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The Homes They Left Behind | Old Irish Cottages & American Farmhouses

Dainty Diaries

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Irish emigration is a story shared by many countries around the world. The Ulster American Folk Park focuses on those who made the journey to America, so that's the path we'll be exploring together in today's video.

Have you ever wondered how the cosy Irish cottage compares to the classic American farmhouse?
Join me as we step back in time at the incredible Ulster American Folk Park, following the journey thousands of Irish families once made across the Atlantic.

We begin in Ireland, wandering through traditional whitewashed cottages, village streets and historic homes before boarding an emigrant ship bound for America.
On the other side of the ocean, we explore early American towns, stores and beautiful farmhouses to see how homes evolved in a new land.

Whether you love cottagecore interiors, farmhouse décor, historic homes, cosy living or simply enjoy discovering beautiful places, this is such an inspiring journey.

Along the way I share fascinating details about everyday life, architecture and the stories behind these homes, while soaking up plenty of decorating inspiration for anyone who loves timeless country style.

If you enjoy cosy home inspiration, cottage gardens, slow living, DIY projects, historic homes and beautiful interiors, I'd love to have you subscribe and join me for future adventures.

What do you prefer... the charm of an Irish cottage or the warmth of an American farmhouse? Let me know in the comments!

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20 Comments

@DaintyDiaries Creator 18 hours ago Pinned

Happy Sunday everyone ❤ if you enjoyed this please leave a comment as this style of video doesn’t usually perform well on the channel and I wanted to try something new 🫶🏼

@Carol-kkIrl 2 hours ago

We are all here because those who went before us were strong ❤

@jillianl8085 17 hours ago

Girrrlll....WHEN did you add Documentary Filmmaker to your plethora of other skills!?! Thank you SO much for such a beautiful, heartfelt and informative video today. I live in California and I had Grandparents that came from Ireland. I am now starving for more information on their journey. Again...thank you so so much for sharing this GORGEOUS "Documentary ". You did a wonderful job❤👏👏

@patriciareeps3389 17 hours ago

Thank you for that beautiful tour. I have strong Irish roots all over Ireland. My maternal grandmother was born in the late 1800’s on a ship bound for America Her name was Anna Lynch. She was married at 15 to my grandfather John Mooney. His family was from Offaly. My father was born to my grandmother Elizabeth Molloy and William Fox of County Down. Both sides settled in New York City. I’m sure their lives were very hard. The Mooney family grew to 9 children. Three of the sons became policemen and 1 a firefighter. I think of my ancestors often and the sacrifices they made to come here and have a better life
For my 82nd birthday my 5 children bought me a small piece of the old sod in County Roscommon. You’ve shown how tough it was in the 1800’s for my Irish family and I thank you for not romanticizing it❤

@momof4hs 10 hours ago

I live in Texas... just a few miles away from a place called "Washington on the Brazos". It's very similar to this place. It's considered the Birthplace of Texas! I live in a historical home built in the 1860's with lots of history. My grandparents on my dad's side came from Ireland. I traced them back to Co. Sligo and Co. Cork. I have been to Ireland many times and eventually was able to find my grandfather's old homestead and ruins in Sligo and was able to walk through them. Very emotional for me! I've also toured around Cobh where he left from in 1911. Thank you for a beautiful tour!

@LizZee-uj7ty 15 hours ago

Oh my gosh- thank you so much for this!!! Our ancestors left in 1835- narrowly missing the famine. We have drawings of their home, have read about them in the newspapers, but have not actually seen how they lived. This has meant so much to us and we are eternally grateful to you for filming it. ❤️

@ennasus5964 16 hours ago

What a great experience going from Ireland on a ship and to America in a day. That is a fantastic museum and I would like to visit. Thank you, Catherine, for taking us with you and narrating the stories and your thoughts and feelings! How resiliant but then desperate these people must have been and how courageous!

@debbebunch9973 15 hours ago

Thank you Catherine! What an excellent narration of Irish history! The buildings were beautiful on both sides! 😊 I am a Linn on my Father's side and have always felt Ireland tugging at my heartstrings.. The music and storytelling is enchanting and at the core of Irish strength and charm! Thank you again for sharing, it was brilliant..! 💚🤍❤️

@reginaschwartz3272 11 hours ago

How exciting! My great-grandmother came to America from Ireland in the 1880s.

@sharonmaye2194 13 hours ago

I loved this place we took our 3 granddaughter here when they came for their summer holidays.

