Things to know: Pubs are open all day Mon-Sat 1130-2300 and Sun 1230-2200 with half an hour ‘drinking-up’ time. Pubs in Belfast often stay open Thurs-Sat until 0100. Smoking is banned in pubs and restaurants.
Regional specialties:• An Ulster fry – eggs, sausages, ham or fish with chips.
• Shellfish.
• Homemade vegetable soups.
• Irish stew.
• Dried seaweed.
Regional drinks:
•
Guinness – a dark heavy stout with a creamy head.
• Irish whiskey, often drunk along with a bottle
of stout.
•
Hilden – real ale produced at Lisburn.
NightlifeNorthern Ireland has a strong tradition for
musical entertainment, from the toe-tapping
live folk bands playing in crowded
pubs to the soulful lyrics of Van Morrison and the world-famous talent of flautist James Galway. Visitors can find something to suit, from the latest dance music in
nightclubs to
opera or
classical concerts. Traditional
Irish music in ‘singing pubs’ provides a good evening’s entertainment in many places, particularly Belfast and Londonderry. Special musical
events include the summer
Jazz and Blues Festival in Londonderry and Limavady and the October
Ards Guitar Festival held in Newtownards.
There is also a wealth of
theaters and
art galleries located in and around Belfast, including the famous
Lyric Theater, where Liam Neeson started his career. There are
summer theaters in Newcastle and Portrush, plus the
Riverside Theater at Coleraine. The
Belfast Festival at Queen’s (three weeks in November each year) is Ireland’s biggest international festival. Other main venues for
drama performances and
concerts are the
Grand Opera House,
Ulster Hall,
King’s Hall and the
Waterfront Hall (all in Belfast), the
Armagh Theater and Arts Center and the
Millennium Forum in Derry, and numerous regional theaters. Further information can be obtained from the Northern Ireland’s Arts Council’s monthly magazine
art.ie or from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (see
General Info).
Next Page »
