Have you visited Northern Ireland and if so what is your opinion of the place?

John Doe1

and do consider it more british than irish or vice versa?

Dudess

I thought Belfast seemed more British. Had a brilliant time there. Thought Derry seemed more Irish. Also had a brilliant time there. Omagh - can't really remember.

TeddyTedson

I consider it to be Northern Ireland, I think it will never be fully part of either country the way both the Republicans and Unionists would like.
I've visited it, met and know some really sound people from it - but I find Belfast to be a bit...eerie.

Sauve

John Doe1 wrote: »

and do consider it more british than irish or vice versa?

Strange question, but anyways.....
I couldn't say it's more like either country, I think it's its' own wee place (no political digs there!). Some parts seem Irish, some British, but the majority is just Northern Irish...

eth0

Dudess wrote: »

Omagh - can't really remember.

You were just there at the wrong time.

policarp

Was in Omagh last year and had great time, but was a little intimidated by all the union jacks and the kerbs painted red white and blue in some areas. . .

Terry

Cork city is fully of people from Cork. Not a great place to visit.
Armagh city was the same as any other large town in Ireland.

Large towns or cities are all the same.
The small towns are the ones where you encounter trouble. It doesn't matter if they are North or South.

Einhard

Honestly, and this will probably piss some people off, but I don't really consider it Irish. I don't really see it as british either. It's a kind of limboland.

I visitied Belfast a few years ago. the club we were in shut at 11.30pm for religious reasons. Was kinda strange. Think it was called Milk.

Turtyturd

Once you cross the border there is a very noticable visual change which resembles Britain more than the South of Ireland. Culturally I dunno.

cosanostra

The roads are better apart from that not much difference

Where To

I got turned away at immigration.

starviewadams

Have been in Belfast,Derry,Omagh and Newry,all nice places with friendly people,the roads were much better too!

The union jacks hanging off streetlights still kind of weirded me out a bit,mainly cos they're ingrained from seeing pictures of the troubles on TV as a kid!

Don't really think of it as Irish or English,it's just the north!

saywhatyousee

Einhard wrote: »

Honestly, and this will probably piss some people off, but I don't really consider it Irish. I don't really see it as british either. It's a kind of limboland.

I visitied Belfast a few years ago. the club we were in shut at 11.30pm for religious reasons. Was kinda strange. Think it was called Milk.

Kind of like Australia i think a weird mish mash of America/England
While the north is a mish mash of Ireland/England

starbelgrade

The first time I visited Belfast it was still during the Troubles. Not a great place to go to, with the army patrolling the streets with machine guns & armoured cars, being searched going into shopping centres etc.

Also was in a pub where a guy was shot in the head. Not the best of experiences.

These days however, it's a really vibrant city with great pubs, shops, restaurants & cafes. There's a really friendly vibe about the place. Great to see.

As for the question.. is it British or Irish? Does it really matter.. Nothern Ireland is what it is & arguing over what country it belongs to or is more like is what kept the Troubles going up there for so long & no-one, except the die-hard nationalist & unionist idiots wants that again.

theteal

the pubs are different, too many of those poxy idiotic gaming machines.

I lived just off the lisburn road for a while, I was advised to move my southern reg car out of sight on the evening of the 11th of a certain month - it didn't feel very Irish then.

other than that, Belfast is awesome, so much nicer than Dublin (probably goes without saying to some)

For Forks Sake

theteal wrote: »

I lived just off the lisburn road for a while, I was advised to move my southern reg car out of sight on the evening of the 11th of a certain month

Smarch?

K-9

The roads aren't that much better, pretty old cliche. When you're travelling from Letterkenny or Donegal to Dublin, the North is the worst stretch.

Always found it pretty strange. City centres just close down at 5.30 but that isn't as bad as it used to be. Shopping centres don't really give you a feel of the difference in lifestyle.

Flying into Belfast airport can be odd. Most people are grand but you get the odd person giving you strange looks at your Irish passport!

pragmatic1

Many times and love the place, especially Belfast. Its Irish but with a twist. Maybe what we would be like if we never left the UK.

Harder people than us southern softies though.

hondasam

John Doe1 wrote: »

and do consider it more british than irish or vice versa?

As soon as you cross the border you know you are in England. I cannot say I like Northern Ireland tbh.
The people are not as friendly as here.

starbelgrade

hondasam wrote: »

As soon as you cross the border you know you are in England.

Your geography is awful, Sam.

The Scientician

Family's from the north. I love it. When I was a kid it used to seem way different to the republic, but globalisation makes Irish towns look more like British towns now anyway. I do feel though West NI (aka Mid Ulster) is more Irish feeling than east NI, not that any of Northern Ireland feels like it's a really different country. I've had great times in Derry, Omagh, Dromore, Belfast, and in rural Co. Fermanagh. I hate seeing the UVF etc. flags during the summer but I've never felt less than at home "up a north" and I'd consider living there if a job opportunity that interested me arose.

