Exploring Mid-Tyrone’s migration stories from the Great War

FASCINATING family letters and personal accounts of wartime migration will take centre stage at a special seminar in Omagh next month.

The Mellon Centre for Migration Studies is preparing to welcome history enthusiasts and anyone interested in local heritage to its 26th annual Literature of Irish Exile seminar on Saturday, November 21.

This year’s event, entitled Military, Mid-Tyrone and Migration, will shine a light on the lives and experiences of people from Mid-Tyrone who migrated and played their part in the Great War of 1914-1918.

Two speakers will bring these important stories to life, drawing on historical research, personal recollections and treasured family correspondence to explore the connections between war, migration and local communities.

Laura Kwasniewska, who recently published From Pastures Green, Mid-Tyrone in the Great War 1914-1918, will share insights from her research into the lives of people from the area who experienced the conflict.

Her book contains biographies of many individuals from Mid-Tyrone and documents their experiences during the Great War. Her presentation will focus on those who migrated from the area and subsequently played a part in the war, helping to uncover the personal stories behind a defining period in history.

Joining her will be local Dunamanagh historian Leslie Craig, who will explore family letters that touch on both the Great War and migration.

These remarkable pieces of correspondence offer a valuable window into the past, revealing personal memories of wartime experiences alongside the challenges, journeys and processes associated with migration. The letters provide a unique opportunity to discover history through the words and recollections of those who lived it.

Together, the presentations promise an engaging insight into the people and families whose lives were shaped by conflict, movement and the experience of leaving home.

The seminar will take place in the library at the Mellon Centre for Migration Studies, located at the Ulster American Folk Park, 2 Mellon Road, Omagh, BT78 5QU.

The free event will begin at 10am with tea and coffee, providing an opportunity for attendees to meet and chat before the presentations. Proceedings will conclude at noon.

Booking is advisable, with tickets available through Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/26th-literature-of-irish-exile-seminar-tickets-2002705046706?aff=oddtdtcreator.

The annual seminar offers an opportunity to discover more about the rich migration history of Ireland and the individual stories that continue to connect local families with the wider world