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Andrew Hurley CC BY-SA 2.0
Belfast port information

Fattonyni CC BY-SA 4.0

Belfast (from Irish: Béal Feirste, meaning "rivermouth of the sandbanks")is the capital of Northern Ireland, which is the north east corner of the island of Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom.  If you are not sure of the difference between UK, British Isles, Ireland and Northern Island, etc., you can brush up here.  Belfast has played a major role in the ship building industry and was where the Titanic was built.

Belfast on the River Lagan was granted city status by Queen Victoria in 1888.  Belfast was a centre of the Irish linen, tobacco-processing, rope-making and shipbuilding industries: in the early 20th century, Harland and Wolff, which built the RMS Titanic, was the world´s biggest and most productive shipyard.  Belfast played a key role in the Industrial Revolution, and was a global industrial centre until the latter half of the 20th century.  It has sustained a major aerospace and missiles industry since the mid 1930s.  Today, Belfast remains a centre for industry, as well as the arts, higher education, business, and law, and is the economic engine of Northern Ireland.

The city suffered greatly during the Troubles, but lately has undergone a sustained period of calm, free from the intense political violence of former years, and substantial economic and commercial growth. Additionally, Belfast city centre has undergone considerable expansion and regeneration in recent years, notably around Victoria Square.

Belfast has been the capital of Northern Ireland since its establishment in 1921 following the Government of Ireland Act 1920.  It had been the scene of various episodes of sectarian conflict between its Catholic and Protestant populations.  These opposing groups in this conflict are now often termed republican and loyalist (loyal to the union i.e. UK) respectively, although they are also loosely referred to as nationalist and unionist.  The most recent example of this conflict was known as the Troubles, a civil conflict that raged from around 1969 to 1998.

The last few years have seen Belfast emerge from a turbulent past, and shake off its reputation as a troubled city.  For years it was off the tourist scene, but now it´s firmly established itself as a destination worthy of a mini break, with bars, museums and sights to rival many a European city.  With a surge of hip new restaurant openings (and a couple of Michelin stars), there´s never been a better time for excellent food in the city.

link description
www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Belfast/@54.624565,-5.9578519,11547/ Belfast, (at Langelin not the Freeport terminal.)
www.gpsmycity.com/gps-tour-guides/belfast-2806.html Walks, Maps and Food
http://www.visitBelfast.com Tourist site & card info
http://www.newBelfasttours.com/daily-tours/Belfast-free-tour.html Walking tour
visit-belfast.com/cruise/useful-information/cruise-schedule Cruise ship information
www.whatsinport.com Belfast
www.belfastcityairport.com/ Belfast City Airport
www.belfastairport.com/ Belfast International Airport
Cruise Critics Belfast page
Princess Cruises Belfast page
Tripadvisor Belfast
www.ireland.com/ Things to do in Belfast
B/BFS225.htm BFS225, Belfast Highlights & Hillsborough Castle, Pacific Princess, 2017

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