Northern Ireland

noun

1. a political division of the United Kingdom, in the NE part of the island of Ireland. 5,238 sq. mi. (13,565 sq. km). : Belfast.

Northern Ireland

noun

1. that part of the United Kingdom occupying the NE part of Ireland: separated from the rest of Ireland, which became independent in law in 1920; remained part of the United Kingdom, with a separate Parliament (Stormont), inaugurated in 1921, and limited self-government; scene of severe conflict between Catholics and Protestants, including terrorist bombing from 1969; direct administration from Westminster from 1972; assembly and powersharing executive established in 1998–99 following the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, suspended in 2002, and reinstated 2007. Capital: Belfast. Pop: 1 702 628 (2003 est). Area: 14 121 sq km (5452 sq miles)

Northern Ireland

1. Political division of the United Kingdom , located in northeastern Ireland . ( See Ulster .)

Notes

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) , a nationalist organization dedicated to the unification of Ireland, has staged terrorist attacks on British troops in Northern Ireland, as well as other random terrorist attacks in Britain.

Demands for equal civil and economic rights by the Catholic minority, beginning in the late 1960s, led to a renewal of violence between Catholics and Protestants.

Northern Ireland was created in 1920, when Britain established separate parliaments for the parts of Ireland dominated by Protestants and by Roman Catholics . The Protestant portion remained in union with Britain.

A peace accord reached on Good Friday, 1998, provided for the restoration of home rule, which Britain had suspended in 1972 when it assumed direct control of Northern Ireland. By the terms of this accord, both Britain and the Republic of Ireland agreed to give up their constitutional claims on Northern Ireland. Voters in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland approved the accord later in 1998. The failure of the IRA to disarm threw this accord into jeopardy until recently. There is now reasonable hope for a settlement.

Example Sentences

There were stories of distant strife, in Bosnia, Rwanda, and Northern Ireland, and those stories had the whiff of a different era.

From The Daily Beast

I met a girl on holiday in a caravan park—which you guys call a trailer park—and she was from Northern Ireland.

From The Daily Beast

The peace process in Northern Ireland is a monument to American diplomacy.

From The Daily Beast

After nearly three years of legal battles, last fall several other interviews were handed over to the police in Northern Ireland.

From The Daily Beast

Hearing, Committee on Foreign Affairs—“The Northern Ireland Peace Process Today: Attempting to Deal with the Past”

From The Daily Beast

Philip was yet to send an armada against her coasts; he was again to stir up a fierce revolt in northern Ireland.

From Project Gutenberg

Some especial influence certainly has modified Northern Ireland's action, nature, and life.

From Project Gutenberg

An English drummer once instructed me during a railroad journey from southern to northern Ireland.

From Project Gutenberg

Winter twilight was drawing on when we sighted land—Northern Ireland it was.

From Project Gutenberg

All Americans can be proud that our leadership helped to bring peace in Northern Ireland.

From Project Gutenberg