When I was in Glasgow, the first thing I was told about Edinburgh is that everybody there is "either English or wannabe English." I'm sure the folks in Edinburgh have a few choice words for Glaswegians as well.

bbkenny, thanks! Coming from someone who is actually from Northern Ireland, that must mean that I at least got most of my info right.

Brendan, thanks for your kind words. In Belfast, you usually only find sectarian pubs in the sectarian areas. Catholic pubs will be in the Falls and Protestans pubs will be in the Shankill areas. In downtown Belfast or around the university, the pubs pretty much remain neutral. Since they cater to the whole city and surrounding areas, they have to do so for their business to thrive. I'm sure there may be a few pubs that lean one way or the other but I haven't found them -- and I've been to a lot of pubs. I haven't been to every pub in downtown Belfast yet, but I'm working on it.

One of the things I have not done is go to any of the pubs in the sectarian areas of Belfast. I was told that some of the pubs welcome strangers with open arms and others are very suspicious of anybody they don't know. And this was the case on both sides. Since I didn't know which pubs were which, I was told to not go into any of them. So, I stayed away and only did my drinking downtown. I'm not sure how true the information I was given actually is, but it is advice I have followed to date.

So, I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you are in the Falls or Shankill and go into a pub there, you know what kind of a pub you are in. If you are downtown or near the university, then the only kind of pub you are in is one where you are supposed to enjoy the Guinness and the interesting and friendly patrons!