NI January to June 2013 in pictures

City of Culture

A spectacular fireworks display on the River Foyle saw the beginning of Londonderry's year as the first ever UK City of Culture.

January 2013 saw the Union flag protests returning to the street, after being widely criticised for causing disruption in the run up to Christmas.

In February, the protests were still continuing and brought the cancellation of a local football match. Crusaders were due to play against Cliftonville in an Irish Premiership match at Seaview when trouble flared on the road outside the grounds and the game abandoned.

Former UUP deputy leader John McAllister and Lagan Valley MLA Basil McCrea left the Ulster Unionist Party. It followed the DUP and Ulster Unionists' decision to back an agreed candidate to contest the Mid Ulster by-election. The pair then went on to launch up their own party, NI21.

In March, Sinn Féin's Francie Molloy filled the Westminster seat left by his colleague Martin McGuinness. Mr McGuinness, who is also the deputy first minister, stood down at the end of 2012 in line with his party's committment to end double jobbing.

In March, the weather took an unseasonal turn when temperatures dropped and snow fell across Northern Ireland causing widespread disruption at what should have been the beginning of Spring. Homes were left without power and in some places, the snow at the side of the road was higher than the vehicles.

Road conditions were treacherous across Northern Ireland. In some areas, there were snow drifts of up to 12 to 18 feet and specialist teams were deployed to reach people in some rural areas.

The snow also caused problems for farmers, with many unable to get food supplies to their livestock. It is estimated by the Department of Agriculture that more than 20,000 sheep died affecting almost 800 farms.

In April, former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher died at the age of 87 after suffering a stroke. She was staying at the Ritz hotel in central London. She is pictured here at the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement with Garret FitzGerald in 1985. Tributes were paid by many politicians, but were overshadowed by people celebrating the death of Baroness Thatcher in west Belfast and Londonderr.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams arrives at Laganside Court, Belfast, to give evidence at the trial of his brother. Liam Adams was accused of abusing his daughter Áine. The trial collapsed for legal reasons but Mr Adams was to face a retrial at a later date.

April also saw the launch of Belfast City Hall's new lighting system, which can illuminate the historic building in a multitude of colours. Shown here in rainbow colours, it has been used extensively throughout the year, most recently in South African flag colours as a tribute to Nelson Mandella.

In May, the weather caused another day of racing to be cancelled at the North West 200 road races. It was the second time in three years that bad weather resulted in the cancellation of the event. Organisers have called for a change in road closing orders so the event can coincide with favourable weather conditions.

May 2013 saw the Balmoral Show move from the King's Hall in Belfast. Following almost 15 years of discussion, the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society voted to move the 145th year's event to the former Maze prison site, which closed in 2000.

May also saw the return of BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend to Ebrington Square, Londonderry as part of the City of Culture celebrations. Held over three days, there were performances by artists such as Calvin Harris, Biffy Clyro, The Saturdays, Bruno Mars, Olly Murs and Little Mix.

The event spanned two venues, with the second being the BBC Radio 1Xtra Arena, where there were performances from Rita Ora, Bastille and Vampire Weekend. All 37,500 tickets for the three-day event were snapped up in under an hour.

June 2013 saw the centrepiece of Derry's year as the UK's City of Culture. The Return of Colmcille was a 30-hour show written by Frank Cottrell Boyce and culminated in the Loch Ness monster swimming up the River Foyle for an epic battle with the city's patron saint Colmcille.

Thousands of people took part in the event and marched towards the river in extravagant costumes as part of the 'People's Procession' to help protect the city from the Loch Ness monster. A fireworks display as part of the 'battle' rounded off the weekend of events.

Ahead of the G8 summit in June, President Barack Obama visited Belfast where he and First Lady Michelle addressed the Waterfront Hall. He said the road to a lasting peace in Northern Ireland was "as urgent now as it has ever been".

President Obama also visited Enniskillen Integrated Primary School in County Fermanagh, where he joined UK Prime Minister David Cameron and pupils to help paint a collage.

Thousands of police officers were involved in the security operation during the G8 event and US Presidential visit in Belfast. Almost 3,500 extra officers being brought in from police forces across the United Kingdom. This year's G8 summit was hailed as the 'most peaceful and secure' in history.

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