Immersive Ancestral Cottage Trail set to attract international visitors
Thursday 2 July 2026
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is proud to be part of a unique ancestral cottage trail across Northern Ireland showcasing five significant ancestral cottages spanning generations.
This immersive trail will offer visitors a unique opportunity to explore the rich historical and cultural connections between Ulster and the United States. It is a partnership between Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Mid Ulster District Council and the Ulster American Folk Park.
The launch of the trail coincides with America 250, the celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It presents an innovative, collaborative tourism experience that enables visitors to learn how ordinary Ulster families played extraordinary roles in shaping the history of the United States.
Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon, welcoming the initiative said: “Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is delighted to strengthen the links between our presidential homesteads in Cullybackey and Carrickfergus with other important ancestral cottages across Northern Ireland. With growing interest from American visitors, as well as those interested in culture and history, this collaborative approach will allow visitors to discover our rich heritage and connect with the compelling local stories in each cottage through authentic experiences.
“We remain committed to working in partnership to further develop our tourism potential and attract new visitors to the Borough. We are proud to launch this exciting addition to our tourism offering and look forward to welcoming visitors from across the world to experience our stories, heritage and connections that make this region so special.”
The trail includes two ancestral cottages in Mid and East Antrim, President Arthur Homestead in Cullybackey and Andrew Jackson Cottage in Carrickfergus, and will be marketed to tour operators across the world. The trail also includes visits to Pogue’s Entry Historical Cottage in Antrim, U.S. Grant Ancestral Homestead in Dungannon and The Mellon Homestead at the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh.
Visitors will have the opportunity to engage in living history experiences such as storytelling sessions, traditional griddle baking demonstrations and traditional music workshops.
For further detail on the trail, please visit the Ancestral Cottages Trail NI website.