06/09/2024
We are delighted to announce our new visitor centre called Gorta, Swatragh’s Famine Story officially opened yesterday. Located in the heart of the Mid Ulster countryside the centre, developed by Dermot Friel, tells the rich history and heritage of Swatragh village alongside the story of first resident Dr Mooney who supported the local community during the Great Hunger (An Gorta Mór).
Following his discovery of a small window on the historic Friels Bar and Restaurant site during lockdown, along with an earlier discovery of an original famine pot in a shed on the site, Dermot 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. 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 4 generations. It is now at the heart of the new visitor centre.
The centre was opened by Famine historian Dr Ciaran Reilly.
We welcomed esteemed members of Tourism Northern Ireland, Mid Ulster District Council, Invest Northern Ireland, Tourism Ireland, Interpretative Designer Tandem Design, Ballinascreen Historical Society and the Loughinsholin Tourism Cluster, as well as Sculptor Kieran Tuohy, Writer Al Bodkin, , local contractors and the Mooney Family.
We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone involved in this project, Your contributions have made this vision a reality.
Discover Northern Ireland Kieran Tuohy Sculptor
