Cordial Ulster welcome for Tennessee visitors

The close Ulster-American historic and cultural links were further cemented on May 21-24 with a visit to Northern Ireland and Co Donegal by 46 visitors from Tennessee, Alabama, Texas, Georgia, Missouri, California, Arizona, Arkansas and Colorado.

The two-week trip, organised by the East Tennessee Historical Society, extended to other parts of the Republic of Ireland and Scotland, but it was in Ulster that the United States visitors were overwhelmed by the very cordial and enthusiastic welcome they received.

On arrival in Donegal they were entertained at a reception at Jackson’s Hotel in Ballybofey, laid on by Jim Devenney, vice-chairman of the Ulster-Scots Agency, with several hours of music and dance provided by folk from East Donegal and Bready, Co. Tyrone.

The following morning, the party spent three hours at the Ulster-American Folk Park outside Omagh, where they were taken on what was for them a fascinating tour of the various historical settlements, reflecting several centuries of Ulster emigration to America.

The tour schedule moved to the Sperrin mountain region of West Tyrone and then to Londonderry city for a sight-seeing tour, which included the historic walls, the Guildhall, St Columb’s Cathedral and the Apprentice Boys’ Memorial Hall.

On Friday May 23, the American visitors headed for the Giant’s Causeway and over the day they covered a large part of Co Antrim, including Bushmills, The Glens, Larne and Carrickfergus, where they viewed the Andrew Jackson home at Boneybefore.

They had an overnight stay at the Ballygally Castle Hotel outside Larne, and were all enthralled by the stunning scenary of the Antrim Coast.

At the hotel, a reception was hosted by the Ulster-Scots Agency, with chairman Lord Laird of Artigarvan and vice-chairman Jim Devenney warmly welcoming them all to Northern Ireland.

Planning and supervision of the trip was made by Cherel B. Henderson, associate director of the East Tennessee Historical Society, and Professor George Schweitzer, from the University of Tennessee.

An evening of entertainment, compered by George Holmes, deputy chief executive of the Ulster-Scots Agency, included a presentation of On Eagle’s Wing musical by its director John Anderson, and appropriate musical items from the Ailsa folk group from Co Antrim.  

East Antrim Ulster Unionist MP Roy Beggs dropped in to say hello to the American visitors and also present was Billy Kennedy, author of seven books on the Scots-Irish 18th century settlements in America, who has worked closely with the East Tennessee Historical Society over recent years.

Various presentations were made by Cherel Henderson and Professor George Schweitzer, who handed over certificates confirming honorary first citizenship of Tennessee to Lord Laird of Artigarvan and to George Holmes, Jim Devenney, Maynard Hanna and Billy Kennedy, who visited East Tennessee last October to promote the Ulster-Scots Agency leaflets on Ulster-American links.

The American party left Larne for Scotland on the morning of May 24 and, over five days, they visited  Ayrshire with its Robert Burns area, Glasgow, Stirling, Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands.

* On Eagle’s Wing musical will be presented by John Anderson and Lord Laird and officials of the Ulster-Scots Agency at a reception in Atlanta, Georgia this week-end.