In 1764 the Rev. Thomas Clark gathered his congregation at the Cahans meeting house, near Ballybay Co. Monaghan. Answering "the call" from America, Clark then led some 300 men, women and children on foot to the port of Newry, and boarded ship for New York. From New York they travelled up the Hudson; first to Albany, then Stillwater before finally settling in today's Salem, Washington County NY. Their journey has become known as the "Cahans Exodus"
Anthony Anderton first became aware of the "Cahans Exodus" during a 2015 visit to Ballybay- his mother's hometown. He researched the history of the Exodus, and contacted the Cahans Heritage Committee. In 2023 and 2024 he visited Ballybay and retraced the overland "Exodus" route, making photographs of sites and locations in Monaghan, Down and Louth.
In early February 2026 he will visit Salem NY to continue his project research and he will include this material in the presentation to the IAHM community.
This is a free event, Please RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/from-drumlins-to-the-new-world-tickets-1982990825941?aff=oddtdtcreator
About Anthony Anderton
Anthony Anderton is a graduate of the University of Queensland Australia, with degrees in Arts, Law and a Masters in Asian Politics.
Prior to his career in writing / photography and the arts, his professional experience included academic teaching and research in Australian universities, international trade diplomacy for the Australian government in China, and working in financial services in the Asia-Pacific / China for an international insurance firm.
From 2000 until 2018 he worked in the arts and creative sectors, first as a freelance writer and photographer based in Singapore, before relocating to Brisbane Australia where he managed a creative arts program for disadvantaged artists and initiated a local arts festival to promote the work of artists with a lived experience of mental health issues.
Since 2018 he has continued working as a photographer / researcher on projects in Australia, Asia and Ireland. In addition to work researching and documenting the "Cahans Exodus" from Ireland to America, he is developing a long-term project documenting the experiences of travellers on China's Southern Silk Road - from southwest China to present day-Myanmar. Images from this project have been exhibited in Australia, China and Singapore.
Writing - Photography - Workshops and Presentations
Anthony Anderton's writing and photography have appeared in a wide range of publications covering heritage conservation, environmental issues, travel and tourism, the environment, and cultural and social issues and themes and interviews; these publications have included The Guardian (on-line), the Sydney Morning Herald, the Australian Financial Review, Asian Geographic, The Diplomat, Asia Inc Magazine, Cosmos, the in-flight magazines of Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Silk Air, and Prestige Magazine (Singapore). His photographic images have been exhibited in Australia, China and Southeast Asia.
He has delivered workshops, talks and presentations for schools and community groups, heritage and cultural groups and professional organisations in Australia, China and Southeast Asia