from Belfast. If you follow this route it will take you via Newry to cross the border into the South of Ireland. Newcastle is worth the visit to explore the Mountains of Mourne for those that like to hike or just stroll and enjoy the scenery. Tullymore Forest Park is a beautiful area at the foot of the mountains and is very popular with visitors.
The Royal County Down golf course is a links course that opened in 1889.
It has two eighteen hole links courses the Championship and the Annsley course. There is plenty of accommodation in the area. The Slieve Donard Resort and Spa is popular and close to the course.
Lakes Of Fermanagh
The lakes of Fermanagh are beautiful to visit while in Northern Ireland. it has an abundance of lakes, rivers and inlet waterways. It is also a fisherman's paradise.
More images of the beautiful Fermanagh
Tayto Northern Ireland
Tayto potato crisps are the third largest snack food supplier in the UK and are based in Tandragee Co Armagh. You will find them everywhere in Northern Ireland and is the most popular brand. The Cheese and Onion flavour is a big favourite for most people.
Ulster Fry
The Ulster fry is a traditional dish that you can find in most cafes and restaurants for breakfast. Some places sell it all day and it is worth a try. It consists of soda and potato bread, eggs, bacon, sausage, tomato and sometimes black pudding. A favourite dish of the Ulster people.
How different it is living in Northern Ireland today than living in the seventies. Northern Ireland has reinvented itself to become a destination for visitors from around the world. It is now a destination port for the major cruise ships and it is not uncommon to see the city bustling with visitors from North America, Europe and Asia. Prior to theend of the troubles most visitors only went to the South of Ireland yet Northern Ireland has some of the best scenery. Driving up the Antrim coast winding through the little villages like Carnlough and Ballycastle to Portrush is a very scenic drive. There are many places to visit on the way like the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge and the Giants Causeway which has just opened its new visitor centre. Bushmills has the oldest licensed distillery in the world and is famous for the Black Bush whiskey - take time out to visit it. When they ask for volunteers during the tour do not be afraid to put your hand up as you get to taste all the different samples and receive a certificate at the end to say you are a qualified whiskey taster! For the golfers there are many golf courses none more testing than Royal Portrush the home of the last Irish Open. Northern Ireland is blessed with many very talented golfers such as Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Graham McDowell. I am always amazed how they became such talented golfers as the weather is not in their favour compared to Australia where you are in your shorts with the sun shining most times. Northern Ireland with its small population of under two million has managed to produce high achievers in many different fields. It has a high standard of education with better pass rates than in England and in Wales where the teaching systems are similar. In soccer George Best, Pat Jennings, Danny Blanchflower and Martin O'Neill are a few who made it to playing top level football. In Australia and North America they refer to it as soccer. In the sports they call football they pass with their hands but it will always be football to me and all my friends. Alex Higgens and Dennis Taylor were excellent snooker players snooker. Alex became world champion and returned to live in Belfast where he died recently from cancer. More and more Northern Ireland accents are found on the television. One of my favourite comedians was Frank Carson who unfortunately died recently. There are many more to mention in all walks of life who are not as well known living in different parts of the world and who have taken their skills to the top level.
Ireland has moved on since the Queen's visit. The reception she had was beyond many people's belief and put to bed the view that people in Ireland would not accept her. Martin McGuinness the head of the IRA agreed to meet her on her recent visit to Northern Ireland so we have moved on a long way. The troubles achieved nothing and we are where we would have been without all the violence. The change would have come as working class families on both sides demanded better housing education and jobs.
This created the new middle class but the same thing is happening now around the world.
Some tips for Northern - Ireland bring a jacket as even in the summer the weather is unpredictable. In parts of Belfast it might sound like they're saying Norn Iron but I can assure you it is the same place. You will find people very helpful and they will take time to talk to you. The Ulster Bus tours are worth while looking into. They start in Belfast but tour all of Ireland and beyond. They are great value for money with great food and good hotels. Ireland is still two countries but the only time you will know is when you have crossed the border one uses the Euro the other is British pounds.
Grace Neills
THe oldest licensed pub in Ireland situated in Donaghadee. Donaghadee is a small fishing village that is about a thirty five minute drive from Belfast to the Co Down coast.
Belfast
Voted best city in UK and Ireland and will be in the new monopoly games.
Bushmills Distillery
The oldest distillery in the world and you need to book on line as it is very busy if you want to do a tour. When they ask for volunteers to be a whiskey taster step forward and taste the blends of whiskey. At the end you will receive a nice certificate to say you are a qualified whiskey taste.r
The Distillery is situated on the Antrim Coast near the Giants Causeway.
The Crawfordsburn Inn is about a fifteen minute drive from Belfast. It is worth a visit for a meal but also is a hotel should you want to stay and explore the countryside. Close to the Ulster folk museum.
The Titanic Exhibition was awarded the worlds, leading tourist attraction.
Galgorm Manor and Golf course
Galgorm Manor is situated only thirty minutes from Belfast near Ballymena. It is a premier Hotel and spa very popular with the people from Northern Ireland.
Cullodon Hotel and Spa
The Cullodon Hotel is a five star luxury hotel about ten minutes drive from the centre of Belfast and is very close to George Best Airport. It overlooks Belfast Lough.
Northern Ireland Film Studio Belfast
Northern Ireland film Studios s situated in Belfast near the Titanic Exhibition. It is due for a major expansion and this will make it the largest studio outside the South Of England. Many popular shows and movies are made here like Game Of Thrones and Line OF Duty.
