Northern Ireland Parliament Buildings

Northern Ireland Parliament Buildings undergoing works during the 2007 summer break

The "Mile"

Parliament Buildings, known as Stormont because of its location in the Stormont area of Belfast, served as the seat of the Parliament of Northern Ireland and successive Northern Ireland assemblies and conventions. It is now the home of the Northern Ireland Assembly created under the Belfast Agreement, and also of the Executive Committee or power-sharing cabinet created under the Agreement, in which nationalists and unionists share power in a form of consociational democracy. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 556 pixelsFull resolution (2694 × 1874 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 556 pixelsFull resolution (2694 × 1874 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2448 × 3264 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2448 × 3264 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1944 × 2592 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1944 × 2592 pixel, file size: 1. ... Stormont is a suburb of the city of Belfast, in which the Northern Ireland Parliament building and Stormont Castle area located. ... This article is about the city in Northern Ireland. ... The Parliament of Northern Ireland was the home rule legislature created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which existed from June 7, 1921 to March 30, 1972, when it was suspended. ... The logo of the Northern Ireland Assembly, a six flowered linen or flax plant. ... The Belfast Agreement (also known as the Good Friday Agreement and, more rarely, as the Stormont Agreement) was a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process. ... Irish nationalism refers to political movements that desire greater autonomy or the independence of Ireland from Great Britain. ... In the context of Irish politics, Unionists are people in Northern Ireland, who wish to see the continuation of the Act of Union 1800, as amended by the Government of Ireland Act 1920, under which Northern Ireland, created in that latter Act, remains part of the United Kingdom of Great... Consociationalism is a form of government involving group representation by elites, and is suggested for deeply divided societies. ...

History

Original plans

The need for a separate parliament building for Northern Ireland emerged with the creation of the Northern Ireland home rule region in the Government of Ireland Act, 1920. Pending the construction of the new building parliament met in two locations, in Belfast City Hall, where the state opening of the first parliament by King George V took place in on June 21, 1921, and in the nearby Presbyterian Church in Ireland's Assembly's College. In 1922, preparatory work on the chosen site, east of Belfast, began. The original plans for a large domed building with two subsidiary side buildings, housing all three branches of government - legislative, executive and judicial - gave rise to the plural in the official title still used today. Alongside the parliament and "Ministerial Building" the site would have been host to the Northern Ireland High Court. Devolution or Home rule is the pooling of powers from central government to government at regional or local level. ... An Act to Provide for the Better Government of Ireland, more usually the Government of Ireland Act 1920 (this is its official short title; the formal citation is 10 & 11 Geo. ... Belfast City Hall Belfast City Hall is the civic building of the Belfast City Council. ... George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was the first British monarch belonging to the House of Windsor, which he created from the British branch of the German House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. ... is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... Modern logo of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland The Presbyterian Church in Ireland (or PCI) has a membership of 300,000 people in 650 congregations across both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, though the bulk of the membership is in Northern Ireland. ... Union Theological College is a theological college in Northern Ireland which offers courses for Presbyterians. ... Year 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The plans, reminiscent of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., were scrapped following the Stock Market Crash of 1929 and its knock-on effect on the economy of the United Kingdom. Instead, a smaller domeless building designed by Sir Arnold Thornley in the Greek classical style and fronted in Portland stone, was erected on the site. It was opened by Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) on 16 November 1932. For other uses, see Washington, D.C. (disambiguation). ... The 1929 stock market crash devastated economies worldwide The Wall Street Crash refers to the stock market crash that occurred on October 29, 1929, when share prices on the New York Stock Exchange collapsed, leading eventually to the Great Depression. ... For other uses, see The Great Depression (disambiguation). ... The Cathedral of Vilnius (1783), by Laurynas Gucevičius. ... The Cenotaph, in Whitehall, London, England, is made from Portland stone Portland stone is limestone from the Jurassic period quarried on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. ... Edward VIII (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David; later The Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor; 23 June 1894 – 28 May 1972) was King of Great Britain, Ireland, the British Dominions beyond the Seas, and Emperor of India from the death of his father, George V (1910–36), on 20... is the 320th day of the year (321st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1932 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Finished building

