Changing make-up: Protestant Family

Ulster's changing make-up

Protestants on brink of losing Northern Ireland majority

Unionists filled with foreboding at loss of influence

Protestant Family

Catholic Family

The Rev. John Dunlop, a Presbyterian minister in north Belfast, has noticed his congregation getting older and fewer. In Cavehill, where he lives and preaches, there has been a gradual influx of better-off Catholics moving into property vacated by Protestant families.

"Many younger people are leaving Belfast to study elsewhere, especially Scotland, and once they have made roots elsewhere, they do not always want to return," he said. "It seems a terrible shame because we are losing extremely gifted people and Belfast needs them. It may be partly due to the disenchantment young Protestants may feel or they may just want to get away to study elsewhere."

Mr Dunlop, 62, said limited places in Belfast's two universities could also account for the departure of young Protestant talent from Northern Ireland. His two children, both in their 30s, have left, his son to live in England, and his daughter to settle in Scotland. Both have families and he does not expect them to return. He said this kind of population shift is inevitably going to affect the confidence of the community.

"Protestants have always felt insecure about being where they are. They are a minority in the whole of Ireland and we are more aware of that than being a majority in Northern Ireland anyway.

"But there is an obligation on both parts of the community to create a society where everyone can feel they belong and are at home, and in some ways, we are heading more towards that."