A new visitor experience called Gorta, Swatragh’s Famine Story has officially opened in Co. Derry.
The centre developed by local businessman Dermot Friel, looks at the history and heritage of Swatragh village alongside the story of resident Dr Mooney who supported the local community during the Great Hunger (An Gorta Mór).
'Deeply Personal'
"It has taken a big team effort, with support from Tourism NI and Invest NI, as well as years of hard work and focus to develop and gather the research to help us present and tell the story in the best way possible," said Dermont Friel, owner of the Friel’s.
"It is a very important story, not only is it a deeply personal one to the Swatragh community, but it is one that connects us to many across the world especially in America and Canada."
Dr Mooney
Following the discovery of a small window on the Friel’s historic bar and restaurant site during lockdown, along with an earlier discovery of an original famine pot in a shed on the site, Dermot Friel was inspired to consult with experts and local historians.
This led to uncovering the story of Dr Mooney, who lived and worked from his surgery on the Friel’s site in the 1840s.
Soup Kitchen
During the famine, Dr Mooney used the surgery as a soup kitchen.
Since the site was established in 1835 it has not only been a surgery but a coaching inn, hotel, post stop and also the home of the Friel family for four generations.
Interactive Storytelling
Expert research, reports and oral history on Dr Mooney, along with historical information from Dr Ciaran Reilly a famine historian from Maynooth University, the Mooney family, Ballinascreen Historical Society on the local workhouse in Magherafelt and the local families affected by the famine, have all been used to create an interactive storytelling experience.
The visitor centre features interpretative panels, audio visual aids, unique artwork depicting famine scenes by acclaimed sculptor Kieran Tuohy and the installation of the famine pot in, what is believed to be, its original position in the soup kitchen.
The Emigrant’s Walk
Expert local tour guide Cathy O’Neill will guide and talk to visitors at the centre.
Visitors can also join Cathy on a walking experience called The Emigrant’s Walk, which retraces the footsteps of Irish migrants who left famine stricken Ireland to seek new lives in the new world.
Experience Development Programme
Gorta, Swatragh’s Famine Story is part of ongoing work to develop the historic Friel’s site as a key destination for the local community and for visitors to the area.
It represents a £350,000 investment creating four new jobs developed with support from Tourism Northern Ireland’s Experience Development Programme, Invest Northern Ireland’s Innovation Voucher programme and Dermot Friel.
'Authentic Attraction'
“This authentic attraction, telling the story of a local humanitarian in the most traumatic period in our history, is exactly what our visitors want to experience," said John McGrillen, CEO of Tourism NI.
"I would like to pay tribute to Dermot's resilience in getting to this, making his vision a reality, and we look forward to working with him to promote this experience in the future.”
