Mid Ulster Connections Marked for America250
Mid Ulster District Council has marked the upcoming America250 celebrations with a symbolic tree planting initiative celebrating the district’s enduring links with the United States.
Ten native trees have been planted at the U.S. Grant Ancestral Homestead and Killymoon Castle by the Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, Councillor Frances Burton and the U.S. Consul General James Applegate. The planting forms part of a wider programme to establish 250 trees across all 11 council areas in Northern Ireland.
Speaking at the event, Council Chair, Councillor Burton said:
“Mid Ulster has a proud and lasting connection with the United States, shaped by generations of people who carried their heritage, skills and ambition across the Atlantic. This initiative is a fitting way to celebrate those ties as we look ahead to America250. The trees we plant today are a symbol of growth, friendship and the deep-rooted links that continue to connect our communities.”
U.S. Consul General James Applegate added:
“This year marks a significant milestone in the history of the American nation and the extraordinary contribution of the Scots-Irish, and later waves of Irish emigration, is firmly embedded in the fabric of our nation’s journey.
“The Grant Homestead stands as a powerful symbol of our ties of kinship as well as the immense contribution made by emigrants from County Tyrone to the United States. I am grateful to the staff and elected representatives of Mid Ulster District Council for their dedication to preserving and sharing this rich shared heritage for generations to come”.
The choice of locations reflects the deep historical ties between Mid Ulster and the United States. Ulysses S. Grant, elected the 18th President of the United States, served two terms in office. His great grandfather John Simpson was born in a farmhouse outside Ballygawley, on the site of the U.S. Grant Ancestral Homestead.
Meanwhile, Killymoon Castle stands as one of Mid Ulster’s most significant historic landmarks. Designed by renowned architect John Nash in the early 19th century, the castle reflects the architectural and cultural heritage during a period when many families emigrated to the United States.
From December 1943 to February 1944, Killymoon Castle housed over 600 American army personnel of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 82nd Airborne Division, ahead of the D-Day landings in France. Today, the Castle serves as a symbol of Mid Ulster’s rich history and its longstanding transatlantic connections.
Other Mid Ulster connections include Charles Thomson, born in the townland of Gorteade, Upperlands, near Maghera. As Secretary to the Continental Congress, the American Declaration of Independence is written in Thomson’s hand and his name (as secretary) appeared on the first published version of the Declaration. In 1782 Thomson designed the first Great Seal of America and chose what was widely considered the de facto motto of the United States: ‘E pluribus unum’ (One out of many).