Culture of Ulster

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The flag of the Province of Ulster is often flown in Gaelic Athletic Association contexts

Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland. Due to large-scale plantations of people from Scotland and England during the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as decades of conflict in the 20th, Ulster has a unique culture, quite different from the rest of Ireland.[citation needed] As all of Northern Ireland lies within Ulster and comprises about 90% of its population, the culture of Northern Ireland is very similar to that of the whole of Ulster. In particular, the Ulster Scots, or Scots Irish identity is strong among descendants of the Plantation, notably in counties Antrim, Cavan, Donegal, and Down. There is also a thriving indigenous Gaelic culture, largely attributed to the GAA and Conradh na Gaeilge.

## Languages

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Ulster English is the English-based dialect of most people in Ulster, including those in the two main cities. It represents a cross-over area between Ulster Scots and Hiberno-English. The dialect is currently encroaching on the Ulster Scots area, especially in the Belfast commuter belt, and may eventually consume it. Ulster Scots, also known as Ullans, Hiberno-Scots, or Scots-Irish, refers to the variety of Scots spoken in parts of Ulster.

Ulster Irish is the dialect of the Irish language spoken in Ulster. The only county in Ulster to include Gaeltacht regions today is County Donegal, so that the term Donegal Irish is often used synonymously. Because of historical connections with Ulster, the southern dialects of Scottish Gaelic and Manx share similarities with Ulster Irish.

Polish and Lithuanian are the most common foreign languages in Ulster.[1][2][3][4]

## Sport

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Ulster Rugby represents the province in the European Rugby Champions. Gaelic football  GAA where teams play for county and all Ireland.

## Food and drink

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A dish from Ulster is the Ulster fry, usually served at breakfast. Also across Ulster dishes are found containing seafood, especially salmon and trout from County Donegal and County Down.

A popular soft drink in Derry, parts of County Londonderry and parts of County Tyrone, as well as across County Donegal, is McDaid's Football Special, which is made in Ramelton.[5]

A famous ice cream made in Ulster is Morelli's, which is made near Portrush. Mullin's Icecream, made near Kilrea in the east of County Londonderry, is another famous Ulster icecream. In the south east of the province, Newry boasts 'Timoney's' ice cream on Canal Street, Warrenpoint has the famed 'Genoa' and Rathfriland on the hill is fortunate to host Graham's.

A well-known sweet made in Ulster is Yellow Man, while a famous confectionery company is Oatfield Sweets Ltd., who were previously based in Letterkenny in County Donegal. Oatfield, who were founded in 1927, were particularly famous[citation needed] for producing the Emerald sweet.

## Music

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### Song

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Ulster Irish or Donegal Irish is exclusive to Ulster. Ulster Irish is very different, as is the old style of prose and songwriting.[citation needed] Whereas in other parts of Ireland songs tend to be structured, in Ulster songs are wider ranging in style.[citation needed] Counties Donegal and Antrim are well known for songs of speed, much like Donegal fiddle playing. It is unique in the sean-nós traditional in both tempo and in wording and is often more free in structure and ornamentation.[citation needed]

Notable Ulster singers and songwriters by historical area*:

* Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh – Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal
* Moya Brennan – Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal
* Sarah Makem – Keady, County Armagh

* Historical area refers to the period of the traditional music the artist is known best for singing.

### Fiddle

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Ulster fiddle playing is distinct from the rest of Ireland in that it has been greatly influenced from neighbouring Scotland, in particular the Hebrides.[citation needed]

## See also

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* Irish traditional music
* Irish language
* Ulster-Scots
* Scotch-Irish Americans
* Scotch-Irish Canadians

## References

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1. ^ "Northern Ireland: Census Profile". Migration Observatory.
2. ^ "Census 2011 - Area Profile for County Donegal" (PDF).
3. ^ "Census 2011 - Area Profile for County Cavan" (PDF).
4. ^ "Census 2011 - Area Profile for County Monaghan" (PDF).
5. ^ "McDaid's Football Special". Where's Grandad. Archived from the original on 9 February 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2012.

## External links

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* BBC Nations History of Ireland
* The British Isles Independent view of Ireland and the UK
* Inconvenient Peripheries Ethnic Identity and the United Kingdom Estate The cases of "Protestant Ulster" and Cornwall’ by prof Philip Payton
* Mercator Atlas of Europe Map of Ireland ("Irlandia") circa 1564