Stories

Our collections tell the story of our shared experiences. These articles help to connect the dots around who we are, the past we share and the future we are building together.

A postcard with a ship on the front, reading 'overseas greetings'.

Stories

The McBrien Postcard Collection

Join Fiona McClean, Curatorial Assistant, in exploring the McBrien postcard collection - 'the instant messages of the time'.

Image of a red brick house with a garden and cabin outline in the foreground

Stories

Reframing the Rogan House

The Tennessee Rogan Plantation House is home to many different stories. Explore how we're developing the narrative.

A close up photograph of a turkey. It has a large black and white body, a bright red long neck, and a piercing stare.

Stories

Unravelling Thanksgiving

Curator of Emigration Liam Corry explores the tradition of Thanksgiving and unravels its history.

Stories

Murmurations Sculpture

A collaborative art piece echoing Ulster’s links with the Appalachians and a reflection on contemporary migration to Ireland.

Learn more about our commitment

Mellon Migration

Begin the Journey

Resources

The Mellon Migration Story

Learn more about the story of Thomas Mellon and migration

1/5

Serial

An Irish Goodbye

Discover what Thomas Mellon's life was like in Ulster, before he left for America.

A log cabin, made of two rooms. Behind the cabin are large trees. To the left, the leaves are brownish red; to the right, they are green.

2/5

Serial

A New Beginning

The Mellons arrive in America to new beginnings in a log cabin.

Bad Bridget

Interview

Finding Bad Bridget

Hear from Dr Elaine Farrell (Queen's University) and Dr Leanne McCormick (Ulster University) who came up with the concept for the exhibition.

Jan Carson at the Bad Bridget Exhibition

Interview

The Stories Behind Bad Bridget

East Belfast author, Jan Carson talks to us about her process for writing each of the monologues of our Bad Bridget's.

Photograph of scent designer Tasha Marks at the Bad Bridget exhibition

Interview

Storytelling through Scent

Learn how scent designer Tasha Marks responds to history in an olfactory way, to imagine what sort of smells would help to tell the story of Bad Bridget.

Stories

The McBrien Postcard Collection

Developing the narrative

Reframing the Rogan House

Unravelling Thanksgiving

Murmurations Sculpture

An Ulster Emigrant and Enslavement

Independence Day: A Cause For Celebration?

Mellon Migration

The Mellon Migration Story

An Irish Goodbye

A New Beginning

Life in America

Success in America

The Return to Ireland

Bad Bridget

Finding Bad Bridget

The Stories Behind Bad Bridget

Storytelling through Scent

Reimagining Bad Bridget