Carrickfergus is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It sits on the north shore of Belfast Lough, 11 miles from Belfast. The town had a population of 27,998 at the 2011 Census. It is County Antrim's oldest town and one of the oldest towns in Ireland as a whole.

When was Carrickfergus the capital of Northern Ireland?

Carrickfergus was the county town (seat) of Antrim until 1850. The parish church of St. Nicholas, begun by John de Courci at the end of the 12th century, is renowned for its monument (1625) to Lord Chichester, lord deputy of Ireland (1604–14).

What is Northern Ireland's capital?

Belfast, Irish Béal Feirste, city, district, and capital of Northern Ireland, on the River Lagan, at its entrance to Belfast Lough (inlet of the sea).

What city is the capital city of Northern Ireland?

As Northern Ireland's capital city, Belfast is host to the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont, the site of the devolved legislature for Northern Ireland.

Is Carrickfergus Protestant or Catholic?

Carrickfergus has always been a predominantly Protestant town. The Catholic percentage of the population has fallen below 7 per cent and, if some local loyalists have their way, it could soon be a town without any Catholics. The campaign is being waged by members of the South East Antrim UDA.

Exploring The Town Of Carrickfergus - Northern Ireland - Carrickfergus Attractions / Castle & Town

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Is Carrickfergus Castle in Game of Thrones?

First stops are at sturdy Norman-built Carrickfergus Castle – although not featured in Game of Thrones it's a great way to get into the mood of the epic series and is the start of a journey through the area's most spectacular landscapes, too.

What was Carrickfergus Castle used for?

What Was Carrickfergus Castle Used For? Until 1928 Carrickfergus Castle was used as a magazine and armory and during WW II it served as an air raid shelter. A great castle although its exterior is a lot more exiting than its interior.

Why did Northern Ireland separate from Ireland?

Most northern unionists wanted the territory of the Ulster government to be reduced to six counties, so that it would have a larger Protestant unionist majority. ... In what became Northern Ireland, the process of partition was accompanied by violence, both "in defence or opposition to the new settlement".

Why is Northern Ireland not part of Ireland?

Northern Ireland was created in 1921, when Ireland was partitioned by the Government of Ireland Act 1920, creating a devolved government for the six northeastern counties. The majority of Northern Ireland's population were unionists, who wanted to remain within the United Kingdom.

What flag does Northern Ireland use?

The only official flag in Northern Ireland is the Union Flag of the United Kingdom.

Is Ireland still divided?

Ireland is the second-largest island of the British Isles, the third-largest in Europe, and the twentieth-largest on Earth. Geopolitically, Ireland is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially named Ireland), which covers five-sixths of the island, and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom.

Is Dublin Northern Ireland?

The capital and largest city is Dublin, which is located on the eastern side of the island. Around 40% of the country's population of 5 million people resides in the Greater Dublin Area. The sovereign state shares its only land border with Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom.

Is Carrickfergus in Co Antrim?

Carrickfergus (from Irish: Carraig Fhearghais [ˌkaːɾˠəɟ ˈaɾˠɣəʃ], meaning "Fergus' rock") is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It sits on the north shore of Belfast Lough, 11 miles (18 km) from Belfast. ... It is County Antrim's oldest town and one of the oldest towns in Ireland as a whole.

Is Carrickfergus on the coast?

The historic town of Carrickfergus, has a dramatic and unmissable visitor attraction right on the coast. ... The building of Carrickfergus Castle was begun by John de Courcy in 1180 and completed by Hugh de Lacy in 1205.

Who is the most famous person from Northern Ireland?

1. Liam Neeson – Northern Ireland's most famous Hollywood actor. Liam Neeson is an actor who was born in Ballymena. One of the most famous people from Northern Ireland, Neeson is known for several blockbuster films such as Schindler's List, Nell, Michael Collins, and the popular action thriller series, Taken.

Do schools in Northern Ireland teach Irish?

From the early years of the Northern Ireland government, education in Irish was marginalised. The number of primary schools teaching Irish was halved between 1924 and 1927, and numbers studying Irish as an extra subject fell from 5531 to 1290 between 1923 and 1926.

What does Gaelic origin mean?

1 : of or relating to the Gaels and especially the Celtic Highlanders of Scotland. 2 : of, relating to, or constituting the Goidelic speech of the Celts in Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Scottish Highlands.

Does Britain own Northern Ireland?

As in India, independence meant the partition of the country. Ireland became a republic in 1949 and Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom.

Are Northern Ireland citizens Irish?

Irish nationality law is contained in the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts 1956 to 2004 and in the relevant provisions of the Irish Constitution. ... The law grants citizenship to individuals born in Northern Ireland under the same conditions as those born in the Republic of Ireland.

What caused the troubles in Belfast?

The conflict began during a campaign by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association to end discrimination against the Catholic/nationalist minority by the Protestant/unionist government and local authorities. The government attempted to suppress the protests.

Is Carrickfergus Safe?

Carrickfergus is the safest medium-sized town in Antrim, and is among the top 20 safest overall out of Antrim's 33 towns, villages, and cities.

What part of Carrickfergus means rock?

The town of Carrickfergus has been in existence since medieval times. The earliest known name for the area was Dun-so-barky, meaning 'strong rock or hill'.