A former moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Dr John Dunlop, receives a CBE in today's New Year's honours.
He joins Celtic football club manager Martin O'Neill who receives an OBE; rugby international David Humphreys (MBE); amateur golfer and Walker Cup captain Garth McGimpsey (MBE) and Special Olympics organiser Ms Evelyn Greer (OBE) on the list.
Media consultant and former RTÉ journalist Mike Burns is awarded an MBE for his work in fostering British-Irish relations.
The list includes 46 people from Northern Ireland. Dr Dunlop is recognised for working to improve community relations, especially in north Belfast following the Holy Cross school dispute in Ardoyne and has headed the North Belfast Community Action Project since last year. He also contributes to a range of organisations including the North-South cultural and educational exchange organisation Encounter. He is chairman of the Joint Independent Group for Study and Action and a patron of the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education and the WAVE trauma centre.
Mr John Hunter, permanent secretary of the Department of Finance and Personnel, is awarded the Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.
Ms Joan Harbison, already holder of a CBE, is now awarded the title Dame of the British Empire. She became chief commissioner of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland in 1999. Ms Harbison previously chaired the Commission for Racial Equality.
The Belfast Telegraph journalist Alf McCreary is also honoured with an MBE for his work for a range of charities. He already holds a number of awards for his reporting of Northern affairs including two British National Press Awards and the Rothman's Press Award.
McCreary is recognised for his work with disadvantaged and disabled children at Camphill Community in Glencraig, Co Down, and for his service on the board of Christian Aid.
Mr Felix Mooney, a well-known hotelier, receives an OBE. He is chief executive of the group which includes the Wellington Park Hotel, Belfast; the Dunadry Hotel and Country Club, Templepatrick in Co Antrim and the Armagh City Hotel.
England World Cup winners are honoured
England's World Cup winning rugby team are the toast of the New Year honours list published today in Britain. There is a knighthood for coach Clive Woodward, a CBE for captain Martin Johnson and an upgrade to OBE for the match-winning goal-kicker Jonny Wilkinson.
OBEs also to Jason Leonard and Andy Robinson. Leonard and Wilkinson were already MBEs. Most of the other members of the squad receive MBEs.
The list also includes an array of showbusiness, arts and media personalities including Eric Clapton, Joan Plowright, Roy Hudd, Chris Tarrant, Pete Postlethwaite, Nicholas Parsons, Stephen Daldry and Ray Davies, co-founder of The Kinks pop group.
Britain's tennis hope, Tim Henman, gets the expected OBE. Documents leaked to the Sunday Times recently suggested Henman's name was included to "add interest" to the list.
The recent furore over how honours were given prompted the government to announce a review of the system.
Government scientist Mr Colin Blakemore also threatened to quit after it was revealed that he was not put forward for an honour because of his support for animal experiments.
In the world of science there is a knighthood in the Diplomatic List for Tim Berners-Lee, for his work in developing the worldwide web.
Two famous cartoonists are honoured: Ronald Searle (83), creator of the notorious St Trinian's girls, gets a CBE, while Stanley McMurtry ("Mac" of the Daily Mail) receives an MBE.
Alongside them are people working in such jobs as lollipop ladies, school janitors and milkmen. - (PA)