Map of Stormont Grounds

After the shelving of plans to build a "Ministerial Building'", the headquarters of government was in effect Stormont Castle, a baronial castellated house in the grounds and which was originally meant to have been demolished to make way for the "Ministerial Building". Stormont Castle served as the official residence of the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and was the meeting place for the Northern Ireland cabinet. Another residence, Stormont House served as the official residence of the Speaker of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland. The reduced plans saw the High Court eventually built in Belfast city centre, and two extra levels being added to Parliament Buildings to serve as extra office space required after the loss of the Ministerial Building. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 825 KB) Map of Stormont Parliament territory. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 825 KB) Map of Stormont Parliament territory. ... Stormont Castle Brian Faulkner, last Prime Minister of Northern Ireland Faulkner was the last Northern Ireland politician to live in the castle. ... The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland was the head of the Government of Northern Ireland, appointed by the Governor of Northern Ireland under the Government of Ireland Act 1920. ... Stormont House served as the official residence of the Speaker of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland between 1921 and 1972. ... The Speaker of the Northern Ireland House of Commons was the presiding officer of the lower house of Parliament in Northern Ireland. ...

Two separate chambers were provided in the finished parliamentary complex, the green-benched rectangular House of Commons of Northern Ireland and the red-benched smaller rectangular Senate of Northern Ireland. In the main hall, called the Great Hall, a large gold-plated chandelier was hung. It was a gift from King George V and had originally hung in Windsor Castle, where it had been a gift of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. The Kaiser's chandelier had been removed from Windsor and placed in storage during World War I. It was never hung in Windsor again. The Parliament of Northern Ireland was the home rule legislature created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which existed from June 7, 1921 to March 30, 1972, when it was suspended. ... The Parliament of Northern Ireland was the home rule legislature created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which existed from June 7, 1921 to March 30, 1972, when it was suspended. ... This article is about the castle in Windsor. ... German Emperor Wilhelm (born Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albrecht, Prince of Prussia 27 January 1859–4 June 1941), was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia (de: Deutscher Kaiser und König von Preußen), ruling from 15 June 1888 to 9 November 1918. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ...

Rear of Parliament Building. Still scarred with 'paint'

The painting, The Entry of King William into Ireland, a gift from the Dutch government to its Northern Ireland counterpart, was hung in the House of Commons when it opened. However, it was removed after having been defaced by a Scottish preacher, who had travelled from Scotland for that express purpose. The reason for his anger was that the painting also showed the Pope, who had blessed William's enterprise. You can see images of the building on its Wikimedia Commons page Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (5000x1959, 1135 KB) Photographed by Paul Wilson on a rainy afternoon. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (5000x1959, 1135 KB) Photographed by Paul Wilson on a rainy afternoon. ... William III of England (The Hague, 14 November 1650 – Kensington Palace, 8 March 1702; also known as William II of Scotland and William III of Orange) was a Dutch aristocrat and a Protestant Prince of Orange from his birth, Stadtholder of the main provinces of the Dutch Republic from 28... This article is about the country. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The Pope (from Latin...

The building itself changed little over the years, even as the parliaments meeting inside it did. To camouflage it during World War II the building's Portland stone was painted with supposedly removable "paint" made of bitumen and cow manure. However, after the war, removing the paint proved an enormous difficulty, with the paint having scarred the stonework. It took seven years to remove the "paint", and the exterior facade has never regained its original white color. While most traces of it were removed from the facades (though having done damage that can be seen up close) some of the remains of the paint survive in the inner courtyards and unseen parts of the place. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Ewer from Iran, dated 1180-1210CE. Composed of brass worked in repoussé and inlaid with silver and bitumen. ... Animal manure is often a mixture of animals feces and bedding straw, as in this example from a stable. ...

Statues

Edward Carson's statue at Stormont

Additional changes to the building and its environs include the erection of a statue to Edward Carson in dramatic pose (on the drive leading up to the building) in 1932, a rare example of a statue to a person being erected before their death, and the erection of a statue to Lord Craigavon in the main foyer, half way up the grand staircase. Craigavon and his wife are buried in the estate grounds. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1536x2048, 421 KB) Edward Carson I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1536x2048, 421 KB) Edward Carson I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Edward Carson HMSO image The Right Honourable Edward Henry Carson, Baron Carson, PC (February 9, 1854 – October 22, 1935) was a leader of the Irish Unionists, a Barrister and a Judge. ... Year 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1932 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon, PC (8 January 1871 – 24 November 1940) was a prominent Irish unionist politician, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party and the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. ...

