Ulster-Scots Virtual Visits now online
Date Posted: July 2, 2021
The first phase of Ulster-Scots Virtual Visits is now online. The series of visits offers users a 360-degree virtual tour experience, immersing them in the heritage, culture and history of places in Ulster with an Ulster-Scots connection. The project was developed by local company Virtual Visit Tours with the support of Northern Ireland Screen’s Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund and in partnership with the Ulster-Scots Agency.
Fifteen sites are featured in the first phase release, including the likes of Carrickfergus Castle, St Columb’s Cathedral in Londonderry, Castle Balfour in Fermanagh and Arthur Cottage in Cullybackey. More than 40 sites will be included in the full series.
Richard Hanna, Director of Education and Language in the Ulster-Scots Agency commented:
“This series provides an opportunity to view online a range of sites with Ulster-Scots interest that have been captured using 360 degree and aerial photography. The sites are organised by county, allowing visitors to browse sites across Ulster. Whether visitors are familiar with the places or are seeing them for the first time, this experience offers a fascinating insight into our built heritage and its Ulster-Scots links.
“The Ulster-Scots Agency is grateful for the support of the Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund to make this project possible.”
Thomas McVea, Producer and Principal Photographer for Virtual VisitTours commented:
“The team here is immensely proud of what we have created and grateful to the Ulster Scots Agency and Northern Ireland Screen for their confidence and support throughout the production.
“We hope people will enjoy using this interactive WebVR (Virtual Reality in the browser) experience, ‘virtually’ visiting the individual places of interest waymarked within and immersing themselves in the local Ulster Scots heritage…discovering places known and not so known with an Ulster-Scots connection.
“This application allows users to experience virtual reality without the need for specialist software or to download an app – making experiences accessible to everyone online, no matter what device you have.”
