>we don't need a passport to go up north, there is not even a border, the first time you realise that you have crossed over is a sign for fireworks! AFAIK it has always bee this way, there used to be army check points which were really nasty looking but even then it was just queues and you did not need a passport, this is the same for going to Britain. Britain opted not to fully join the Schengen agreement and because of the UK-Ireland deal we still need a passport to get to the continent. Belfast, which i where i was for the weekend, has changed hughely, they are building everywhere, i suppose like everywhere else in Ireland. The new government does not actually have that much power, it is more like Wales' government than Scotland's.


Thanks for the info. I am really interested in learning more about this. As a student of history, I feel that I neglected N. Ireland. I do know some as I've read about Michael Collins and De Valera long ago, but not enough.