Belfast (from Irish: Béal Feirste, meaning “mouth of the sandbars”) is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland, as well as the second largest city on the island of Ireland. It is the seat of devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly. The city forms part of the largest urban area in Northern Ireland, and the main settlement in the province of Ulster. The city of Belfast has a population of 268,000 and lies at the heart of the Belfast urban area, which has a population of 483,000. The Larger Urban Zone, as defined by the European Union, has a total population 642,000. Belfast was granted city status in 1888. read more…
