Being Northern Irish, we're quite proud of our famous brothers and sisters who've found fame and fortune throughout the world and placed NI on a worldwide stage. You've heard us mentioning Van Morrison, boasting about George Best and even glorifying James Galway but if you think our list of homegrown celebrities ends there, you're very much mistaken!

The Ulster History Circle is a non-profit organisation that celebrates NI's contribution to history, both locally and around the globe. Erecting blue commemorative plaques in honour of our illustrious kin, the Ulster History Circle keeps our history alive so we may share it with visitors and future generations.

If you fancy indulging in a bit of blue plaque spotting, we've compiled a list of our top plaques to look out for on your travels, so keep your eyes peeled and you'll soon realise that in NI, history seems to be everywhere you go...

James Young
Actor and comedian
1918-1974
Location of plaque: Young's family home - 26 Fernwood St, Ormeau Rd, Belfast
James Young, or 'Our Jimmy' as he's affectionately known to local fans, is one of Belfast's most celebrated local celebrities. A fine character actor and talented comedian, Young seemed to unite Catholics and Protestants at the height of the troubles in the 1960s and 1970s with his unique brand of comedy.

Oscar Wilde
Writer, poet and playwright
1854-1900
Location of plaque: Portora Royal School, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh
Probably Ireland's most famous and critically-acclaimed artist, Wilde is celebrated throughout the world as one of the finest writers of all time. In 1864 Wilde attended the Portora Royal School in Enniskillen where he excelled in classic literature and went on to study in Trinity College Dublin and Oxford University. He then travelled the world, composing classics such as The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Earnest.

C.S. Lewis
Author and critic
1898-1963
Location of plaque: There are two Belfast plaques, one on the site of Lewis' birth house in Dundela Ave and the other in 'Little Lea' on the Circular Rd.
Author of The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis is quite possibly Belfast's most famous and internationally celebrated son. He captured the imagination of children and adults with his epic tale of the Pevensie children and their discovery of a magic wardrobe that leads them to the land of Narnia. The house in 'Little Lea' on the Circular Rd is the original location of the magic wardrobe. Although the house is in private ownership, and not open to the public, even just basking in its presence is well worth the visit.

Chaim Herzog
1918-1997
President of Israel
Location of plaque: 185 Clifton Park Avenue, Belfast, Herzog's birth house
NI may be famous for its links with US presidents but it's a little known fact that Israeli president Chaim Herzog was born here in Belfast. Herzog's father, Dr Isaac Herzog, was a rabbi and, when he was appointed Chief Rabbi of Ireland, the Herzog family moved to Dublin. In 1935, the Herzogs upped sticks again, this time to Palestine and, after studying law and joining the British army in WWII, young Chaim carved out a long and established career in the Israeli forces. Herzong, eternally proud of his Irish roots, visited his birth house in Belfast shortly before his death in 1997 and, it has to be said, we're extremely proud to call him one of our own.

Henry Joy McCracken
United Irishman
1767-1798
Location of plaque: McCracken's birth house, 37 High St, Belfast
An important figure in the history of Ulster and Ireland as a whole, Henry Joy McCracken was one of the founders of the United Irishmen, a political organisation inspired by the American Revolution and Revolutionary France. The group launched the Irish Rebellion of 1798 with the objective of ending British rule over Ireland and founding an independent Irish Republic, an offensive that ultimately failed, leading to the execution of McCracken and his compatriots.

Mary Ann McCracken
Social reformer
1770-1866
Location of plaque: 62 Donegall Pass, Mary Ann's home
Inspired by her brother,  United Irishman Henry Joy McCracken, Mary Ann spent the years after Henry's execution devoting much of her life to numerous humanitarian causes such as the welfare of the poor and was an impassioned supporter for political equality for women and the abolition of slavery. McCracken's Cafe Bar in Joy's Entry is named after her so while you're there, raise a glass in memory of Mary Ann, one of Belfast's most inspirational ladies.

Kelly's Cellars
Meeting place of the United Irishmen
1720-present
Location of plaque: Kelly's Cellars, Bank St, Belfast
In 1791, the United Irishmen were founded in this old Belfast pub. Apart from Theobald Wolfe Tone and Thomas Russell, the rest of the attendees at the very first meeting were Presbyterian, most notably Henry Joy McCracken. The United Irishmen's primary objectives were constitutional reform, union among the Irish people and the removal of all religious disqualifications.

William Conor
Artist
1881-1968
Location of plaque: At his studio on Stranmillis Rd (now Café Conor)
One of NI's most famous artists, William Conor documented ordinary civilian life during WWl and remains an inspiration to Belfast's artistic fraternity. His iconic style was executed in chalk, crayon, pastels and watercolours and many of Conor's works can been seen in galleries throughout Belfast.

John Boyd Dunlop
Inventor
1840-1921
Location of plaque: 38-42 May St, Belfast, the site of Dunlop's workshop
We've all heard of Dunlop tyres but l bet you didn't know that Dunlop tyres were invented in Belfast! John Boyd Dunlop invented the tyre more or less by accident when, in 1888, his son was prescribed cycling as a cure for a heavy cold (note: Lemsips were not around at this time). Dunlop had the idea of making the tricycle more comfortable by fitting it with inflated tubes and, as they say, the rest is history. You can see early Dunlop bicycles at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum in Cultra.

Lilian Bland
Pioneer aviator
1877–1972
Location of plaque: On Templecorran House in Carnmoney, Bland's birth house
Flying may be a doddle in this day and age but back in 1909, taking to the skies was a little more difficult. After news spread of Frenchman Louis Blériot's record breaking cross-Channel flight in 1909, a young girl from Carnmoney wanted to get in on the action. Lilian Bland was quite handy with machinery and, inspired by Blériot's flight, became the first woman in the world to design, build and fly her own bi-plane, the Mayfly. Why call it the Mayfly? Well, rumour has it when Lilian was asked the same question she gave a simple answer, “It may fly and it may not”.

Harry Ferguson
Inventor
1884-1960
Location of plaque: On the Ulster Bank building, Donegall Square East, Belfast
Harry Ferguson not only changed the modern agricultural industry, he was also the first Irishman to build and fly his own aeroplane in 1909. The son of a farmer, Ferguson founded a company selling American tractors but, finding their design cumbersome, he designed and built a new plough which was coupled to the tractor, an innovation that was to revolutionise farming forever.

Joe Bambrick
Footballer
1905-1983
Location of plaque: 219 Roden St, Belfast
OK, we love our football in NI and along with George Best, Keith Gillespie, Neil Lennon and David Healy, Joe Bambrick may be a little less known but stands as one of the most successful Northern Irish footballers who ever took to the field. When NI beat Wales 7-0 in Belfast in 1930, the man of the match was centre forward  Bambrick who scored a double (yes, double!) hat-trick, a feat which has not been equalled in 75 years. Joe, we salute you!