@dianaduncan4800 10 hours ago

My maternal great -grandmother came from Ireland, my grandmother was the first generation born in America. My grandmother was 4’ 6” and she had bright red hair. She used to sing Irish songs and dance Irish jigs when she was cooking. I suppose she learned it from her mom. I have and treasure my grandmother’s Blue Willow dishes now, that are over 100 years old. Grandma used to serve all the holiday meals on those dishes, Christmas, New Year’s, St. Patrick’s Day, Thanksgiving, Easter. I saw some of the Blue Willow dishes in those displays in the old Irish cottages you showed us. My paternal side ancestors got captured by the British during the Jacobean period and put on a ship and sent to America. So both sides of my family are Celtic. 💚

@kimberlyburns762 17 hours ago

Thank you for taking on this trip with you. Being of Irish decent in America, I found it interesting. The people must have been very brave to leave a their families and go on an unknown journey.

@JennyT101 16 hours ago

I am not Irish at all, but I l still love the history.
Great video!

@DawnaB8976 14 hours ago

Had the privilege of seeing a small part of Ireland about 15 years ago. We did a cruise of Norway, Iceland and Ireland. Of course the bus tour was mostly about a castle that the Queen used while in Ireland. What I remember most was how narrow the roads were. Our bus met a truck, and the truck knocked the side mirror off. Our driver was upset because it was a new bus and he thought he would get in trouble. My great grandfather was a sailor, from Norway, and he came to Canada and settled which is wear I live now. I do have a porch in the back and a small one in the front on a small house in the City. Loved your tour.

@Nannie-Short-Legs 14 hours ago

Hi My last name is Henry and my ancestors came from Galway county but moved to Australia in the 1800’s . I truly feel an affinity with Ireland and love hearing you and your stories. Thank you

@lauramclaine504 7 hours ago

My great grandfather came from Cork Ireland. His last name was COTTER I found this out during a cotter family reunion. They trace the family heritage back to the 1700s with letters, immigration papers and pictures from the 1800s. I didn’t get a chance to read them as it was about 100 people in this family reunion I have reddish hair, green, hazel eyes very fair skin and also the Celtic curse hemochromatosis which was found when I was 40s cannot get tan. I burn was born with freckles in Irish curly hair. The incredible part of it is is that my father was Spanish, and my mother was Irish and Scottish. You did such a beautiful job. I saw things that I never thought I’d see don’t think I’ll ever get to go to Ireland and experience it myself, but you made me feel like I was there and I appreciate it.🦋🦋🦋

@PatriciaPalmeri 15 hours ago

The video is great.Thank you I am not Irish; however, my given first name is Patricia, for Saint Patrick of course. I was raised in Catholic school and the name was important. Later on in life my mother married an Irish gentleman (her second marriage) His name was William Gerald P. He was born in Belfast some time in the early 1900's. He passed in 2003. He was an adopted child by an Irish couple thru the Catholic Church. They immigrated to Canada; eventually settled in New York. He was a happy soul. He talked about champ as a food and loved an occasional rum. He also loved that cup of tea every afternoon with milk and sugar. It had to be black tea. He also loved porridge, our version of oatmeal. and roast beef and potatoes. His adopted Mom did return to Ireland to visit when he was a small boy. It was a village not unlike what you described according to William. Thank you for the memory snapshot. Lovely!💗

@lisalife7994 9 hours ago

Great video Catherine. I will never understand why these types of videos don’t do well. I find them very interesting. Thank you!

@mariafusco7899 16 hours ago

Oh, Catherine, what a wonderful video! This is such a wonderful museum! My Irish grandmother came with her parents and siblings at one time which is pretty remarkable considering the cost. Alas, she didn’t fair very well here. She died at the age of 39 of tuberculosis pregnant with her 12th child. My mother was only two when she passed, so, no interesting stories, but my mother had picked up a certain way of speaking that was a bit foreign without the accent. I live in New England and there are many old homes scattered about that have been preserved as museums and I can say that there was a lot of rich color here. They used berries to create color in their stains, and they were fond of stenciling. That’s what struck me about your #1 wallpaper. Thank you, Catherine, for such a special trip. It is a way of becoming truly grateful for what we’ve been given.

@friendsofaprilhillpark5443 15 hours ago

Thank you for this tour. My father's grandparents came from Ireland, My great-grandfather brought his sister with him. My great-grandmother followed him on a different ship. He was the gardener on her family's land. She sailed around Cape Horn. They ended up in San Francisco opened a green grocery and pub/saloon. There is a lot more. I wish I knew more of their lives.