Belfast is a city and seaport located in eastern Northern Ireland along the Lagan River at the head of Belfast Lough. The city is one hundred fifteen square kilometers and has a population of 279,240. It is the capital of Northern Ireland and is a major industrial and commercial center. Belfast is not the typical vision of Ireland with lush green hills and fields. It is an urban area known for its shipbuilding and linen production. Other notable industry includes aircraft, guided weapons, tobacco, and food products.
A few noteworthy places in Belfast are Ulster Museum (1890) and the Protestant Cathedral of Saint Anne. Queen's University of Belfast (1845), Belfast College of Technology (1901), and Union Theological College (1978) are the major educational institutions located in Belfast.
There is evidence that the region known today as Belfast was inhabited as early as the Stone Age, but the official founding was in 1177 when a Norman castle was erected. When Edward Bruce ascended the Irish Throne in 1315 he destroyed the settlement. The province of Ulster, in which Belfast is located, was a major site Irish discontent with English rule until the English opened the province to colonization. Many Protestants moved to the area creating a majority. When Ireland gained independence from English rule, Northern Ireland chose not to follow which created a partitioned island. Since October 1968 Northern Ireland has been a difficult to place to live because of fighting between Catholic and Protestant groups.
For more information on the Troubles go to
Northern Ireland from time.com
Sources:
"Belfast," Microsoft® Encarta® Encyclopedia 2000. © 1993-1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
History of Belfast from lonelyplanet.com
