Ulster is another name for Northern Ireland, and it is a name you have to handle carefully, because which name a person uses often tells you something about their politics.

Ulster「Ulster」 is another name for是北愛爾蘭的另一個名稱 Northern Ireland北愛爾蘭， and而且 it它 is a name you have to handle carefully是個要小心使用的名稱， because因為 which name a person uses一個人用哪個名稱 often tells you something about their politics常常透露出他們的政治立場。

Strictly, Ulster is one of the four ancient provinces of Ireland, made up of nine counties. When Ireland was divided in 1921, six of those nine became Northern Ireland and stayed in the United Kingdom; the other three are in the Republic of Ireland. So 'Ulster' as a name for Northern Ireland is not geographically exact, and people know it.

Strictly嚴格來說， Ulster「Ulster」 is one of the four ancient provinces of Ireland是愛爾蘭古代四個省份之一， made up of nine counties由九個郡組成。 When Ireland was divided in 1921愛爾蘭在1921年分裂的時候， six of those nine那九個郡裡的六個 became Northern Ireland成了北愛爾蘭 and而且 stayed in the United Kingdom留在英國； the other three另外三個郡 are in the Republic of Ireland則在愛爾蘭共和國。 So所以 'Ulster' as a name for Northern Ireland用「Ulster」來指北愛爾蘭 is not geographically exact在地理上並不精確， and而且 people know it大家也都知道這一點。

It is used in news reports for its shortness, and it is the preferred word of Unionists — mainly Protestant groups who want Northern Ireland to remain part of the UK. You see it in party names like the Ulster Unionist Party. Irish nationalists usually avoid it in that sense and say 'the North' or 'the six counties'.

It它 is used in news reports for its shortness因為簡短而常用在新聞報導裡， and而且 it它 is the preferred word of Unionists是統一派偏好的用詞—— mainly Protestant groups主要是新教徒團體 who want Northern Ireland to remain part of the UK他們希望北愛爾蘭繼續留在英國。 You你 see it會在 in party names黨名裡看到它 like the Ulster Unionist Party像是 Ulster Unionist Party（阿爾斯特統一黨）。 Irish nationalists愛爾蘭民族派 usually avoid it in that sense通常會避免這樣用它， and而 say 'the North' or 'the six counties'改說「the North」（北部）或「the six counties」（那六個郡）。

Two smaller uses: an 'ulster' with a small u is a long, heavy overcoat with a belt, first made there — an old-fashioned word now, but it turns up in Sherlock Holmes stories. And 'Ulster fry' is the local cooked breakfast.

Two smaller uses還有兩個較小的用法： an 'ulster' with a small u小寫的「ulster」 is a long, heavy overcoat with a belt是一種附腰帶的厚長大衣， first made there最早是在那裡做的—— an old-fashioned word now現在是個過時的詞， but但 it它 turns up in Sherlock Holmes stories會出現在福爾摩斯的故事裡。 And而 'Ulster fry'「Ulster fry」 is the local cooked breakfast是當地的熱食早餐。