Uses for the building

The building was used for the Parliament of Northern Ireland until it was prorogued in 1972. The Senate chamber was used by the Royal Air Force as an operations room during World War II. The building was used for the shortlived Sunningdale power-sharing executive in 1974. Between 1973 and 1998 it served as the headquarters of the Northern Ireland civil service. Between 1982 and 1986 it served as the seat of the rolling-devolution assembly. It is now the home of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... “RAF” redirects here. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The Sunningdale Agreement on December 9, 1973, was an attempt to end the Northern Ireland troubles by forcing unionists to share power with nationalists. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... The Roman civil service in action. ... The logo of the Northern Ireland Assembly, a six flowered linen or flax plant. ...

In the 1990s, Sinn Féin suggested that a new parliament building for Northern Ireland should be erected, saying that the building at Stormont was too controversial and too associated with unionist rule to be used by a power-sharing assembly. However, no-one else supported the demand and the new assembly and executive was installed there as its permanent home. For pre-Arthur Griffith use of the political name, see Sinn Féin (19th century). ... In the context of Irish politics, Unionists are people in Northern Ireland, who wish to see the continuation of the Act of Union 1800, as amended by the Government of Ireland Act 1920, under which Northern Ireland, created in that latter Act, remains part of the United Kingdom of Great...

On 3 December 2005, the Great Hall was used for the funeral service of former Northern Ireland and Manchester United footballer George Best. The building was selected for the funeral as it is in the only grounds in Belfast suitable to accommodate the large number of members of the public who wished to attend the funeral. Approximately 25,000 people gathered in the grounds, with thousands more lining the cortege route. It was the first time since World War II that the building has been used for a non-governmental or non-political purpose. is the 337th day of the year (338th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Irish FAs all-Ireland international team, see Ireland national football team (IFA). ... Manchester Uniteds emblem Manchester United F.C. (often abbreviated to Man United or just Man U, pronounced man-yoo) is an English football club based at Old Trafford in Greater Manchester. ... George Best (22 May 1946 – 25 November 2005) was a Northern Irish football player best known for his years with Manchester United. ...

In springtime in 2006 however the building was reopened for political talks between the MLA's from the various political parties in Northern Ireland. A Member of the Legislative Assembly, or MLA, is a representative elected by the voters of an electoral district to the Legislature or legislative assembly of a subnational jurisdiction. ...

Security breach

On 24 November 2006, Michael Stone (loyalist paramilitary member from the Braniel estate in Belfast, Northern Ireland) was arrested for breaking into Stormont with an imitation handgun and a knife, and scrawling graffiti on the Parliament building.^[1] Initial news reports indicated that he may have been carrying a "suspect device". Later, between six and eight pipe bombs were defused by the Army.^[2] The resumption of talks about power sharing and electing a First Minister between the parties at Stormont, which had only just resumed, had to be abandoned. is the 328th day of the year (329th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Michael Stone (born 2 April 1955 in Belfast) is a loyalist paramilitary from the Braniel estate in east Belfast, Northern Ireland. ... The Braniel is a large housing estate on the outskirts of East Belfast, perhaps most widely known as the home of Michael Stone, infamous for his gun and grenade assualt upon an IRA funeral in the Milltown cemetary in West Belfast. ...

The chambers

The rebuilt House of Commons chamber, as arranged for the Northern Ireland Assembly

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

House of Commons

The original House of Commons of Northern Ireland was designed in the standard adversarial form, with the government and opposition facing each other in parallel blue benches across a central aisle. The Parliament of Northern Ireland was the home rule legislature created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which existed from June 7, 1921 to March 30, 1972, when it was suspended. ... In a modern church an aisle is a row down the middle of the church with a set of pews on each side. ...

The Senate, now used as a committee room by the Northern Ireland Assembly

The original House of Commons chamber was slightly redesigned in the 1970s with the addition of a block of curved benches facing the Speakers' chair, along with new curved front benches for some of the remainder of the furnishings, to reduce the advertorial nature of the chamber and provide a symbolic middle ground for middle ground parties. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The logo of the Northern Ireland Assembly, a six flowered linen or flax plant. ...

