Cookstown and County Tyrone Local Activities

The Ulster American Folk Park

The Ulster American Folk Park is an open-air museum in Castletown, just outside Omagh, in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The Park explores the historical link between Ulster and America, focusing particularly on the lifestyle and experiences of those immigrants who sailed from Ulster to America in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is one of three national museums of Northern Ireland.

Contained within the park are around thirty buildings — some recreations, some painstakingly-restored originals. There are agricultural displays and animals on site, and visitors are offered samples of various local foods such as smoked salmon and bread, freshly-cooked in the cottages that line the route of Park tours. The park is open throughout the year, excluding some public holidays.

The museum is themed, with volunteers dressed in period costume, often demonstrating techniques used in day-to-day tasks and occupational skills such as bread making, cooking, arts and crafts, embroidery, spinning, printing and so on. Events are marked which cover the culture of both the New World and the Old World, such as Independence Day and Halloween.

The Ulster American Folk Park Festivals

Festivals often take place including Saint Patrick's Day, Appalachian, Bluegrass, Irish folk music and dancing demonstrations. Exhibitions are often scheduled to promote cultural awareness, such as Hands Across the Border. The Ulster-American theme is highlighted by the layout and the information relayed, such as the fact that over two million people left Ulster for North America between the years 1700 and 1900.

Springhill House, Moneymore

This National Trust property is a 17th Century Manor House built in 1680AD and is considered to be the 'prettiest house in Ulster'. 10 mins. drive from Fortview.

Beaghmore Stone Circles

The stones date back to around 1500BC and it is said that they served some function in fertility rites. 25 mins. drive from Fortview.

Wellbrook Beetling  Mill, Cookstown

Wellbrook Beetling Mill in Cookstown is an 18th Century water powered beetlingmill. There are guided and living history tours for visitors aswell as 'hands-on' demonstrations of how linen was produced. 15 mins. drive from Fortview.