Migration from Ireland has been recorded since the Early Middle Ages. Numbers fluctuated but increased to what could be classed as mass emigration during periods of famine, religious persecution and economic downturns.
The first exodus of Ulster Scots began in 1718. Famines and economic declines kept emigration at high levels during the 1800’s. Economic decline in the 1900’s kept the pattern going until the 1930’s.
All these migrations were by sea and Derry’s rail connections added to its trans-Atlantic sea-borne trading history and made it an important hub for emigration and trans-Atlantic trade.
Emigrants originally left by sail from Derry and Moville. Later, as steam overtook sail, emigrants left directly from Moville Bay or, via local coastal steamer services, from Glasgow and Liverpool.
Emigrants also left Derry and Moville to settle in the UK and to join emigrant ships from Glasgow, Liverpool and Southampton to America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.