On thursday 16th May the TY class visited the Ulster and American Folk Park in Omagh along with their history teacher, Mr. Mullen. the theme of the trip was Emigration and we looked at the different types of people who left Ireland for the “New World” from the 1700’s onwards. We looked at the actual houses of a poor landless labourer, a “strong” farmer, a landlords house as well as various other buildings including a school house, a forge and a Presbyterian Church, among others.
We passed through a typical Irish town in the 1800’s and we also boarded a ship bound for America. Our excellent guides explained the hardships and conditions endured on the journey to America which could take upto 6 weeks before the invention of the steamship.
When we landed in America we witnessed what a typical town was like and we explored the life of an Irish emigrant on the frontier before the era of mass emigration during the Great Famine. We looked at a typical log cabin where settlers lived, a barn and a general store ( an early American version of a supermarket).
Altogether it was an excellent trip and very enjoyable for all concerned.
