Industrious people
In many other spheres Northern Ireland has made a significant impact on the world. In commerce and industry, for example, Northern Ireland has been at the forefront of innovation. Harry Ferguson developed the farm tractor, four-wheel drive and was a pioneer in aviation. The earliest version of the pneumatic tyre was developed in Belfast by John Dunlop. Jack Chambers, a Belfast engineer, contributed to the automotive industry in the UK by helping to design the first Vauxhall car.
Samuel Davidson invented the centrifugal fan for ventilation. Dr. James Drumm created the nickel-zinc rechargeable battery in 1930.The ejector seat, which has saved the lives of thousands of fighter pilots, was devised by Sir James Martin.
Another life-saving device, the portable cardiac defibrillator was invented by Prof. Frank Pantridge at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. Pantridge also developed the cardiac emergency ambulance. Randox Laboratories is continuing this tradition by pioneering the development biochip diagnostic technology.
Prof. Patrick Johnston of Queen’s University is an acknowledged international expert on cancer. And Sir Allen McClay has contributed hugely to medical research.
Short Brothers in Belfast, now owned by Bombardier 
of Canada, carried out much of the early research into vertical take-off and landing technology. The company also pioneered the development of commuter aircraft. Harland and Wolff has a distinguished history in shipbuilding including the design and construction of the ill-fated Titanic.
Ulster Carpet Mills, the world’s second biggest Axminster producer, has carpeted the Waldorf Astoria in New York, Savoy in London, Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong and virtually all the main casinos in Las Vegas including the city’s famed Bellagio and Caesar’s Palace. F.G Wilson, now owned by Caterpillar Inc., is the world second biggest manufacturer of diesel electricity generating sets.
The Co. Antrim town of Bushmills boasts the world’s oldest licensed distillery. It was founded in 1608 and is still producing fine whiskey nearly 400 years later. Close to the Bushmills Distillery at the famous Giant’s Causeway is the site of the world’s first hydroelectric powered railway.
Thus innovation and creativity have enabled Northern Ireland to ‘punch above its weight’ on the global stage. Government has continued to invest in measures to foster such enterprise through education and skills development.
There is a recognition that encouraging creativity and increasing participation in the arts, in sport and in cultural activities will produce tangible benefits for everyone. Furthermore, substantial resources are being provided to stimulate business enterprise and innovation. And the investments are bearing fruit in the shape of small business start-ups and an increase in exports to the rest of the world.
As a result, a new and progressive Northern Ireland is steadily emerging, a region which is contributing increasingly and significantly to Europe and the world.
In fact a significant number of locally-owned companies are doing well in North America including Ballymena based Wrightbus, one of Europe’s leading bus builders, who supplied buses in Kansas as well as its innovative StreetCar, a diesel/hybrid public transport vehicle, for use in Las Vegas.
Almac, headquartered in Craigavon and with bases in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and California, is a major provider of innovative chemistry solutions and products supporting drug discovery, development and commercialisation. Lagan, based in Belfast, has offices in Washington DC, Chicago, Rockville and Maryland and provides customer relationship management solutions to US public sector organisations including Minneapolis (Mn), Hampton (Va), Hartford (Conn), Yonkers (NY) and Fort Wayne (Ind).
Based in Antrim, TextHelp, has an office in Boston and provides specialist software that helps to improve reading and writing skills, including its Browsealoud product for websites, to education bodies and organisations throughout the US.
