<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> <P> The official flag is that of the state having sovereignty over the territory, i.e. the Union Flag . The former Northern Ireland flag, also known as the "Ulster Banner" or "Red Hand Flag", is a banner derived from the coat of arms of the Government of Northern Ireland until 1972 . Since 1972, it has had no official status . The Union Flag and the Ulster Banner are used exclusively by unionists . UK flags policy states that in Northern Ireland, "The Ulster flag and the Cross of St Patrick have no official status and, under the Flags Regulations, are not permitted to be flown from Government Buildings ." </P> <P> The Irish Rugby Football Union and the Church of Ireland have used the Saint Patrick's Saltire or "Cross of St Patrick". This red saltire on a white field was used to represent Ireland in the flag of the United Kingdom . It is still used by some British army regiments . Foreign flags are also found, such as the Palestinian flags in some nationalist areas and Israeli flags in some unionist areas . </P>

When did northern ireland become part of uk