A welcoming trail to Ulster from America
The first-ever Ulster-Scots heritage tour from the United States to Northern Ireland was "a resounding success," according to tour organiser Glen Pratt, of the Ulster-Scots Society of America.
From July 2-14, Americans from a wide background travelled across Northern Ireland and from Donegal to the Boyne exploring Ulster-Scots culture visiting historical sites, hearing lectures, researching genealogy, enjoying music and dance exhibitions, seeing Twelfth parades, attending cultural events, and fellowshipping with the warm, friendly people.
"Everyone had an outstanding time and many have expressed a desire to come back very soon," Glen Pratt confirmed.
"The Ulster-Scots community everywhere we went really rolled out the red carpet for us and treated us like family. They went out of their way and made us feel right at home.
"Folks would always give us a smile and a friendly hello when they discovered we were Americans. When our bus entered the park during the Belfast Twelfth and parade watchers saw our American flags, they clapped, cheered, and gave us the thumbs-up.
"A band even spontaneously rose to their feet to greet us with a rendition of The Star Spangled Banner."
The tour group was quite diverse, with that diversity expressing itself not just geographically, but politically, religiously, and age wise as well.
"We had Texans, Southerners, mid-Westerners, Californians, and a Yankee; Democrats and Republicans; Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Roman Catholics, and an Orangeman; ages ranged from 17 to 75. And everyone thoroughly enjoyed all expressions of Ulster-Scots culture, especially the Belfast Twelfth which seemed to be their favourite event," he said.
He added that the Twelfth and the Reivers Festival in Kilkeel were the main reasons for scheduling the tour in July.
"Northern Ireland is the United Kingdom's and, perhaps, even Europe's best-kept tourism secret. It has great untapped tourism potential with so much to offer - history, heritage, scenery, friendly people. It's all right here. And when you get a mixture of Scotland with Ireland all in one place, it's just unbeatable. Northern Ireland needs truly promoted in the United States!"
Glen Pratt expects to see travel increase. He believes local Ulster-Scots heritage groups may gain a source of additional funding with the marketing of Ulster-Scots music, dance, or historical exhibitions to tourists.
"Although we had to go outside the official tourism infrastructure to make this tour happen, we have nonetheless been successful in blazing the trail for Ulster-Scots cultural tourism. If the official tourism infrastructure gets behind the now-proven concept of Ulster-Scots cultural tourism, then I believe Northern Ireland will reap the economic rewards.
"There are so many people and organisations to thank for helping make this inaugural heritage tour possible -- the Ulster-Scots Agency, Ulster-Scots Heritage Council, Ulster Historical Foundation, Apprentice Boys of Derry, Schomberg Society, Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, York LOL 145, Windsor Presbyterian Church, the people of Kilkeel, and many individuals.
"Above all, I would like to thank Maynard Hanna of Kilkeel, whose constant encouragement as well as practical advice was instrumental in making this tour happen. Without him, there would not have been a tour at all.
"Organising a first-ever project of any kind is not without its challenges and this cultural heritage tour was no exception. In the absence of assistance from the official tourism avenues during the organizational and promotional phases of this project, the Ulster-Scots community really picked up the ball and ran with it. My hat's off to them all!
"There exists a great cultural and historical kinship between Americans and Ulster-Scots that I look for more Americans to explore. Northern Ireland is more like the United States, especially Texas and the upper South, than any place outside the country."
Glen added: "James Laird, of York LOL 145, may have expressed our communal spirit best when he said to us, 'If you have a feeling of coming home, it is not a false feeling. We are more than cousins - we are brothers'!"
Plans are formulating for another Ulster-Scots heritage tour in 2006. Interested parties may contact Glen Pratt at HeritageTour@UlsterScotsSociety.com, 806-372-2039 (dial 001 first if calling from outside the USA).