Northern Ireland - how do you perceive it?

[TheBelleOfBelfastCity]

Genuinely just curious. I was born and raised in NI, opinions on MN seem to vary wildly from no go zone to friendly and welcoming. Trying to got a sense of what the most common thoughts are.

Have you visited? Maybe even thought about doing so? What was your opinion?

Exactly, nor working class Protestant children. I can't imagine there's many kids in Methody growing up with painted kerbstones or murals of any description. I used to work across the street and the standout feature was that the students' cars were nicer than the teachers'.

It's great that mixed schools like that exist but it's disingenuous to pretend it's the norm.

Methody is fabulous but this year it was the hardest school in NI to get into- so the brightest of the bright, and while I am sure there are some less well off students it is very much the minority. Unbeaten though for cultural diversity.

Yes it's a fabulous school, it may well be where we end up aiming for our own DC (too young to know yet), but it's not typical by any means.

She'll have a fantastic time. I think it's still the case that huge numbers of students go home at weekends but it didn't take long before I started being invited with them and I got to know loads more of NI, not just Belfast.

Well they're not exactly wrong. Northern Ireland isn't a separate country. Region or province is more accurate.

What are you talking about? Of course they are different countries! Different heads of state, currency, education system, heath care to name a few!
The ignorance of some people is totally shocking!

Just back last night from a lovely few days there. We had 1 night in Belfast which was fab (except for the rain) then hired a campervan and did the coastal route to do all the touristy things.

Stunning country, as someone said before I was surprised at the number of UK/England flags in the villages. Most people were lovely, no one was unpleasant and we never felt unwelcome. However, as someone from the north east of England it did make me laugh when I was asked in one coffee shop if I was Welsh or Scottish!

I have to say though, Belfast International was a shit show coming home, never been to such a shambolic airport

The international airport is woeful - I agree!! We avoid it at all costs and instead pay extra to fly out of Belfast City or just drive the 2 hours down to Dublin Airport

It's brilliant!

I love the coastline, the architecture, the trees, the Arts, the museums. I even love the light.😍😍😍

I am biased because I live here. It's changed massively since the 90s, I'm so glad my DC's experience growing up here is so different to my own. I avoid places with loads of flags but they're a handy signifier that you're probably unwelcome. Takes the confusion out of things.😁

This pp you are quoting was referring to NI not being a separate country to the UK (so same education, currency etc). Although that was later debated further down the thread referencing that Wales, Scotland and England are separate countries whilst also being park of the UK.

I know it can be confusing but NI is part of the UK (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to give the full name).
Four countries - three (England, Scotland and Wales make up Great Britain) then Northern Ireland is the fourth.

It’s not helped when we do international sport sometimes as separate nations. Sometimes as GB - and I think but I may be wrong Northern Ireland athletes compete with Team GB hence more confusion.

People from NI can opt to compete for either the UK or Ireland, usually the choice is made based on funding and opportunity rather than identity.

Unfortunately the UK label their Olympic team Team GB rather than Team UK, but it is the UK team not just the team for Great Britain.

Thank you I thought it was a UK team and the GB is just “branding”.
I wasn’t aware of the choice thing but it makes sense.

I went in 86 on day trip from the Republic and there were lots of soldiers - I was very scared. I went again a few years ago and it was lovely to drive over with no border. Beautiful countryside in the north east too but I was really shocked at the lack of train routes. Apparently there were quite a few train lines in NI years ago - pre Troubles, but for some reason they were built over.
Hopefully that will change again.

DH is from NI. Left at 18 and never returned. He never really discusses the history with the kids so I'm the one mentioning it to them. They were fascinated watching Derry girls when they all got off the bus due to the bomb warning. I tried to get DS to consider QUB but DH was against it as he's not convinced it's changed (I believe otherwise).
Anyway I enjoy it when I go but then I never lived through the troubles there.
Couple of observations -
Beaches are lovely
So are the pubs
What is it with the vertical blinds in the windows - can always tell an NI house on TV
Might just be my in laws but definitely a tendency to make sure you have the right clothes labes/cars/house decor.

, that’s a very outdated and false idea. Methody for example is the most religiously mixed in the country yet as a school it is not formally integrated - things just happen organically.

Methodist college is one school in one town. Where I live all the catholic schools state in their website they are a catholic school.

Where I live all the catholic schools state in their website they are a catholic school.

Schools do that lots of places though, don't they? I know they do in ROI anyway.

We are seriously lacking any type of public transport outside the cities

My nearest town is Ballymoney, takes over an hour on the train to Belfast - 35/40 mins in the car. I can get to work by train - 30 mins , but have to come home by bus and two changes taking 1hr 30 and still need to drive out to home

Being a single track the train you are wanting - be it to Derry/Londonderry or Belfast, has to sit at the station waiting on the one coming the opposite direction to pull in to clear the line

But I can attest that the Coleraine to Derry/Londonderry train journey really is one of the most beautiful in the world.

I work at the Port and talk to visitors from all over the world daily and they all remark on the beauty and the friendliness. Im often asked how it has been being English and living here and Im honest and say it has had its challenges, that a good sense of humour really helps and not to be too offended with the blanket hatred of English . I was chatting just yesterday about the pit falls of trying to watch a match - Rugby or Football in the pub , and me saying I support all teams - N.Ireland, Ireland and England, whereas the peeps of N.Ireland would support a team of Nazi paedos over England any day ( this was to NI people who totally agreed ) But have I ever felt unsafe? No.. Myself personally have always felt welcomed but then I live rural in a very mixed community - although all the villages do have two schools and the Catholic kids do go to such and such secondary/grammer and the prods go to others

My granddaughter is going through integrated primary schooling , her parents are mixed, but secondary school is looming and choices will have to be made because the secondary mixed is crap in their area

If you have the money to not live in the areas that are flag flying then tbh it passes you by. You dont see it, you arent seeing the undercurrents which are undeniably there

Does that not stem from their funding source and governing body though? Grant-maintained vs Controlled.
The Catholic schools do state that they subscribe to a Catholic ethos and practise Catholic instruction. In application forms I'm fairly certain parents have to confirm that the child and family are Catholic. I don't think they have to prove it though.
I don't know how it works when it comes to admission of non-Catholic students, for I'm certain there are non-Catholics in the various very in-demand Catholic grammar schools. Do they have some written policy which allows them to not admit non-Catholics and avoid claims of discrimination?

If schools aren't already established as integrated, they have to apply for integrated status.
On the surface of it, looking at admissions criteria schools seem to be able to set their own percentages for the C/P/other split. For some, it's 35/35/30, others are 45/45/10.

I only know how it works in ROI, not NI.
In ROI the child or family's religion is no longer allowed as a criterion for entry to a Catholic school.
(That's because the majority of schools are still Catholic, at primary level anyway - which is up to age 12 or 13 here.)

Anyone can go to a Catholic school. But certainly in Belfast very few Protestants actually do. It is actually a bone of contention of mine in relation to grammar places. Catholics children happily go to any of the grammars and the non catholic grammars make a big fuss about welcoming everyone but this is not reciprocated.

The use of the term 'troubles' really pisses me off. It was a civil war.

'Sorry for your troubles' means 'sorry for your bereavement' though. It's usually said as a condolence at funerals, so there is a weightier element to the word 'troubles' as used in Ireland.

That said, WW2 was referred to as 'The Emergency ', which makes it sound rather different to the reality of it too.

Visited two years ago and can't wait to go back. The natives were the friendliest most welcoming people I've ever met. Made Glasgow look positively hostile in comparison! I thought it was absolutely lovely