AQW 22389/22-27

Miss Michelle McIlveen
Democratic Unionist Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 11/02/2025
Answered On Date: 25/03/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities for an update on the preservation and erection of the McGavock house at the Ulster American Folk Park, a property which was brought back from Virginia and holds significant historical value as the venue for the signing of the Fincastle Resolution.

Answer:

This issue is an operational matter for National Museums NI.

I have sought the requested information from the Chief Executive, who has advised me as follows:

“The McGavock house was dismantled and relocated from Virginia to Ulster American Folk Park in the 1980s. It has been stored there ever since and, as a national museum, we remain committed to its care and preservation. Unfortunately, it has never been displayed due to the amount of conservation/restoration work required to reconstruct it. We have also been concerned about how the house would fare in our damp climate. However, we are now planning a redevelopment of the visitor centre and galleries as part of the Mid-South-West Regional Growth Deal and the McGavock House has been an integral part of our discussions. It is one of the oldest houses in our collection and we fully appreciate the importance of the emigrant story of the McGavocks and their role in the story of American independence. James McGavock was one of thirteen elected representatives to sign the Fincastle Resolutions on 20 January 1775, which promised resistance to the British crown to preserve political liberties. This was an important step on the road that led to the American War of Independence and the Declaration of Independence of 1776. We are looking at ways to incorporate it into our new development, potentially as an iconic centrepiece in an indoor setting, with the necessary environmental controls”.

For any future queries relating to operational matters, you may wish to contact National Museums NI directly. Making direct contact with the ALB will ensure that you receive the information in the shortest possible timeframe and make best use of public resources.