What is the most interesting fact about Northren Ireland that you didn't know?

NordieSteve · 12-05-2014 05:30PM

I wouldn't mind moving back to Belfast, heard from an old friend of mine who I haven't spoken to in years(after finally giving into pressure and signing up to facebook) that place is buzzing these days. I'm originally from Tyrone so going home to the North wouldn't be a big deal.

Can't see myself leaving Dublin though.

doolox · 12-05-2014 05:38PM

I went up there when my wife was at a conference and I had a whale of a time.
The Morning Star pub in the city centre does and excellent mash, cabbage and onion dinner dish I would call cally , colcannon or pratai uaine, greens and spuds,but the locals call champ........good eating.

The fact that Guinness is readily available along with the best of British hand drawn ales is a plus. Great people great music and great craic.

se conman · 12-05-2014 06:17PM

The Rangers (Tom Hanks in Saving private Ryan)were formed in Carrickfergus during WWII.

I am pie · 12-05-2014 07:00PM

Gerry adams used to be a barman in the Duke of York which is probably in my top ten pubs in Ireland...and no, it's not a "republican" bar, welcomes all comers, you wouldnt know that he worked there. Spectacular whiskey selection...shame about the opening hours.

Excellent views available from Mcarts Fort on the top of the Cavehill, one of the most undersused tourist resources in the city

A small no longer visible railroad used to run limestone down the Cavehill road, along the limestone road straight into the dock for export.

Mcarts Fort used to be the seat of power in Ulster were at least two ancient kings sat, it's a good example of an ancient ring fort . On a clear day you can see the zoo below and alkso Scotland and the Isle of Man. It was used again in the late 18th century as a meeting point for McCracken, Wolfe Tone and the United Irishmen were McCracken was subsequently captured.

The form of the Cavehill (including the nose shaped outcrop "Napoleon's nose" are said to have influenced the Swift when writing Gulliver's Travels...it looks like a giant sleeping on his back nose in the air.

May be some paraphrasing from the wikipedia cavehill article..ahem..however, if you are there and the weather is good, really do take a walk up over, really worth it. Better than fcking shopping"!

orangesoda · 12-05-2014 07:41PM

CiaranMcDCFC wrote: »

bout ye hi!

I assume you're a Dungiven Celtic fan then?

Conall Cernach · 12-05-2014 08:41PM

FairytaleGirl wrote: »

Outside of the police force

What about Army? I used to often find 2 or 3 of the hoors in my garden hiding in the bushes armed to the teeth.

Nekarsulm · 12-05-2014 10:29PM

If you want to know what a small New Zealand coastal town is like, without the travel costs, visit Newcastle. So similar to a south island town, like Fox, its scary.

The Silent Valley and its catchment area is an amazing place to visit. 36 sq kilometres, walled in. Took 18 years to build the wall.

maryishere · 12-05-2014 10:52PM

I am pie wrote: »

Gerry adams used to be a barman in the Duke of York which is probably in my top ten pubs in Ireland...and no, it's not a "republican" bar...

All the same, I'm sure that back in the day when Gerry worked there, if you were an off duty copper or retired security force person, you would not want to be overheard saying what ye worked at / where ye lived...

Richard · 13-05-2014 12:23AM

guttenberg wrote: »

The actress that plays Susan Kennedy from Neighbours is from NI. :eek:

She's my fourth cousin or something. That's true.

orangesoda · 13-05-2014 12:37AM

and auld jackie woodburn wasn't the last to make an appearance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sKjY88fAQw

Sir Gallagher · 13-05-2014 11:33AM

topper75 wrote: »

Ease off man. We're not all dicks. Found your mistake for you anyway (bolded above). Try some of the west the next long weekend you have to meet the decent sort.

Yes try Galway where the whole city is powered by the inhabitant's sense of smug self satisfaction.

obezyana · 13-05-2014 12:42PM

Interesting fact I found out about a place in NI........ The Giants Causeway, its the biggest load of ****e iv seen on this island it's most certainly waaaaay over hyped.

caustic 1 · 13-05-2014 12:56PM

obezyana wrote: »

Interesting fact I found out about a place in NI........ The Giants Causeway, its the biggest load of ****e iv seen on this island it's most certainly waaaaay over hyped.

Totally agree, went to see it years ago and thought there has to be more to it than this. But nope 50p shaped rocks leading into sea is it.

onlyme! · 13-05-2014 05:52PM

obezyana wrote: »

Interesting fact I found out about a place in NI........ The Giants Causeway, its the biggest load of ****e iv seen on this island it's most certainly waaaaay over hyped.

I think someone once said worth seeing but not worth travelling to see!

for the last 50 million years give or take a year, it was free to view, now i think there's some kind of charge to park!

For Forks Sake · 13-05-2014 06:25PM

Jimminism wrote: »

Derryman checking in.

Only been down south once for a GAA game and seen a group of kids being called a bunch of Nordies for crossing a road too early in front of a hideous inbred 40 year old chav from Dublin.

Around half of the cars I see here in Derry are from the Republic. If only they would say half of the snidey comments they say on these boards to my Catholic friends face they would see how stupid nationalism is. It's taken me 25 years to even concern myself with the Republic of Ireland to join this board. You are insignificant to us. I genuinely don't know a single nationalist who is friends with a person from the Republic. From reading these boards and the comments on your newspaper articles you come across as an even lower-class form of a Daily Mail reader.

My view of the people from the Republic is that they are extremely insecure. They fawn over Britain more than even the Loyalists here in the North do. You also seem to think you're funnier than you actually are and I'd be willing to bet you'd see 100x more fights/scumbags in Dublin than in Belfast.

You went to Dundalk didn't you?

You're more than welcome to take that place back with you, we don't want it either.

obezyana · 13-05-2014 06:25PM

onlyme! wrote: »

I think someone once said worth seeing but not worth travelling to see!

for the last 50 million years give or take a year, it was free to view, now i think there's some kind of charge to park!

Yeah that's true if your out that way then go have a look but if not it's not worth the drive. The car park can be used only if you are going through the visitor centre and its pricey enough as far as I know it's around 16 pound. There is another car park just 2mins walk down the hill and it's 6 pound to park.

orangesoda · 13-05-2014 10:50PM

obezyana wrote: »

Interesting fact I found out about a place in NI........ The Giants Causeway, its the biggest load of ****e iv seen on this island it's most certainly waaaaay over hyped.

Dunluce castle is a quare place though, good for cross community relations as well, the McQuillans and McDonalds were both Irish-Scot clans, there is even a catchy song about it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqXQZTskFmQ

Richard · 13-05-2014 11:25PM

The most interesting fact about this article is that its title spells Northern Ireland using the Scots (not Ulster Scots) spelling:

http://sco.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northren_Ireland

What is the most interesting fact about Northren Ireland that you didn't know?

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