Irish migration operated in three directions over the course of the last four centuries; immigration, emigration and internal migration. The latter phenomenon has largely been overshadowed by the study of movements into and out of the island and this presentation seeks to explore this relatively neglected aspect.

Whilst the profile of migration within the island never matched that of immigration or emigration, it nonetheless was a significant factor shaping society here. Particularly important were movements from the countryside to towns and cities, helping, for example, to shape the rapid growth of Dublin in the eighteenth century and then of Belfast in the late Victorian and Edwardian periods.

The talk will aim to shed light on the lives of internal migrants and illustrate how their experiences helped shape the course of Irish history.

Dr Paddy Fitzgerald is Head of Research and Development at the Mellon Centre for Migration Studies at the Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh. He completed his PhD. on ‘Poverty and Vagrancy in Early Modern Ireland’ at Queen’s University Belfast in 1994 and is co-author of Migration in Irish History, 1607-2007 (Palgrave, 2008) with Dr Brian Lambkin.

Tickets to this talk will also include a free pass to the Irish Family History Centre's research facility (does not include private consultations) which can either be used the day of the workshop or at a later date.

Special Offer! 

Our friends at EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum are kindly offering a special discount of 20% off museum tickets on the day of the talk. Simply show your Eventbrite ticket at the EPIC front desk to avail!

Spaces are limited for this event, so be sure to book ahead to avoid missing out.