P6 visit the Ulster American Folk Park
As part of of W.A.U topic, 'Hunger'. Primary 6 visited to the Ulster American Folk Park and got to experience what life was really like at the time of the Great Hunger in Ireland for people of different social class backgrounds.
This was an excellent educational experience for Primary 6 students as the Folk Park offers a detailed, interactive look at the Irish Famine and the emigration of Irish people to the New World, particularly to America, during the 18th and 19th centuries.
The boys and girls explored a range of recreated historical buildings, including traditional Irish cottages, the famine-era coffin ship that helped millions escape Ireland at a devastating period in our history.
The Folk Park really brought our novels (Under the Hawthorn Tree, The Wildflower Girl & The Fields of Home) to life by showcasing how people lived and the struggles they faced. Exhibits demonstrate how the Great Famine (1845-1852) led many to leave Ireland in search of a better life in North America, often facing hardships along the way.
The park also provided opportunities for students to engage with historical interpretations of daily life in Ireland during the famine, the journey across the Atlantic, and life in the New World after emigration. This experience helped to bring history to life and has inspired discussions on topics like migration, resilience, and cultural heritage.
What a great day out, even if it was freezing.
Greenhaw Primary School,
Carnhill Estate,
Londonderry
BT48 8BA
Tel:028 7135 1908