21 Facts About Northern Ireland

1. The Bank of Northern Ireland will be issuing two new notes, including a £5 note, both made of polymer, in early 2019.

2. Northern Ireland has been named the world's Best Food Destination in 2018 at a major travel and tourism awards in London.

3. Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill says Jimmy Dunne owes him a few coffees after Republic of Ireland call up.

4. Northern Ireland has produced two world snooker champions; Alex Higgins, who won the title in 1972 and 1982, and Dennis Taylor, who won in 1985.

5. Northern Ireland has contributed several players to the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team, including Alan Dunbar and Paul Cutler who played on the victorious 2011 team in Scotland.

6. Northern Ireland has contributed more major champions in the modern era than any other European country, with three in the space of just 14 months from the US Open in 2010 to The Open Championship in 2011.

7. Since the end of the Troubles, Northern Ireland has witnessed rising numbers of tourists.

8. Northern Ireland shares both the culture of Ireland and the culture of the United Kingdom.

9. Northern Ireland is served by three airports—Belfast International near Antrim, George Best Belfast City integrated into the railway network at Sydenham in East Belfast, and City of Derry in County Londonderry.

10. Northern Ireland has underdeveloped transport infrastructure, with most infrastructure concentrated around Greater Belfast, Greater Derry and Craigavon.

11. The largest island of Northern Ireland is Rathlin, off the north Antrim coast.

12. Northern Ireland was covered by an ice sheet for most of the last ice age and on numerous previous occasions, the legacy of which can be seen in the extensive coverage of drumlins in Counties Fermanagh, Armagh, Antrim and particularly Down.

13. Northern Ireland can be simply described as "part of the UK", including by UK government offices.

14. Northern Ireland is a common law jurisdiction and its common law is similar to that in England and Wales.

15. Northern Ireland is a distinct legal jurisdiction, separate from the two other jurisdictions in the United Kingdom.

16. The Constitution of Northern Ireland was amended in 1999 to remove a claim of the "Irish nation" to sovereignty over the entire island.

17. In 1973, Northern Ireland held a referendum to determine if it should remain in the United Kingdom, or be part of a united Ireland.

18. Under the terms of the treaty, Northern Ireland would become part of the Free State unless the government opted out by presenting an address to the king, although in practice partition remained in place.

19. In many sports, the island of Northern Ireland fields a single team, a notable exception being association football.

20. Northern Ireland has historically been the most industrialised region of Ireland.

21. Northern Ireland shares a border to the south and west with the Republic of Ireland.