<P> Parades are a prominent feature of Northern Ireland society, more so than in the rest of Ireland or in Britain . Most are held by Protestant fraternities such as the Orange Order, and Ulster loyalist marching bands . Each summer, during the "marching season", these groups have hundreds of parades, deck streets with British flags, bunting and specially - made arches, and light large towering bonfires . The biggest parades are held on 12 July (The Twelfth). There is often tension when these activities take place near Catholic neighbourhoods, which sometimes leads to violence . </P> <P> Since the end of the Troubles, Northern Ireland has witnessed rising numbers of tourists . Attractions include cultural festivals, musical and artistic traditions, countryside and geographical sites of interest, public houses, welcoming hospitality and sports (especially golf and fishing). Since 1987 public houses have been allowed to open on Sundays, despite some opposition . </P> <P> The Ulster Cycle is a large body of prose and verse centring on the traditional heroes of the Ulaid in what is now eastern Ulster . This is one of the four major cycles of Irish mythology . The cycle centres on the reign of Conchobar mac Nessa, who is said to have been king of Ulster around the 1st century . He ruled from Emain Macha (now Navan Fort near Armagh), and had a fierce rivalry with queen Medb and king Ailill of Connacht and their ally, Fergus mac Róich, former king of Ulster . The foremost hero of the cycle is Conchobar's nephew Cúchulainn . </P> <P> Northern Ireland comprises a patchwork of communities whose national loyalties are represented in some areas by flags flown from flagpoles or lamp posts . The Union Jack and the former Northern Ireland flag are flown in many loyalist areas, and the Tricolour, adopted by republicans as the flag of Ireland in 1916, is flown in some republican areas . Even kerbstones in some areas are painted red - white - blue or green - white - orange, depending on whether local people express unionist / loyalist or nationalist / republican sympathies . </P>

What is the name of the northern kingdom