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Travel Warnings / Northern Ireland / Travel News / Dangerous Travel / → All Tags

The Government Warns Against Traveling to Northern Ireland

If you were planning a trip to Northern Ireland, the U.S. government believes you should think twice and perhaps even cancel your plans. The good news is you can still go there to party on St. Patrick's Day in 2011..

The region has a history of violence, but a spree of bombings over the last month prompted the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs in Ireland to issue a warning to tourists. The warning is for April through August, when many parades are held, so those St. Pat's plans are still a go. The official statement tells travelers to remain alert in their surroundings as violence can break out at potential flash points. It went on to say that peaceful demonstrations could turn aggressive and possibly escalate into violence.

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Northern Ireland / Lists / Belfast / → All Tags

Northern Ireland Is the New Croatia

Everybody's always trying to tell us what the next must-see destination is. If enough people say the same thing long and loud enough, then their prediction comes true. Let's see how Northern Ireland fares in 2007, since renowned travel guide publisher Lonely Planet put it on the "what's hot" list in its latest Blue List.

More famous for fighting than fun, Northern Ireland's got itself all sorted out, with tourist numbers already increasing five-fold since the IRA ceasefire of '94. Lonely Planet reckons that it's:

abuzz with life: the cities are pulsating, the economy is thriving and the people, the lifeblood that courses through the country, are in good spirits.

Whether or not bad Irish jokes are as popular there as elsewhere remains to be seen. You can always try a couple out on the locals and see if their good spirits remain.

[Photo: randubnick]

Related Stories:
· Ulster a Must-See [Belfast Telegraph]
· Belfast's Distortion Project: the anti-Misshapes [Jaunted]

Belfast / Northern Ireland / Live Music / Metal / → All Tags

Belfast's Distortion Project: the anti-Misshapes

Better known for its connections to punk and Van Morrison than any metal scene, Belfast is nonetheless a great place to roll up your sleeves and throw a set or two of devil horns.

There's hardly a more rock 'n' roll street in Belfast than Ormeau Avenue, home to the Limelight family of clubs. Lined up right next to each other are the Limelight's namesake, Katy Daly's and Spring & Airbrake, with Auntie Annie's just a few steps away on Dublin Road. The Distortion Project, a show promotion and DJ collective, is the nabe's metal master.

You can catch them in action every Saturday at tiny Katy Daly's, where the doors open and the drinks and tunes start flowing at 3:30 p.m. Cover for their Katy Daly's gigs rarely exceeds £4, though the Project's larger shows at neighboring venues often carry heftier price tags. These kids bring in the best of the best, with creative bookings like Firebird (the current project of ex-Napalm Death/Carcass guitarist Bill Steer) under their belts. We attended a DP-helmed Firebird gig back in May, and won't soon forget the amazing vibe inside the very packed Katy Daly's. For those passing through Belfast soon, look out for the Distortion Project's September 30 show at the Limelight, featuring Orange Goblin.