Stormont
Stormont is where the Northern Ireland assembly sit. After the need for a separated government with the creation of Northern Ireland after home rule. The building was opened on May 1928. It is about a ten minute ride on the bus to visit. The hop on and off bus also stops there.
Down Cathedral the burial place of St Patrick
Down Cathderal the Church of the Holy Trinity is the Church Of Ireland cathedral located in the town of Downpatrick. It stands on the site of a Benedicitne Monastery built in 1183. It is reputed to be the burial place of St Patrick. The church of Ireland claims to be the oldest church in Ireland.
Field Marshal Alan Francis Brook
Field Marshal Alan Francis Brook 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, KG, GCB, OM, GVCO, DSO, & Bar born the 23rd of July 1883 died the on 17th of June1963. He was Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS) the professional head of the British Army during World War Two. Brooke was the foremost military advisor to Winstone Churchill and had the role of
co-ordinator of the British Military efforts in the Allies' victory in 1945.
Paddy Blair Mayne
Lieutenant Colonel Paddy Blair Mayne DSO & Three Bars. During the course of the Second World War he became one of the British Army's most highly decorated soldiers. Blair Mayne was recomended to Captain David Sterling and joined the SAS. Mayne took part in the most successful SAS raids of the Desert War. He was born on the 11th of January 1915 and died on the 14th of December 1955.
Colonel Timothy Thomas Collins OBE.
Tim Collins was a military officer in the British Army. He is best known for his role in the Iraq war in 2003. A copy of his inspirational eve of the battle speech apparently hung in the Whitehouse Oval Office. He was born on April 30th 1960.
Professor James Frank Pantridge, CBE, MC, OStJ, MD
Professor Pantrige was a physician and cardiologist who transformed emergency medicine and paramedic services with the invention of the portable defibrillator. During World War Two he served in the British Army in the Royal Army Medical Corps and was was awarded the military cross durning the fall of Singapore. When he became a POW he served much of his capitivy as a slave labourer on the Burma Railway.
Other Northern Ireland Inventors
Hans Slone from Killyleagh Co.Down was a Royal physician who went to Jamaica in 1687. He boiled cocoa with milk and sugar inventing milk chocolate. More than sixty years later Hans Slone chocolate was produced by Cadbury.
John Stepenson from Armagh invented the street car. He was just aged twenty two in 1833 when he designed the first omnibus and street car.
Alex Turney Stewart was from Lisburn born in 1803. He started the first department stores and mail order business in America.
Sir James Murray was a physician from Co Derry who invented milk of magnesia in 1809. He also invented artificial fertiliser in 1817 and continued to develop and produce the synthetic fertilisers we know today.
William Reid Clanny from Bangor, Co Down was a physician in 1912 after the Felling Colliery disaster and invented the underground light for the mines.
John Getty McGee invented the Ulster overcoat made famous by Conan Doyle's fictional detective in 1880.
Lord Kelvin Thompson, a farmers, son from Belfast determined a lower limit of temperature - absolute zero-as-273.15 degree celsius or-459.67 Fahrenheit He was presented with the title Lord Kelvin in 1866 after he calculated the thickness of the worlds first transatlantic telegraph cable. He also invented the reversible heat engine which now forms the basis for refrigeration. He designed the compass that is now fitted to every British navel ship.
William and Anthony Traill from Co Antrim invented the Electric Tramway with the construction of the Giants Causeway Tramway in 1883.
John Dunlop from Belfast invented the pneumatic tyre. Irelands cycle racing elite dominated with the tyres before cars drove them to to global dominance.
William McCrumb from Co Armagh invented the penalty kick. McCrumb was a goal Keeper and conceded 62 goals in the first Irish Leagues inaugural season. No fan of goalmouth foul play McCrumb devised the penalty kick to thwart unsportsmanlike behaviour.
William Mulholland born in Belfast designed the Los Angeles Aqueduct. He spent four years in the merchant navy before settling in California in 1877. A self taught engineer he designed the 200 mile Los Angeles Aqueduct that opened in 1913.
Harry Ferguson from Growel, Co Down invented the three point linkage system elevating himself to agricultural immortality. At age 25 he was an aviation enthusiast and became the first UK citizen to both build and fly a plane. He died in 1960 and his legacy lives on with Massey Ferguson.
Sir James Martin from crossbar, Co Down was an aircraft manufacturer who with Caption Baker founded the Martin - Baker Aircraft Company Ltd In 1934. After his friend was killed in a test flight he redirected his attentions to flight safety . He designed the ejector seat that saved the lives of more than 7400 pilots and died in 1981 aged 87.
Thomas Sinton Walton was born in Belfast and changed the world with John Cockcroft in discovering atom-smashing experiences at Cambridge University in early 1930. They were recipients of the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1951.
Jim Perry from Lisburn created the Earthworm Computer Game and is now one of the top designers for Shiny Entertainment.
Dr Wallace Dinsmore from Belfast was part of the team that gives the world a reason to smile. They released papers in 1999 revealing the side effect of a drug which was intended to treat angina. It is called Viagra.
Dr Steve Myers from Belfast is regarded by his peers as the man who made the large Hadron Collider work. He is one of the scientists behind the discovery of Higgs Boston, the so-called God Particle.
Arrival of American Forces in Northern Ireland
This video is for all the young Americans that came to Northern Ireland In World War to to help secure the freedom we have today. Many went back with war brides one of them being my Aunt Elsie. She was followed by her brother and sister as well as my grandparents. My grandmother was in her sixties which was considered old but had another life and lived until she was 98. She received a card from Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy on her birthday and was looking forward to one from the queen but didn't unfortunately did not make it.