Bankers invited back to homestead

By Freya McClements
BBC News

Thomas Mellon was born in this cottage near Omagh in 1813

A 200-year-old stone farmhouse with an open fire and chickens running in and out... an unlikely destination for executives from a US bank.

In town for a major investment conference, the Bank of New York Mellon has added an extra item to its agenda - the Ulster American Folk Park.

In 1818, a five-year-old boy emigrated to America from the house in Castletown, County Tyrone, that now forms the centrepiece of the park.

That child, Thomas Mellon, went on to found what was then known as the Mellon Bank.

He also was a successful lawyer and judge, and by the time of his death was one of America's wealthiest men and the patriarch of the Mellon family in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Now known as the Bank of New York Mellon, representatives from the company are to visit the ancestral homestead on Friday.

The change of plan was the result of written invitations from Omagh District Council and West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty.

Mr Doherty said Thomas Mellon's story was equally relevant today.

"In my letter of invitation, I detailed his journey from his humble beginnings outside Omagh before emigrating at the age of five to America with his parents to becoming one of the most inspirational and successful business leaders in the United States.

"As well as learning more about the Mellon legacy in the area during their visit, I also expressed the hope that they would take the opportunity to learn more about Omagh, its background as a market town and its present position as a thriving, regional centre of population," he said.

Mr Doherty said he hoped the visit would lead to increased links between Tyrone and the US.

"This visit is a golden opportunity to re-forge the strong historical links between the Mellon family and the Omagh area which, in turn I hope, will lead to the Bank of New York Mellon examining the many potential investment opportunities that Omagh has to offer."