Ulster-Scots/emigration

We Lead Across Time And Space

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“Echoes of the Ulster-Scots across the United States Of America”, “The Ulster-Scots … their footprints and songs graced the Appalachian Trails”, “We don’t just inherit, we lead across time and space.”

This is a new Ulster-Scots (Visual History) mural on Ulster-Scots (or, Scotch-Irish) emigration in the 1700s to the British colonies that in time became the United States, painted in North Howard Street and Fifth Street.

Upon arrival at eastern sea-ports, many of the Scotch-Irish headed west across the Allegheny mountains and down into the Appalachians. By 1790, it is estimated, almost 200,000 people, or 6% of the population, of the recently-created United States Of America were of Ulster-Scots heritage (WP).

The remaining panels bring us from the founding of the United States in 1776 to the space age. The portrait is a rendition of John Trumbull’s painting ‘Declaration Of Independence’ (image at WP) along with (below the “250”) the signature of “Cha[rles] Thomson”, who was born in Maghera, served as Secretary of the Continental Congress, designed the Great Seal Of The United States (which appears next to the right), and signed the Declaration (Ulster Scots Agency pdf). The person third from the left is Robert R. Livingston, one of the Committee Of Five that prepared the Declaration; he also negotiated the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 (Discover Ulster Scots).

The flag is a combination of a proposed Ulster Scots flag and the Stars And Stripes of the United States.

North Howard Street/Fifth Street, west Belfast

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Copyright © 2026 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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A Better Place

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Discover Ulster-Scots (web) has added some more boards in north Belfast, joining the recent gallery of famous figures at Mountcollyer Avenue (see The Scots In Ulster).

The boards shown here are in North Queen St: “Ulster-Scots have been making Belfast a better place for over 400 years. Many of Belfast’s leading charitable, religious and educational institutions were founded by Ulster-Scots.” with images of BRA (James Crombie), Clifton House (possibly William Tennant is intended), the Linen Hall Library (a list of founders can be found on page 11 of this History), the Assembly buildings (of the Presbyterian church), and Queen’s (John Mowat).

Additional new boards, concerning soda farls and potato bread, and brown lemonade, can be seen in the Paddy Duffy Collection: The Ulster Fry.

See also: the Visual History page on Ulster-Scots murals.

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Copyright © 2024 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The Scotch-Irish Of My Native Virginia

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“If defeated everywhere else I will make my final stand for liberty with the Scotch-Irish (Ulster-Scots) of my native Virginia.” George Washington commanded the Continental Army during the revolution and served as the first president of the United States beginning in 1789. His ancestry was English and the quote is undocumented, the closest being this statement from McKinley. The note in the corner reads “History records that almost half of Washington’s army were Ulster-Scots”; the basis for this claim might be General (Charles?) Lee’s report that “half the rebel Continental Army were from Ireland.” (See Chapter 2 of Bagenal, The American Irish and their Influence on Irish Politics.)

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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The War Of Northern Aggression

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The confederate attempt to secede from the United States is here put in parallel with loyalist resistance to Home Rule. The page on Ulster-Scots Murals contains an attempt to understand the logic of this mural.

Various “sons of Ulster who led the confederate army” “during the War of Northern Aggression” [a.k.a. the Civil War] are quoted in the mural:

  • “Do your duty as I have done mine – General [James Ewell Brown] Jeb Stuart”
  • “It is history that teaches us to hope – General Robert E Lee”
  • “All that I am and all that I have is at the service of my country – General Thomas Jonathan Stonewall Jackson”
  • “The government at Washington denying our right to self-government, refused even to listen to any proposals for peaceful separation. Nothing was then left to do but prepare for war – President Jefferson Davis, inaugural address at Richmond, Virginia, February 22nd 1862”.
  • “My Ulster blood is my most priceless heritage” on the left-most panel is from James Buchanan.

The sons of Ulster who wrote and signed the Ulster Covenant during the Home Rule crisis of 1912 are described in this quote:

“Being convinced in our consciences that Home Rule would be disastrous to the material well-being of Ulster as well as the whole of Ireland, subversive of our civil and religious freedom … – The Ulster Covenant, written by Thomas Sinclair, Ulster Day, September 1912 inspired by Scotland’s Solemn League and Covenant, Greyfriar’s Churchyard, Edinburgh 1638.”

The right-most panel reads, “From pioneers to Presidents”. Murals under this theme – including two of Buchanan – were painted in 1999 (Belfast | Londonderry). This mural dates back to 2005 and perhaps earlier, part of a second wave of Ulster Scots murals that included Davy Crockett in Ballymena (2002), a gallery of famous famous faces in Newtownards (2005), and Andrew Jackson in the Shankill (c. 2007). See Visual History 08.

See also: the Confederate flag flying in Cluan Place | a confederate battle flag in Ballymacarett.

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Copyright © 2008 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Andrew Jackson

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“Andrew Jackson was the 7th President of the USA and the first of Ulster-Scots descent, his family emigrated from Carrickfergus to North Carolina in 1765. After leading the army to victory in the Battle Of New Orleans in 1815 Jackson became a national hero and became known as “Old Hickory” after the tough wood of the native American tree. His “common man” credentials earned Jackson a massive popular vote and swept him into the Presidency for two consecutive terms (1829-1837).” He also hated the British, owned slaves, and signed the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which led to the infamous “Trail of Tears” (Irish Times).

See also the Visual History page on Ulster-Scots murals.

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Copyright © 2008 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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