Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is the smallest component of the UK. It occupies northeast of the island of Ireland, only one-sixth of its territory. Northern Ireland contains six of the nine counties of the historic province of Ulster and that is why the name “Ulster” is sometimes used as equivalent to Northern Ireland. Its capital city is Belfast.

For seven centuries Ireland was a colony of Britain. Due to the colonial policy of British imperialists the Irish nation was forcefully partitioned. As a result of hard struggle of the Irish people for independence the larger part of Ireland (26 counties) gained the status of a British dominion in 1921. Much later, in 1949 it was officially proclaimed an independent state, the Irish Free State of Eire. The industrial northeast (Northern Ireland with its 6 counties) was retained by Great Britain as its smallest component. But the progressive forces of both the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland are for the reunification of the country.

If one asks an Irishman away from home what he misses most about Ireland, he will probably tell you “the greenness”. Irish poets put it in a different way when they call Ireland “ the Emerald Isle ”. Is the grass really greener in Ireland? The fact is that the winds usually blow in from the Atlantic Ocean and make the air and soil warm and damp. Grass grows well in such a climate and it makes the island look so beautiful.

There are low hills and peaks of rocks in the northwest, while the northeast sector of the island is a plateau. The Mourne Mountains in the southeast slope down to Lough Neagh, the largest lake in the British Isles. The rivers of Ireland are short, but deep. The largest river is the Shannon.

The population of Northern Ireland is about 1.5 million people. 53 per cent of the total population live in urban areas. The whole economy of Northern Ireland is closely integrated with that of Great Britain. It has its roots in three basic industries – agriculture, textiles and shipbuilding. The largest industry is agriculture conducted for the most part on small family farms. It occupies about 72 per cent of the land area.

Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland is the leading industrial centre and a large port. Its chief industries are the production of linen and other textiles, clothing, shipbuilding, engineering.

Ulster [Λlstə] – Ольстер (историческая область на севере о-ва Ирландия; большая ее часть после раскола страны в 1921г. была включена в качестве автономной провинции в состав Соединенного королевства как Северная Ирландия)

Irish [΄airi∫] -ирландский

Dominion [də΄minjən] – доминион (название стран Британской империи, формально суверенных и имевших равные права с Великобританией, фактически находившихся в разной степени политической и экономической зависимости; признавали в качестве главы государства британского монарха)

Eire [΄εərə] – Эйре (другое название Ирландской Республики)

the Emerald Isle [΄emərəld΄ail] – Изумрудный остров (так называют Ирландию из-за ярко-зеленого цвета растительности, особенно травы)

The Mourne Mountains [΄mo:n΄mauntinz] – горы Морн

Lough Neagh [΄lok΄nei] – озеро Лох Ней в Северной Ирландии

the Shannon [΄∫ænən] – река Шеннон