The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum is a place out of time. If you wish to step roughly 100 years back, Cultra is the destination. The expansive grounds of Cultra Manor feature dozens of original relocated buildings, along with full-size reconstructions, creating a highly representative village—or even a small town—from that era. Moreover, costumed guides enhance the “time travel” experience. Equally noteworthy is the transport exhibition “across the road,” which excites fans of vintage technology.

Pros

• A complete recreation of a typical Ulster village around 1900.
• Spacious grounds offer enjoyable walks and a serene atmosphere.
• The transport museum houses rare Irish railways and other local technology.

Cons

• The size of the museum may overwhelm some visitors.

Description

• The village recreation focuses on everyday life around 1900.
• Outlying cottages, industries, and farms provide interesting paths, albeit requiring time.
• The transport section showcases vehicles built or used in Ulster.

Guide Review – Ulster Folk and Transport Museum (Cultra)

The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum transports you to another realm. As you leave your vehicle in the parking area and proceed to the information office adjacent to the old corner shop, you enter a different world. The village of Cultra awaits exploration house by house, with residents in costume eager to welcome and assist visitors. Although this experience is artificial, the exceptional museum is the closest one can get to time travel.

The village features small terraced houses alongside a bank, several churches, a local newspaper, a courthouse, and the barracks of the Royal Irish Constabulary, inviting visitors to navigate their way around. Moreover, on the outskirts, farmsteads, mills, and a meadow for bleaching linen (complete with a stout-but-short watchtower) provide a comprehensive depiction of the local economy—perfect for a leisurely exploration!

Directly across the road lies the more conventional transport exhibition, which is sure to delight train enthusiasts and vintage car lovers alike. From the diminutive rail-motors of the “Wee Donegal” to the grandest Irish steam locomotives, everything is on show. A dedicated gallery recounts the story of the ill-fated Titanic, constructed in nearby Belfast, while a rare VTOL-prototype plane honors Shorts. The innovative yet doomed De Lorean car provides a unique juxtaposition that connects both extremes of the transportation history!