Northern Ireland is both British and Irish and at the same time different. It's is part of the United Kingdom. The currency is the pound. Road signs are in miles. Weight is measured in stone. Northern Ireland shares an island and cultural heritage with the Republic of Ireland. It's steeped in tradition. It was mired in religious conflict for 35 years to 1998. Northern Ireland is packed with surprises. It's a land of dramatic landscapes - blue mountains, windswept moors and rugged coastline. It's home to the walled city of Derry and bustling capital of Belfast. It's a place of leprechauns, giants, clans and St. Patrick.
Online maps are a great travel planning resource and a great way to get the kids involved in a family vacation. Use online maps to pinpoint your family travel destination and get a lay of the land. Use interactive maps of Northern Ireland to locate a city, street or attraction and create an itinerary.
Books are a great way to introduce young children to a new adventure and get teens and tweens ready for a family trip. We've compiled a list of books about the Emerald Isle and books by Irish authors for children of various ages and with varying interests. Find classics, adventure stories, historical novels and Irish myths. Discover books by modern authors and classic writers including Eoin Colfer, Roddy Doyle, James Joyce, Oscar Wilde and Bram Stoker. What better why to begin a journey that a trip through literature?
Read Northern Ireland newspapers online and, in addition to brushing up on Northern Ireland current events, find out what's happening in Belfast and Derry and discover what the Irish Brits are reading about. There's a wealth of insight in the newspaper as well as listings of local happenings.
Associations and non-profit organizations can be a valuable resource as well as a means to get involved. Learn about a few of the organizations working to preserve Northern Ireland's national treasures.