What does Northern Ireland have to do with the United Kingdom of Great Britain?

Answer 1

BRITAIN is an island, on which are found England, Scotland and Wales. Round its coasts are a number of other islands - the Isle of Wight, the Scottish Isles and so on - and this collection of islands is Great Britain. Ireland is a separate land mass. Until Irish independence, the British monarchs ruled over the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. When Ireland finally managed to break away, six counties in the North remained loyal to the United Kingdom, which then became the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

There is another anomaly, the Channel Islands, which are closer to France than to England, and constitute all that remains for the Duchy of Normandy: they are ruled by the Crown, but not part of either the UK or of Great Britain.

Answer 2

England, Scotland and Wales are on the island of Great Britain. Northern Ireland is on the neighbouring island of Ireland. Northern Ireland, along with England, Scotland and Wales form the United Kingdom.

Answer 3

In 1921 a treaty was signed giving independence to what today would be known as the Republic of Ireland, and also creating Northern Ireland. This was because Protestants in that part of Ireland, wanted Northern Ireland to remain a part of the UK. Centuries beforehand, the ancestors of many of these people had been settled in that part of Ireland by the British, starting a long connection to Britain and the wish to remain part of the United Kingdom.

Answer 4

Northern Ireland, along with Wales, England and Scotland form the United Kingdom.