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Imagine spending up to twelve weeks crammed into "steerage" on an early emigrant sailing ship. As many as 200 steerage passengers and their belongings could be squeezed into the small bunks. Disease was rife with scurvy and typhus everywhere. Such was the passage for many early Emigrants from Ulster as has been recreated by The Ulster American Folk Park in their Dockside Gallery. The sounds of the creaking timbers and the foul smells provide an insight into the treacherous conditions experienced by many thousands of emigrants. Makes you appreciate the sheer luxury afforded on board luxury liners today!
The Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh is the ideal place to learn the story of the Irish who left these shores. Situated at the foot of the Sperrin Mountains on the banks of the River Strule, just outside Omagh, this award winning museum is approximately one and a half hours from Belfast (Take the M1 route). This award-winning museum, which has been voted one of the North’s Top Attractions, tells the story of the thousands of emigrants who left Ireland for the New World of America in the 18th & 19th Centuries. What really makes The Ulster American Folk Park stand out are the original buildings and the quality of interpretation offered. Costumed guides use Living History to bring the past to life, something visitors rarely forget.
“ Emigrants” is a major Exhibition, which tells the story of over 200 years of emigration from these shores to America. This indoor museum exhibition tells the stories of famous emigrants, displays a range of interesting artefacts from both sides of the Atlantic and explores reasons for leaving Ireland and the opportunities open to emigrants in a new land.
The Ulster American Folk Park has 29 exhibit buildings, including many reconstructed original buildings from Ireland and North America, which have been lovingly restored at the museum stone by stone and log by log. These exhibits use original and replica artefacts to tell the story of famous emigrants and depict a forgotten way of life. The Hupp house & The Fulton homestead are two of the original American Buildings, that have been shipped across the Atlantic and rebuilt here. Both give a sense of the resourcefulness of early emigrants and give a greater understanding of the lives these emigrants led.
At the Ulster American Folk Park, visitors can see, smell, touch and even taste the past. From the working blacksmith hammering at his anvil in the forge to the steady whirr of the spinning wheel in the weavers cottage and soda bread slowly rising in the pot oven on an open hearth fire.
Visitors will learn many of the customs of 18th & 19th century Rural Ulster. Exhibits include, the original Mellon cottage, Tullyallen Mass House, the Campbell homestead and the Hughes house. Many emigrants from these shores, made a huge impact on their adoptive homelands, Mellon became an industrial magnate and founded the Mellon Bank, Hughes became the first Catholic Archbishop of New York and was in many ways responsible for the building of St Patrick's Cathederal .
The young at heart delight in visiting Castletown National School. Dating from 1845 this original building gives our visitors an opportunity to go back to school where they can try their hand at using slates and slate pencils. Leaving Rural Ulster visitors arrive at Shipbouy Street. Here, behind many of the original shopfronts, from all over Northern Ireland, there are working demonstrations taking place daily. “Customers” can find out about the role of the compositor in Blair’s Print Shop, find a cure for every ill in Hill’s Chemist and relax in Reilly’s Spirit Grocers ( that's a pub to you and me! ).
Taking the emigrant trail, visitors enter the Ship and Dockside Gallery to board The Brig Union, a life sized replica of an original emigrant sailing ship. On board ship, passengers can experience the dreadful conditions between decks. Conditions were anything but pleasant, emigrants leaving Ireland would have spent up to twelve weeks cramped on board.
Disembarking on the 'New World' side of the museum, visitors can experience what life was like America. One very special exhibit is the American General Store with its delightful smells of cinnamon and coffee. Moving out West, visitors can explore a Log Cabin, typical of the dwellings built or occupied by emigrants when they first arrived in the New World. Even the natural environment at the museum has been carefully cultivated to re-create a sense of the American Frontier. Pumpkins, corn and butternut squash grow in the fields, and the herb garden is brimming with medicinal and culinary herbs.
The museum offers a full programme of special events each year. Events for 2004 include an exhibition entitled 'Native American Art: Irish American Trade' on loan from the British Museum from July - October 2004. This exhibition focuses on the collection Bryan Mullanphy and contains a unique collection of Native American Art, including a powwow costume, weapons and armour from the horseback hunters of the Great Plains.
Other events for 2004 include Woodfest (31st July - 2nd August) with woodcraft and music making, and The Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival (3rd - 5th September), one of the largest bluegrass festivals in Ireland. Artists for 2004 include The Bing Brothers (USA), Sale Ann Bradley (USA), Hurst & Raines (USA), Red Wine (Italy), the Rosinators ( UK) and 4 Wheel Drive (Netherlands).
The museum has a restaurant, a gift shop and beautiful walks. Visitors are free to take the museum at their own pace rather than being confined to a guided tour. Those visiting the museum should try to make time for a visit to the Centre for Migration Studies (open weekdays), this resource contains a computerised database of over 30,000 emigration records, including passenger lists, letters home and diary extracts.
A visit to The Ulster American Folk Park an experience to remember - Visit the museum's web site on www.nmni.com or telephone 00 44 (0) 28 82 243292 for details.
The Ulster American Folk Park is situated on the N2 from Dublin, 5 miles outside of Omagh on the A5 to Donegal. From Belfast follow the M1 motorway and follow signs for Omagh.
The museum has disabled access, car and coach parking and a 38 bed residential centre. |
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Ulster American Folk Park
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