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From 1972 until the present, Belfast has had an Assembly and been ruled directly from London, represented by a Secretary of State. Current Peace Process attempts have centered, among numerous other things, on the return of local, autonomous, governance to the province, as has recently been granted to both the Scottish and Welsh Parliaments. Click on the Northern Ireland map for a more detailed view. |
Northern Ireland is comprised of six counties in the Ulster, or north-northeastern, region of the island of Ireland. It is a province of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, akin to Scotland and Wales, governed by the London-based Westminster Parliament until 1921. At this time the Republic of Ireland gained independence from Great Britain and the Parliament of Northern Ireland was created. The Parliament was dissolved by Westminster in 1972 following massive political and social unrest, commonly referred to as the Troubles. |
