Pebble beach

There are 5 major settlements with city status in Northern Ireland. These are Armagh, Belfast, Derry, Lisburn and Newry.

Armagh

The city of Armagh (from the Irish: Ard Mhacha meaning “Macha’s height”) is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is an ancient religious site of worship of both Celtic paganism and Christianity. Armagh was granted a Royal Charter by Queen Elizabeth II in 1994, and city status was officially re-conferred in 1995. Armagh is the least-populated city in both Northern Ireland and the island of Ireland. It had a population of 14,590 people in the 2001 Census.

Belfast

Belfast is the capital city of Northern Ireland and the seat of devolved government and legislative assembly in Northern Ireland. It is the largest urban area in the Irish province of Ulster, and the second largest city on the island of Ireland. The City of Belfast has a population of 267,500, and lies at the heart of Metropolitan Belfast, which has a population of 723,447. Belfast was granted city status in 1888.

Derry

Derry or Londonderry lies on the west bank of the River Foyle with the location of old Derry on the east bank, the present city now covers both banks (Cityside to the west and Waterside to the east) and the river is spanned by two bridges.  The city district also extends to rural areas to the southeast of the city. The population of the city proper was 83,652 in the 2001 Census, while the Derry Urban Area had a population of 90,663. The city is the the second-largest city in Northern Ireland and Ulster, and the fourth largest on the island of Ireland. The wider Derry City Council area had a population of 107,300 as of June 2006. The district is administered by Derry City Council and contains both Londonderry Port and City of Derry Airport.

Lisburn

Lisburn is the third-largest city in Northern Ireland, south-west of and adjoining Belfast. Formerly a borough, it was granted city status in 2002 (along with Newry) as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. The city is split between County Antrim and County Down, the River Lagan forming the county boundary. Lisburn had a population of 71,465 people in the 2001 Census. Although it has city status, the area covered consists of the town of Lisburn, surrounded by an extensive rural and semi-rural hinterland. The council area includes Hillsborough, Moira, Dromara, Glenavy, Dunmurry and Drumbo The administrative headquarters are in the town of Lisburn.

Lisburn is also known as the birthplace of Ireland’s linen industry, which was established in 1698 by Louis Crommelin and other Huguenots. An exhibition about the Irish linen industry is now housed in the Irish Linen Centre, which can be found in the town’s old Market House in Market Square.

Newry

Newry  is the fourth-largest city in Northern Ireland and eighth in Ireland. The River Clanrye, which runs through the city, forms the historic border between County Armagh and County Down: Newry was included entirely in the latter by the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898. It is 34 miles (60 km) from Belfast and 67 miles (108 km) from Dublin. Newry had a population of approximately 27,430 at the 2001 Census, while Newry and Mourne Council Area had a population of 87,058. Newry was founded in 1144 alongside a Cistercian monastery and is one of Northern Ireland’s oldest towns.