Discount Hotels Belfast
Historical interest: Belfast
    
Ireland's first settlers touched down near modern-day Belfast around 9,000
years ago. The province of Ulster was established by Iron Age Celts, who controlled
Ireland for 1,000 years. This Celtic calm was shattered in 795 by the Vikings
and then the English in 1169. Ulster became the focus of Irish opposition to
English rule, until it became the target of English colonisation known as Plantation
in the 17th century.
The simmering resentment between the Catholics and Protestants boiled over
in 1641, with the murder of an estimated 10,000 Protestants. The psychological
trauma of this event still haunts Ireland's Protestant population today, while
Ireland's Catholic population still regard Cromwell as an equally lasting symbol
of dread.
Ulster became increasingly separated from the South, isolated by geography,
religion and industrialisation. While Ireland's population was decimated by
the Potato Famine and mass emigration to the US, Belfast's population soared
from around 20,000 in 1800 to 350,000 by the end of the century. As the only
Irish city to experience the Industrial Revolution, Belfast became known for
its shipyards and linen industry. Belfast was granted city status in 1888 by
Queen Victoria.
After the Irish War of Independence, the partition of Ireland raised Belfast's
status as capital of Northern Ireland. Sectarian tensions increased however,
until 1968 when civil rights marches and subsequent violence erupted. Violence
continued until 1998, when the Good Friday Agreement was signed, signalling
a way forward for the faltering peace process in Northern Ireland. With relative
stability since then, Belfast has recently been re-vitalised by investments
from the EU and Britain.
Selection of hotels in this region:
Days Hotel Belfast | | Travelodge Belfast Central | | Malmaison Belfast | | Ramada Belfast | | Radisson SAS Belfast | | Stormont Hotel | | Europa Belfast | | Culloden Hotel | | Jurys Belfast Inn | | Holiday Inn Belfast | | Hilton Belfast | |
Click below for a
full list of hotels and online booking
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