Resi12

hondasam wrote: »

As soon as you cross the border you know you are in England. I cannot say I like Northern Ireland tbh.
The people are not as friendly as here.

How does that work exactly?

hondasam

starbelgrade wrote: »

Your geography is awful, Sam.

No it's not star, you know what I meant.

Resi12 wrote: »

How does that work exactly?

It's more English than Irish.
I'm not going into the long winded debate that is the North.

Cormac2791

cosanostra wrote: »

The roads are better apart from that not much difference

When was your last visit? In the past 6-10 years Ireland's roads have gradually improved to being more modern than NI

Richard Hillman

Yes I've been there and yes it's a dive. Belfast looks like Grozny and Derry is 3rd world.

Captain Chaos

Have to say I love the night life in Belfast. The door staff are far better than in Dublin, they are friendly and reasonable. The place is alot cleaner than Dublin too especially after a Friday or Saturday night. The accent helps with the women too, both ways actually:D.

The only thing is the Guinness is not as nice there.

Rud

I was up in Newry and Belfast last year for the first time and i liked it,i didn't find a reason not to like it.There was a grand atmosphere about the place

grenache

Terry wrote: »

Cork city is fully of people from Cork. Not a great place to visit.

That's terrific Terry, but in what way is that relevant to the thread topic?

anniehoo

John Doe1 wrote: »

and do consider it more british than irish or vice versa?

Neither tbh.Im at an age where i still remember being stopped at the "border" with guys with guns, when we were kids when my parents went to Woolworths etc for the chrimbo shopping (it was verrrry cheap).But young enough to not be majorily heavily influenced by politics either way. Im ambivalent tbh.

Dudess wrote: »

I thought Belfast seemed more British. Had a brilliant time there. Thought Derry seemed more Irish. Also had a brilliant time there. Omagh - can't really remember.

Belfast seems quite "cold" to me (been a good few times). Derry is beautiful,but again,' i saw quite a lot of the British influence mixed in. It does seem like "limboland" as mentioned above. The North doesnt feel "irish" but doesnt feel "british" either. Its weird. Ive no issue...just dont think id live in any of the 6 counties if i was asked.

mackg

Was in Derry a good few years ago. Took a walk along the walls, was class.

Also got Rage Against the Machine's first album and Far Beyond Driven for like a fiver each, thought the place was the shit after that.

Chuck Stone

Einhard wrote: »

I visitied Belfast a few years ago. the club we were in shut at 11.30pm for religious reasons. Was kinda strange. Think it was called Milk.

Was out a couple of nights in Belfast and got the same impression. It feels more free in the south even with our stupid licensing laws.

Turtyturd wrote: »

Once you cross the border there is a very noticable visual change which resembles Britain more than the South of Ireland. Culturally I dunno.

That's somewhat true. More fences on the fields and less hedgerows. Until relatively recently the roads seemed tidier and more ordered back in the day.

cosanostra wrote: »

The roads are better apart from that not much difference

Nope, not true any more.

The Scientician

Chuck Stone wrote: »

Was out a couple of nights in Belfast and got the same impression. It feels more free in the south even with our stupid licensing laws.

After a certain time, most clubs don't seem to let you in. I don't know the exact cut off point but a lot of Dublin clubs will let you in at 2.15am if you're not schwasted. It's different in Belfast, the people inside seem allowed to stay but there seems to be an early cut-off for intake of more punters. I'd have to check that with a local, was only my impression from the few times I've been out there. One great thing the last night I was up, leaving Lavery's (a pretty fun spot) late on we were able to go to the adjoined offy and get what we wanted to bring the party further.

Belfast City Centre is dead at night by comparison with the equivalent central streets in Dublin and you kinda have to go towards the university or up to the "Cathedral Quarter" to find nightlife.

Chuck Stone

The Scientician wrote: »

Belfast City Centre is dead at night by comparison with the equivalent central streets in Dublin and you kinda have to go towards the university or up to the "Cathedral Quarter" to find nightlife.

That's probably what I was doing wrong.

Jesus Wept

If I never heard mention of the place again that would be ideal.
Hearing about it non stop throughout my life has just taken it's toll on my feelings towards it.

K-9

cormacharraghy wrote: »

When was your last visit? In the past 6-10 years Ireland's roads have gradually improved to being more modern than NI

The back roads tend to be better maintained generally but when it comes to main roads, the South wins hands down.

Duck's hoop

hondasam wrote: »

As soon as you cross the border you know you are in England.
The people are not as friendly as here.

I can think of about a score of places where it's far from obvious you've moved jurisdiction.

Duck's hoop

The-Rigger wrote: »

If I never heard mention of the place again that would be ideal.
Hearing about it non stop throughout my life has just taken it's toll on my feelings towards it.

