Hughes House

Ulster: Map location 12

This is John Joseph Hughes’ boyhood home, moved from Dernaved townland in County Monaghan.

Look at the jamb wall as you enter – this would have protected the hearth from draughts and offered the family some privacy. Hughes left this house for America in 1817, where he eventually became Catholic Archbishop of New York and the builder of 5th Avenue’s St Patrick’s Cathedral.

John Joseph Hughes was born in 1797 on a small farm near the village of Augher in County Tyrone. A few years later the family moved to this house which was on a nearby farm in the townland of Dernaved, County Monaghan.

The Hughes family were small farmers, adding to their income by weaving linen cloth and growing flax which the women of the house spun into linen thread. They rented extra land at high prices during the Napoleonic Wars when linen was also at a high price. After the wars, linen prices fell but rents remained high. Hughes' father and brother emigrated to America. In 1817, they sent back money for him to follow.

He had some education but had to take labouring jobs in America. Although he wanted to train as a Catholic priest, he was at first rejected. However, a nun saw talent within him and he eventually started his training in 1820. He was ordained in 1826 and rose to be a bishop by 1838.

Hughes’ rise coincided with a great increase in Catholic Irish immigration to the USA, and he became known as someone who would fight for their rights.

Look at the jamb wall the single brick structure between the front door and the hearth of the kitchen. It is there to prevent draughts. The occupants have privacy and can see through the small opening in the wall. The house is typical of dwellings in South Ulster at that time.

Developing the Narrative

The Ulster American Folk Park strives to give a diverse range of perspectives on the story of migration from Ulster to North America, from the 18th century to the early 20th century. We believe in an inclusive approach to the exploration of our past, reflecting and representing multiple perspectives, which can open minds and promote respect and empathy. Learn more about our commitment here.

John Joseph Hughes and Slavery

As a young man, Hughes expressed sympathy for the enslaved people he oversaw in the gardens of his employer. In later years, Hughes’ primary concern was the acceptance of Irish Catholics in a Protestant American society. Though he supported the Union war effort during the Civil War, he did so to preserve the Union rather than to abolish slavery. Like many of his Irish co-religionists, he worried that Irish migrants would face greater competition for jobs from formerly enslaved people should abolition come to fruition.