The answer to this question is very complex as the events which brought about Northern Ireland spans several centuries, the following links will give you the full history:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_ireland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ireland#Protestant_Ascendancy_.281691.E2.80.931801.29
But I will try to summarise it...
Henry VIII in 1536 set out to re-conquer Ireland to bring it under the control of the crown, this took nearly a century to complete and spanned the reigns of Elizabeth and James I.
From the mid 16th and into the early 17th century crown governments tried to create plantations in Laois and Offaly, Munster and Ulster. The plantations in Ulster were the most successfull.
In the 1800's the Kingdom of Ireland was merged with Kingdom of Great Britain under the Act of Union by both Irish and British parliaments.
The Home Rule bill was passed in 1910 and the thrid Home Rule Bill was passed in 1912. However the onset of World War 1 delayed the implementation of the bill.
Between 1916-1921 there was much violence and political upheaval, and in 1921 under the Government of Ireland act 6 of the 9 counties of Ulster formed Northern Ireland. The remaining 26 counties of Ireland form Sounthern Ireland.
Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, not the other way around. NI is part of the UK because the Protestants in the country, which outnumber the Catholics, vote for Northern Ireland to remain a part of the UK. That is why there have been years on conflict in the country.
The whole of the island of Ireland was in the United Kingdom from 1801 up until 1922. What is now the Republic of Ireland was given independence, after the Irish war of independence. At this point Northern Ireland was created, and remained a part of the United Kingdom. The people of the north being predominately Scottish immigrants and therefore protestants, had no wish to join the people of the south, who are predominately Catholics. Between 1969 and 1994 the I.R.A. and the Ulster paramilitaries committed atrocities against each other and innocent civilians, in what was known as the troubles. In 1994 ceasefires were called and in 1998 a peace agreement was signed. Things have been relatively peaceful in Northern Ireland since then.
All of Ireland used to be part of the UK, and some Irish people wanted to be independent, while others wanted Ireland to remain part of the UK. So after a lot of fighting, they decided that Northern Ireland would stay British, while the rest would become an independent country.
P.S. it's called the Republic of Ireland, not Southern Ireland.
The United Kingdom was originally an amalgamation of the Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland. In 1921, 5/6 of the island of Ireland became an independent country which they originally called Eire. However, the majority of the population of the province of Ulster in the northeast of the island of Ireland, elected to remain part of the United Kingdom and that situation still remains today. 'Eire' became the Republic of Ireland in 1949 and the full name of the UK is now 'The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland'.
Six counties of Northern Ireland are part of the UK. The rest of the island of Ireland is the Republic of Ireland and an independent country.
No. Kerry is in the Republic of Ireland which is not part of the UK. Only Northern Ireland is part of the UK and Kerry is not in Northern Ireland.
No, Northern Ireland is a part of the UK.
Ireland is not part of the United Kingdom. Part of the island of Ireland, known as Northern Ireland, is part of the United Kingdom, but the rest of Ireland, often referred to as the Republic of Ireland, is an independent country and is not part of the United Kingdom.
From 1801 until 1922, all of Ireland was part of the UK. In 1922 Ireland was partitioned, which for the first time created what is known as Northern Ireland. It has remained in the United Kingdom, while the rest of Ireland, now known as the Republic of Ireland, became independent.
Northern Ireland is on the island of Ireland.
The British pound, sterling. Unlike the rest of Ireland where euros are used, northern Ireland uses sterling as it is part of the UK.
There is no conflict between Northern Ireland and the UK. Northern Ireland is part of the UK. However, a minority of the population of Northern Ireland want to leave the UK and become a part of the Republic of Ireland. There has been a referendum about this in the past and the majority of the Northern Ireland people want to remain in the UK. Democracy won the day.
Northern Ireland is part of the UK so your UK visa is valid.
Only Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom. The rest of the island of Ireland, which you are referring to by the incorrect term Southern Ireland, is not part of the United Kingdom. The official name for that part of the island of Ireland is Éire or Ireland and it is also referred to as the Republic of Ireland. It is independent.
As Northern Ireland is still part of the UK; the same rules will apply.
No. Northern Ireland is part of the UK, so the visa will cover it.