Pretty sad attitude considering it makes up a considerable portion of this small island, is fantastically beautiful in places, has a rich history to say the least and home to some very funny and resilient people.

10green bottles

I always head far North.No sterling needed and not a soldier or a PISN in sight .
http://www.malinhead.ie/Homepage.html

Newry is a tip by the way!

The Scientician

10green bottles wrote: »

I always head far North.No sterling needed and not a soldier or a PISN in sight .
http://www.malinhead.ie/Homepage.html

Newry is a tip by the way!

I haven't seen a soldier up north in years. So do you drive via Leitrim/Bundoran?

Jesus Wept

Duck's hoop wrote: »

Pretty sad attitude considering it makes up a considerable portion of this small island, is fantastically beautiful in places, has a rich history to say the least and home to some very funny and resilient people.

If you were forced to hear the same ****ty song 12,000 times in your life, you'd avoid it too.

10green bottles

The Scientician wrote: »

I haven't seen a soldier up north in years. So do you drive via Leitrim/Bundoran?

You are going the wrong way:D None there up there of course:rolleyes:

Azureus

Havent been up North in years-really must.
From what I remember of Belfast, it was clean nice and had decent shopping. Was weird being in Ireland using sterling and I definately got a more English than Irish vibe from the place, not that that's a good or bad thing. Was too young before to check out the nightlife so may head yp with some people soon

The Scientician

Azureus wrote: »

Havent been up North in years-really must.
From what I remember of Belfast, it was clean nice and had decent shopping. Was weird being in Ireland using sterling and I definately got a more English than Irish vibe from the place, not that that's a good or bad thing. Was too young before to check out the nightlife so may head yp with some people soon

I'm gonna sound like a shill for VisitNI but Belfast is lovely at Christmas, Christmas Market at City Hall, and the shopping areas are more compact, lovely to walk around than Dublin. I am tempted to go for a look around on the 22nd. Not mad for shopping but I loved the Christmassy atmosphere when I was up at this time of year before.

retalivity

Being from donegal i was in and out to it for years, its irish, but its not.
Makes a welcome change for a night out or to go shopping, spending 30 pounds on a night rather than 100euro, or buying the same clothes as 15 miles down the road for half the price.
I'd prefer belfast to dublin too...better craic, less rude & pretentious, more dirty protestant girls.
Plus, almost 50% of the scumbags will leave you alone, once they know where youre from!

pow wow

It's awesome.

Howard the Duck

I lived up the north for a few years when i was in my early teens. I never liked it, always felt there was a lot of bigotry on both sides and most people were very two faced about it.
I think someone said Belfast felt cold , that's the way the whole place feels to me. Maybe it's changed since then , haven't been up there is years.

desertcircus

Was camping in Rostrevor a few years ago, and have been to Belfast most winters. It's not the same as the Republic, but it does feel different to England. Belfast itself has a lovely atmosphere, and there are some cracking pubs. It's annoying that everything shuts down on Sundays, but I think that's common to everywhere in Europe outside the Republic.

I did end up in Warrenpoint, which is a staunchly unionist town, and the people we met were uniformly friendly and welcoming.

Also - if you're in Belfast, go for a drink in the Northern Whig. It's a great place for a cocktail.

sunflower27

Been to Derry a good few times as my best friend is originally from there. The people are hilarious up there in my opinion.

I've been to three weddings up there now and they are far and above the best weddings I've been to. Always meet some right characters... and they know how to tell a joke

Not been up there in a good while, must organise a trip back.

BraziliaNZ

Was in Belfast in 2004, seems nice, although me and my mate were subject to sectarian abuse at least twice while minding our own business. Took mushrooms for the first time up there too, that was weird. Also got laid, but she was from Dublin, while on mushrooms, strange experience.
It had a very British feel to it, didn't feel like I was really in Ireland as such, which I wasn't I suppose.

Apanachi

I always thought it to be Irish (OK, depends on what part of NI you are in, hard to have an Irish feel to a place when there's Union Jacks hangin all over the place)

Mainly I never really thought much about it thought much, I always considered NI just as much a part of Ireland as the Republic, but that maybe because I grew up just beside the border and spent quite a lot of time in NI and had quite a few friends there, so it was just another place "up the road"

TheTwiz

desertcircus wrote: »

Was camping in Rostrevor a few years ago, and have been to Belfast most winters. It's not the same as the Republic, but it does feel different to England. Belfast itself has a lovely atmosphere, and there are some cracking pubs. It's annoying that everything shuts down on Sundays, but I think that's common to everywhere in Europe outside the Republic.

I did end up in Warrenpoint, which is a staunchly unionist town, and the people we met were uniformly friendly and welcoming.

Also - if you're in Belfast, go for a drink in the Northern Whig. It's a great place for a cocktail.

Warrenpoint Protestant? You can't get any more Catholic than that town. I've relatives there and I reckon it's about 90% catholic