Culture of Northern Ireland

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.

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Heritage

Since 1998 the Ulster Museum, Armagh Museum, Ulster Folk and Transport Museum and the Ulster American Folk Park have been administered by the 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.

Food and drink

The best known traditional dish in Northern Ireland is the Ulster fry. It is similar to the full Irish breakfast and full English breakfast, but with the unique addition of soda farls and potato bread. Northern Ireland's best known chefs are Paul Rankin and Michael Deane. The 'Ulster Fry' is served in many places in County Donegal as well.

A popular soft drink in Derry and West Tyrone is McDaid's Football Special, which is produced in neighbouring County Donegal.

Languages

English is the most spoken language in Northern Ireland. There are also 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] Northern Ireland Sign Language (known as British Sign Language to many) and Irish Sign Language have been recognised since 29 March 2004.[2][3]

As of the 2001 Census, Chinese is the most widely spoken minority language in Northern Ireland, with Shelta, Arabic and Portuguese also spoken by a significant number of people.[1] Since the census however, an influx of people from recent EU accession states is likely to have significantly increased numbers of speakers of languages from these countries. Detailed figures on these changes are as yet unavailable.[1]

Sport

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

Internationally well-known sports people:

Arts

Literature

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 the counties which now form Northern Ireland participated in the Gaelic Revival.

Visual arts

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

Performing arts

Music

Craft

August Craft Month is an annual coordinated programme of events that showcase the work of craft makers in Northern Ireland and from across the United Kingdom, Ireland and Europe.It is organised by Craft Northern Ireland [4]

Songs

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

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 Ulster Banner, 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, while "The Twelfth" is celebrated only by unionists.

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.

See also

References

External links