Gorta Swatragh's Famine Story

16/01/2025

We love our branding for Gorta!

Huge thanks to Liesa Johnston, Catherine and the team at Fourum for an excellent job. We are delighted with the results and it is a pleasure working with you as always.

We would also like to thank Mid Ulster District Council and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for their support and funding through the Go Succeed NI programme for this project.

12/12/2024

It was a pleasure to meet some of the Excursions Ireland team on their fam trip to Mid Ulster and show them around Gorta and Friels bar and restaurant.

04/12/2024

We were delighted to welcome our first school trip to Gorta last week!

Pupils from P5,6 & 7 and R5,6 & 7 St. Brigids Primary School Tirkane/ Bunscoil Naomh Bríd Tír Chiana joined us to learn about Dr Mooney and his wife Sarah and their work helping the people of Swatragh during An Gorta Mór. They were all amazing visitors to the centre and asked some very insightful questions !

Maith sigh agus Go raibh maith agibh!

22/11/2024

Yesterday we had the pleasure of hosting this wonderful group from the ITOA Inbound Tourism Operators Association Ireland around Mid Ulster.

Although it was definitely a cold one the snow on the Sperrins provided a stunning back drop!

The group visited Jamese McCloy at Glenshane Country Farm and our visitors got a great insight to the authentic and unique experiences Jamese offers on the farm.

Gorta Swatragh's Famine Story was our next stop were our guests learned about the charitable work Dr Mooney and his wife Sarah undertook during An Gorta Mór in our newly opened emersive experience. A hearty lunch was then enjoyed by the roaring open fire in Friels Bar and Restaurant.

A great day was had by all and huge thanks to Gillian Hunter at TNI and Vanessa Postle at Mid Ulster District Council for arranging and Áine O'Keefe from ITOA for facilitating.

Delighted to be able to showcase just some of the fantastic experiences on offer in Mid Ulster.

Tourism Northern Ireland Tourism Ireland


Visit Mid Ulster

08/11/2024

Lots to see and do in Mid Ulster this autumn!
Delighted to be appearing alongside just a few of the fantastic and authentic tourism and hospitality offerings in Mid Ulster in this TV ad for UTV.

Thanks to Mid Ulster District Council and a great job by Michael Corish !

Visit Mid Ulster
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01/11/2024

If you missed Dermot and Cathy on Radio Ulster's "Your Place and Mine" last Saturday , you can catch up on their conversation with Helen Mark here. It's a great listen!

Gracehill celebrates becoming the UK’s newest Unesco World Heritage site.

31/10/2024

We are delighted to have been shortlisted for Leisure & Tourism Business of the Year in the Mid Ulster Mail Business Excellence Awards.

The very best of luck to all the finalists and we look forward to a fantastic night celebrating the Best of Mid Ulster

24/10/2024

We had a great day yesterday at Mid Ulster District Council Meet the Experts event.
A fantastic line up of speakers covering tourism trends, support available to tourism businesses and AI.
Dermot had the opportunity to share our own innovation journey with Gorta Swatragh's Famine Story and some great networking and opportunities.
Many thanks to Mid Ulster Council, the team at Visit Mid Ulster for organising and Splash outdoor water park for hosting.

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

05/09/2024

**Coming Soon**

The final touches being added to our new visitor centre here in Swatragh.

More updates to follow...