explore the museum

Join us as we explore the buildings that make up the Ulster Folk Museum. Learn why they were brought to the museum; the stories of the people connected to them; and why they are an essential part of our shared heritage.

A white house with a yellow door stands open. The roof is thatched, and you can see the chimney and a blue-grey sky above.

By the 1950s, vernacular buildings were disappearing from the Ulster landscape.

The founders of the museum believed these buildings represented a way of life that was worth preserving. Since our opening in 1964, we have saved and replicated vernacular buildings from every county of Ulster which you can explore by visiting, or browsing online.

Buildings in Focus

A whitewashed forge sits with its door open, the room inside very dark.

Pound Forge

The Pound Forge from Ballinderry, Co. Antrim, now has a skilled Blacksmith, Matthew, using the forge to develop his skills and demonstrate smithing.

A two storey building hosting a pub. The name Hugh McCusker is painted above the downstairs frosted windows.

McCusker’s Pub

McCusker's is now a fully-licensed pub! Warm up with a quick drink in this authentic replica building.

A whitewashed cottage with a thatch roof and green trims.

Duncrun Cottier's House

This was the first vernacular building to be moved and rebuilt at the Ulster Folk Museum.

Town

In a quiant garden, a large two-storey whitewashed and thatched cottage is flanked by two large hedges.

The Old Rectory

Lismacloskey, Co. Antrim

A green corner shop sits on the corner of a red-brick building.

Corner Shop

Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim

A row of whitewashed houses with colourful doors.

Labourers’ Houses, Tea Lane

Belfast, Co. Antrim

Field

A whitewashed thatched cottage sits in the sunlight.

Ballydugan Weaver’s house

Ballydugan, Co. Down

A small stone tower with no door sits in a field.

Tullylish Bleach Green Tower

Tullylish, Co. Down

A stone building with a slate tiled roof

Lisrace Forge

Lisrace, Co. Fermanagh

Wood

Two stone buildings sit in a sunny field.

Straid Corn Mill

Straid, Co. Antrim

A stone building with red windows and doors and a thatched roof.

Gortiscashel Flax Mill

Gortiscashel, Co. Tyrone

A white house with a slate roof, on a sunny hill.

Coshkib Hill Farm

Coshkib, Co. Antrim

Hill

A wide shot of a whitewashed farm wall, the farm buildings peaking out beyond.

Ballyveaghmore Farm

Ballyveaghmore, Co. Down

A small stone cottage sits in a large open space

Magheragallan Byre Dwelling

Magheragallan, Co. Donegal

A stone formation sits in a sunny field

Ballintaggart Court Tomb

Ballintaggart, Co. Armagh