John Gilmour was a founding member and first Secretary of the West Tyrone Historical Society of which he is now President. The society was established as the “adult education wing” of the Ulster American Folk Park with the aim of promoting an interest in all things historical, including the local area, Ulster and Ireland and emigration to the wider world. He is very proud of the achievements of the society over the last twenty years and of its growing membership.

John is currently Director of Development for the National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland ( MAGNI) and was previously ( 1992 – 2001) Director of the Ulster American Folk Park . He joined the staff of the newly opened museum in 1976 as its first Education Officer and was responsible of its early development as a major resource for research, teaching and learning.