Full of magical green landscapes and charming fairytale towns, Ireland is definitely worth traveling to in 2020. The perfect Ireland itinerary includes both the Republic of Ireland, where you’ll find tourist destinations such as Dublin, the Dingle Peninsula, Galway, and the Cliffs of Moher, and Northern Ireland, home to Belfast, the Giant’s Causeway, and several filming locations of the hit HBO show Game of Thrones. Read on to learn about the main differences between Northern Ireland the Republic that you should know before you travel.

Northern Ireland Is Part Of The United Kingdom; The Republic Is Part Of Europe

A fact that locals in Ireland think travelers should know before visiting is that Northern Ireland the Republic are two different countries. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom along with England, Scotland, and Wales, while the Republic of Ireland is an independent sovereign state that is part of the European Union.

Ireland was merged with Great Britain in 1801, at a time when Britain was at war with France. However, the Irish War of Independence, which took place between 1919 and 1921, resulted in the island being split. The Republic of Ireland became an independent state while Northern Ireland remained part of the United Kingdom.

The local’s guide to the differences between Northern Ireland the Republic which was published on The Irish Road Trip explains that this has led to several differences between the two. The head of the Republic of Ireland is the Irish Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, while the head of Northern Ireland is the British monarch, Elizabeth II. The two countries each have their own capital city, with Dublin in the Republic and Belfast in Northern Ireland.

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The Currency Is Different, Although There’s Some Flexibility

One difference between the Republic and Northern Ireland that can sometimes catch out tourists traveling to both is the varying currency. The official currency in the Republic is the Euro, while in Northern Ireland, the Pound Sterling is used. If you’re going to be traveling to both, it’s a good idea to have both currencies on hand.

That said, there is a certain amount of flexibility with this. In Northern Ireland, you will find that some establishments still accept Euros, so it’s not always the end of the world if you don’t have any British pounds on you. Still, to be safe, it’s best to have both currencies when traveling to both countries.

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There Are Far More Counties In The Republic

Another difference between the two countries is the size, with the Republic being much larger. There are 32 countries in the Republic of Ireland, spanning across 27,133 square miles and home to 4.8 million people. By comparison, Northern Ireland stretches across 5,460 square miles, consisting of only six counties and 1.8 million people.

Although there are more counties to visit in the Republic, Northern Ireland is still home to several enticing tourist destinations including the Giant’s Causeway in County Antrim, Lough Neagh, which is the largest lake on the island, and the historic cities of Belfast and Derry.

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There Are A Few Cultural, Political, And Linguistic Differences

Aside from being two different countries, Northern Ireland the Republic of Ireland also have several cultural, political, and linguistic differences between them. Although Christianity is the prominent religion on the entire island, the dominant denomination in Northern Ireland is Protestantism while in the Republic it’s Catholicism.

Politically, there’s not a lot of visible division in the Republic, while in Northern Ireland, there is a clear divide between Nationalists and Unionists, or those who push for Irish independence and those in favor of Northern Ireland remaining part of the United Kingdom. Visit cities like Belfast and you’ll notice colorful political murals highlighting the beliefs on both sides.

In terms of language, English and Irish are spoken in both countries. However, in Northern Ireland, the dialect is known as Ullans, which is a variant of Scots, is recognized as being culturally significant. Foreigners might also notice that the Northern Irish accent has a slightly different sound due to influences from Scotland and England.

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