The entire House of Commons chamber was destroyed by fire on 2 January 1995 which was blamed on an electrical fault in the wiring below the Speaker's chair. Critics alleged arson and noted how the destruction of the chamber allowed the creation of the modern less confrontational chamber used by the power-sharing Northern Ireland Assembly, which has no echo of the earlier seating arrangement. However, the British Government, citing the Doyle Report and the findings of the Northern Ireland forensic science laboratory, stated that it was "improbable" that the fire was deliberate.
is the 2nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ...

Senate

Unlike the new Assembly chamber which replaced the old House of Commons chamber, the Senate chamber, with its red leather adversarial seats in two parallel blocks of benches remains as it was originally designed. Irish damask linen hangs on the walls; plans to line the walls with large oil paintings fell through. Modern leather-working tools Leather is a material created through the tanning of hides and skins of animals, primarily cattlehide. ...

The chamber has not been used as a parliamentary chamber in plenary session since the suspension of devolved government in 1972. The Senate chamber is now to be used as the Northern Ireland Assembly's main committee room, with the only changes since it was first built in 1932 being the installation of TV cameras and microphones and the painting The House Shall Divide of the members elected to the inaugural Assembly in the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1998.
Plenary is an adjective related to the noun, plenum carrying a general connotation of fullness. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The first elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly were held on June 25, 1998. ...

Stormont regulations

Stormont Regulations

The regulations governing the use of the Stormont estate are displayed at its entrance. These were initially enacted on 31 October 1933, in an order by the Ministry of Finance. These were eventually amended and the regulations currently in force are: Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2048x4254, 1832 KB) This rather curious panorama is the sign stating previous and current regulations of the Stormont Parliament territory. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2048x4254, 1832 KB) This rather curious panorama is the sign stating previous and current regulations of the Stormont Parliament territory. ... is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The finance minister is a cabinet position in a government. ...

• The Stormont Estate Regulations, 1933
• The Stormont Estate Amendment Regulations (Northern Ireland), 1951
• The Stormont Estate Amendment Regulations (Northern Ireland), 1958

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Parliament Buildings

• Online tour of Parliament Buildings

Coordinates: 54.604976° N 5.831997° W Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...

State buildings in Northern Ireland

Stormont Parliament Buildings | Hillsborough Castle | Stormont Castle | Stormont House Download high resolution version (1252x1032, 273 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Northern Ireland Categories: Central Intelligence Agency images ... The official entrance of Hillsborough Castle Hillsborough Castle in County Down is a mansion in Northern Ireland. ... Stormont Castle Brian Faulkner, last Prime Minister of Northern Ireland Faulkner was the last Northern Ireland politician to live in the castle. ... Stormont House served as the official residence of the Speaker of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland between 1921 and 1972. ...

v • d • e Irish parliament houses (1600s–present)

Chichester House (1600s–early 1700s)  · Blue Coat School (early 1700s–1729)  · Parliament House (1729–1800)  · Mansion House (1919), (1922)  · UCD (Earlsfort Terrace) (1919–1922)  · Royal College of Science (1921)  · Belfast City Hall (1921)  · Union Theological College (1921–1932)  · Leinster House (1922–present)  · Stormont (1932–1972) (1999–present) Chichester House or Carews House was a building in College Green (formerly Hoggen Green), Dublin, Ireland used in the 17th Century to house the Irish Parliament. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Blue Coat School (in this case Christs Hospital, London) as drawn by Augustus Pugin and Thomas Rowlandson for Rudolph Ackermanns Microcosm of London (1808-11). ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Irish House of Commons entrance The original entrance to the building, facing onto College Green. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Mansion House on Dawson Street, Dublin, is the official residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin and has been since 1715. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ireland. ... The National Concert Hall, or NCH, is a concert hall on Earlsfort Terrace in Dublin. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ireland. ... The Royal College of Science for Ireland was created as a result of a decision of HM Treasury in 1865 to merge a number of science-orientated education bodies including the Museum of Irish Industry and Government School of Science applied to Mining and the Arts. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Lord_Lieutenant_of_Ireland. ... Belfast City Hall Belfast City Hall is the civic building of the Belfast City Council. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Northern_Ireland. ... Union Theological College is a theological college in Northern Ireland which offers courses for Presbyterians. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Northern_Ireland. ... Leinster House The former palace of the Duke of Leinster. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ireland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Northern_Ireland. ...