Culture of Northern Ireland

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The Culture of Northern Ireland relates to the traditions of Northern Ireland and its resident communities.

Elements of the culture of Ireland, the culture of Ulster and the culture of the United Kingdom are to be found.

1 Heritage
2 Food and drink
3 Media
4 Languages
5 Sport
6 Arts
7 Songs
8 Symbolism and traditions
9 See also
10 External links

[edit] Heritage

Since 1998 the Ulster Museum, Armagh Museum, Ulster Folk and Transport Museum and the Ulster American Folk Park have been administered by MAGNI (National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland).

The Linen Hall Library, the oldest library in Belfast, has endured many changes of fortune since its foundation in 1788, but has maintained a vision of providing access to literature and local studies to the population at large.

[edit] Food and drink

Ulster fry

The best known traditional dish in Northern Ireland is the Ulster fry. It is similar to an Irish or Full English breakfast, but with the unique addition of soda farls and potato bread. Northern Ireland's best known chefs are Paul Rankin, Robbie Millar and Michael Deane.

[edit] Media

Several people from Northern Ireland have become prominent in the media, these include:

Andrea Catherwood, born in Belfast, weekend newsreader of ITN news broadcasts
Eamonn Holmes, born in Belfast, television presenter and Sky News presenter
Gloria Hunniford, born in Portadown, television and radio presenter
Caron Keating, daughter of Gloria Hunniford, television presenter, particularly remembered for presenting role in Blue Peter
Zoe Salmon, born in Bangor, another Blue Peter presenter and former Miss Northern Ireland
Mark Simpson (BBC journalist), Northern Ireland-born journalist who is currently the BBC's North of England reporter

See related article: List of Northern Irish people

[edit] Languages

The brand identity of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland as shown on this sign is displayed in English, Irish and Ulster Scots

There are two recognised regional languages in Northern Ireland: the Irish language (see Irish language in Northern Ireland) and the local variety of Scots known as Ulster Scots [1]. British and Irish sign languages have been recognised since 29 March 2004.

Chinese is now the second most widely spoken language in Northern Ireland, with Urdu, Portuguese, Polish and Czech also significant minority languages.

[edit] Sport

Some team sports are played on an all-Ireland basis, while in others Northern Ireland fields its own team. See Sport in Ireland

Belfast Giants
Gaelic football
Milk Cup International youth football competition held in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
Royal Portrush Golf Club
Ulster Rugby

Internationally well-known sports people:

[edit] Arts

[edit] Literature

Poetry by Robert McAdam (1808-1895) in paving, Writers' Square, Belfast

Despite its small geographical size, Northern Ireland prolifically produces internationally renowned writers and poets from a wide variety of disciplines. Irish language literature was the predominant literature in the pre-Plantation period. The Ulster Cycle is pertinent to the history of literature in the territory of present-day Northern Ireland. Ulster-Scots literature first followed models from Scotland, with the rhyming weavers, such as James Orr, developing an indigenous tradition of vernacular literature. Writers in Northern Ireland participated in the Gaelic Revival.

[edit] Visual arts

For a full list, see List of Northern Irish artists. Here are just a few examples:

Bogside Artists
Basil Blackshaw, born in Glengormley, Painter
Max Clendinning, post-modernist architect and interior designer
John T. Davis, Documentary filmmaker
Willie Doherty, Photographer & video artist twice nominated for the Turner Prize
Garth Ennis, born in Holywood Co. Down, is creator of popular Vertigo series Preacher
Terry George, born in Co. Down, director of Hotel Rwanda
John Kindness, Painter and Sculptor
Sir John Lavery, born in Belfast, was a representative of the group known as the Irish Impressionists.
Eilís O'Connell, Sculptor, born in Derry, County Londonderry.
Neil Shawcross, painter
Victor Sloan, Photographer
Hans Sloane, Born in Killyleagh, Co. Down, in 1660, his famous collection was opened to the public as the British Museum in 1759
John Butler Yeats, Painter

[edit] Performing arts

Ulster Hall, Belfast, is a venue for concerts and performance.

[edit] Music

[edit] Songs

Among traditional songs are The Sash and A Londonderry Air also known as Danny Boy.

The Town I Loved So Well

[edit] Symbolism and traditions

There is no longer an official Flag of Northern Ireland, as the 'Northern Ireland Flag' was abolished along with the Parliament of Northern Ireland in 1972. Unionists tend to use the Union flag and sometimes the Flag of Northern Ireland, while nationalists usually use the Flag of Ireland, or sometimes the Flag of Ulster. Both sides also occasionally use the flags of secular and religious organizations they belong to. Some groups, including the Irish Rugby Football Union and the Church of Ireland use the Flag of St. Patrick as a symbol of Ireland which lacks the same nationalist or unionist connotations.

The flax flower, representing the linen industry, has been used as a neutral symbol - as for the Northern Ireland Assembly.

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by both nationalists and unionists, and while Belfast City Council has refused to provide any funding for the city's annual parade to date, they have promised to do so for 2006.

Celebrations to mark the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne are held every Twelfth of July and draw huge crowds. The Apprentice Boys of Derry also organise commemorative events. The bowler hat is a symbol of Orangeism.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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Category: Northern Irish culture