what is the capital and major population center of northern ireland
Belfast Belfast (/ˈbɛlfɑːst/ or /-fæst/; from Irish: Béal Feirste, meaning "rivermouth of the sandbanks")[11] is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, and the second largest on the island of Ireland.[12] On the River Lagan, it had a population of 333,871 in 2015.[1] Belfast was granted city status in 1888.