Working Over By: Donegal Emigrant Working Lives in Scotland - Exhibition
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Working Over By: Donegal Emigrant Working Lives in Scotland (1940–1990)
The Culture Division of Donegal County Council in partnership with the Mellon Centre for Migration Studies, presents this major exhibition exploring the working lives of Donegal men and women who emigrated to Scotland between 1940 and 1990.
Few families in County Donegal remain untouched by stories of emigration or seasonal migration. Working Over By brings these experiences to life through personal narratives, photographs, oral history recordings, and artefacts collected from public repositories and community contributions.
What You’ll Discover
- The exhibition covers a wide range of industries and workplaces in Scotland, including seasonal farm labour, transport, construction (tunnels, bridges, hydro-electric schemes), hospitality, domestic service, teaching, the health sector, sport, and more.
- Interactive listening stations offer audio from interviews collected, revealing first hand life and work experiences.
- A digital display and temporary “legacy wall” invite visitors to share their family stories, photographs, and suggestions on how connections between Donegal and Scotland endure today.
Publication
A complimentary, illustrated booklet offering historical context, profiles of emigrant occupations, and space to record your own family’s migrating story is available to all visitors to the exhibition.
Events & Launch
- The exhibition officially opened on Friday, 11 July 2025, at Donegal County Museum, with former footballer and Donegal Diaspora Ambassador Packie Bonner, in the presence of Cathaoirleach Cllr Paul Canning.
- Throughout summer and autumn 2025, a programme of talks, panel discussions, and living history performances will accompany the exhibition, including the launch of a second free booklet on Donegal workers in Glasgow’s transport system.
- Following its run in County Donegal, a travelling version of Working Over By will open in Glasgow in September 2025, with further venues across Scotland in 2026.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
| Dates |
July 2025 to January 2026 |
| Location |
Donegal County Museum, High Road, Letterkenny, F92 K123 |
| Opening Hours |
Mon–Fri: 10 am–4:30 pm (closed 12:30–1:00 pm), Sat: 1 pm–4:30 pm |
| Admission |
Free of charge |
For image or object contributions, or to share your family’s story, please contact:
Donegal County Heritage Office
📞 (074) 916 3824
📧 donegalscotland@donegalcoco.ie