Omagh
Encyclopedia
Omagh (ˈəʊmə or ˈəʊmɑː; ˈomæ – ) is the county town
of County Tyrone
, Northern Ireland. It is situated where the rivers Drumragh
and Camowen meet to form the Strule. The town, which is the largest in the county, had a population of 19,910 at the 2001 Census. Omagh also contains the headquarters of Omagh District Council
and the Western Education and Library Board. The town is twinned with East Kilbride
(Scotland
) and L'Haÿ-les-Roses
(France).
of the Irish name an Óghmaigh (modern Irish an Ómaigh), meaning "the virgin plain". A Franciscan friary was built on the site of the town in about 792 AD. Omagh was founded as a town in 1610. It served as a refuge for fugitives from the east of Tyrone during the 1641 Rebellion. In 1689, the same year as the Battle of the Boyne
, James II
arrived at Omagh, en route to Derry
. Supporters of William III
, Prince of Orange, burned the town.
In 1768 Omagh replaced Dungannon
as the county town of County Tyrone. Omagh acquired railway links to Derry in 1852, Enniskillen
in 1853 and Belfast
in 1861. The military barracks were built in 1881. In 1899 Tyrone County Hospital
was opened. Today the hospital is the subject of a major campaign to save its services. The Government of Northern Ireland
made the Great Northern Railway Board
close the Omagh – Enniskillen railway line in 1957. In accordance with The Benson Report submitted to the Northern Ireland Government in 1963, the Ulster Transport Authority
closed the – Omagh – Derry main line in 1965, leaving Omagh with no rail service. St Lucia Barracks
in the town closed on 1 August 2007.
Visitors to Omagh have included Queen Elizabeth II, Charles, Prince of Wales
, former US president Bill Clinton
and his wife Hillary Clinton, Irish president Mary McAleese
, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair
.
exploded a car bomb in the town centre. 29 people were killed in the blast – 14 women (including one pregnant with twins), 9 children and 6 men. Hundreds more were injured as a result of the blast.
In April 2011, a car bomb killed police constable Ronan Kerr. A group of former Provisional IRA members calling itself the Irish Republican Army made its first public statement later that month claiming responsibility for the killing.
of Omagh, in the parish
of Drumragh. Over time, the urban area has spread into the surrounding townlands. They include:
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An air temperature of −19.4 °C (−3 °F) was recorded once, and it remains the coldest air temperature ever recorded in Ireland.
Omagh has a history of flooding and suffered major floods in 1909, 1929, 1954, 1969, 1987, 1999 and, most recently, 12 June 2007. As a result of this, flood-walls were built to keep the water in the channel (River Strule) and to prevent it from overflowing into the flood plain. Large areas of land, mainly around the meander
s, are unsuitable for development and were developed into large, green open areas, walking routes and parks.
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
), due to its central location. In the period 2000–2003, over £80 million was invested in Omagh, and 60,960 m2 (200,000 sq ft) of new retail space was created. Shopping areas in Omagh include the Main Street Mall, Great Northern Road Retail Park and the Showgrounds Retail Park on Sedan Avenue in the town centre. High Street is also a prominent shopping street.
The Irish gauge
Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway
(L&ER) opened as far as Omagh on 3 September 1852 and was extended to Enniskillen in 1854. The Portadown, Dungannon and Omagh Junction Railway
(PD&O) reached Omagh in 1861, completing the Portadown – Derry route that came to be informally called "The Derry Road". The Great Northern Railway (Ireland)
absorbed the PD&O in 1876 and the L&ER in 1883.
The Government of Northern Ireland
made the GNR Board close the Omagh – Enniskillen line in 1957. The Ulster Transport Authority
took over the GNR's remaining lines in Northern Ireland in 1958. In accordance with The Benson Report submitted to the Northern Ireland Government in 1963, the UTA closed the "Derry Road" through Omagh on 15 February 1965. Later the Omagh Throughpass road was built on the disused trackbed.
via and also a rail link between Derry and via Omagh. However, this is only a proposal in the planning stage, and no plan has been finalised as yet.
Primary schools (elementary schools)
Grammar/secondary school
Colleges/universities
Community Radio project Strule FM broadcast for 4 weeks in December 2008. The station featured a mixture of local interest programming and music programming produced by local radio presenters, historians and South West College Media/Music students. The station received the Bronze award for Community Radio at the 2009 Sony Radio Academy Awards.
, primarily Gaelic football
, are the most popular sports in Omagh. The town has two Gaelic football clubs, Omagh St. Enda's
, which plays its home games in Healy Park
, and Drumragh Sarsfields
, which plays its home games at Clanabogan.
Healy Park
, the main GAA stadium in the town, located on the Gortin
Road, has a capacity nearing 25,000, and had the distinction of being the first Gaelic-games stadium in Ulster to have floodlights.This was completed by Barrett Sports lighting.
The stadium now hosts the latter matches of the Tyrone Senior Football Championship, as well as Tyrone's
home games, and other inter-county matches that require a neutral venue.
in 2005.
County town
A county town is a county's administrative centre in the United Kingdom or Ireland. County towns are usually the location of administrative or judicial functions, or established over time as the de facto main town of a county. The concept of a county town eventually became detached from its...
of County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
, Northern Ireland. It is situated where the rivers Drumragh
River Drumragh
The River Drumragh runs through Omagh, the county town of County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. It is also the name of the surrounding townland and the local football team....
and Camowen meet to form the Strule. The town, which is the largest in the county, had a population of 19,910 at the 2001 Census. Omagh also contains the headquarters of Omagh District Council
Omagh District Council
Omagh District Council is a local council in County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. Its headquarters is in the town of Omagh, which is the traditional county town of Tyrone. The council area is about , making it the second largest local council area in Northern Ireland with a population of just over...
and the Western Education and Library Board. The town is twinned with East Kilbride
East Kilbride
East Kilbride is a large suburban town in the South Lanarkshire council area, in the West Central Lowlands of Scotland. Designated as Scotland's first new town in 1947, it forms part of the Greater Glasgow conurbation...
(Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
) and L'Haÿ-les-Roses
L'Haÿ-les-Roses
L'Haÿ-les-Roses is a commune in the southern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. L'Haÿ-les-Roses is a sous-préfecture of the Val-de-Marne département, being the seat of the Arrondissement of L'Haÿ-les-Roses....
(France).
History
The name Omagh is an anglicisationAnglicisation
Anglicisation, or anglicization , is the process of converting verbal or written elements of any other language into a form that is more comprehensible to an English speaker, or, more generally, of altering something such that it becomes English in form or character.The term most often refers to...
of the Irish name an Óghmaigh (modern Irish an Ómaigh), meaning "the virgin plain". A Franciscan friary was built on the site of the town in about 792 AD. Omagh was founded as a town in 1610. It served as a refuge for fugitives from the east of Tyrone during the 1641 Rebellion. In 1689, the same year as the Battle of the Boyne
Battle of the Boyne
The Battle of the Boyne was fought in 1690 between two rival claimants of the English, Scottish and Irish thronesthe Catholic King James and the Protestant King William across the River Boyne near Drogheda on the east coast of Ireland...
, James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
arrived at Omagh, en route to Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
. Supporters of William III
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
, Prince of Orange, burned the town.
In 1768 Omagh replaced Dungannon
Dungannon
Dungannon is a medium-sized town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the third-largest town in the county and a population of 11,139 people was recorded in the 2001 Census. In August 2006, Dungannon won Ulster In Bloom's Best Kept Town Award for the fifth time...
as the county town of County Tyrone. Omagh acquired railway links to Derry in 1852, Enniskillen
Enniskillen
Enniskillen is a town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is located almost exactly in the centre of the county between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. It had a population of 13,599 in the 2001 Census...
in 1853 and Belfast
Belfast Great Victoria Street railway station
Belfast Great Victoria Street is a major railway station serving the city centre of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is one of two major stations in the city, along with , and is one of the four stations located in the city centre, the others being Belfast Central, and . It is near Great Victoria...
in 1861. The military barracks were built in 1881. In 1899 Tyrone County Hospital
Tyrone County Hospital
Tyrone County Hospital is the main hospital in Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The hospital has occupied the same site in the town since 1899.-Proposed closure:...
was opened. Today the hospital is the subject of a major campaign to save its services. The Government of Northern Ireland
Government of Northern Ireland
The Government of Northern Ireland is, generally speaking, whatever political body exercises political authority over Northern Ireland. A number of separate systems of government exist or have existed in Northern Ireland....
made the Great Northern Railway Board
Great Northern Railway (Ireland)
The Great Northern Railway was an Irish gauge railway company in Ireland.The Great Northern was formed in 1876 by a merger of the Irish North Western Railway , Northern Railway of Ireland, and Ulster Railway. The Ulster Railway was the GNRI's oldest constituent, having opened between Belfast and...
close the Omagh – Enniskillen railway line in 1957. In accordance with The Benson Report submitted to the Northern Ireland Government in 1963, the Ulster Transport Authority
Ulster Transport Authority
The Ulster Transport Authority ran rail and bus transport in Northern Ireland from 1948 until 1966.-Formation and consolidation:The UTA was formed by the Transport Act 1948, which merged the Northern Ireland Road Transport Board and the Belfast and County Down Railway...
closed the – Omagh – Derry main line in 1965, leaving Omagh with no rail service. St Lucia Barracks
St Lucia Barracks, Omagh
St Lucia Barracks, Omagh is a former military base in Omagh, Northern Ireland.The War Department leased the and twenty seven perches from a prominent family on 10 April 1875 for sixty pounds per annum....
in the town closed on 1 August 2007.
Visitors to Omagh have included Queen Elizabeth II, Charles, Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
, former US president Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
and his wife Hillary Clinton, Irish president Mary McAleese
Mary McAleese
Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...
, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
.
The Troubles
Omagh came into the international focus of the media on 15 August 1998, when the Real Irish Republican ArmyReal Irish Republican Army
The Real Irish Republican Army, otherwise known as the Real IRA , and styling itself as Óglaigh na hÉireann , is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation which aims to bring about a united Ireland...
exploded a car bomb in the town centre. 29 people were killed in the blast – 14 women (including one pregnant with twins), 9 children and 6 men. Hundreds more were injured as a result of the blast.
In April 2011, a car bomb killed police constable Ronan Kerr. A group of former Provisional IRA members calling itself the Irish Republican Army made its first public statement later that month claiming responsibility for the killing.
Geography
Wards
These wards are only those that cover the town.- Camowen (2001 Population – 2,377)
- Coolnagard (2001 Population – 2,547)
- Dergmoney (2001 Population – 1,930)
- Drumragh (2001 Population – 2,481)
- Gortrush (2001 Population – 2,786)
- Killyclogher (2001 Population – 2,945)
- Lisanelly (2001 Population – 2,973)
- Strule (2001 Population – 1,780)
Townlands
The town sprang up within the townlandTownland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
of Omagh, in the parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Drumragh. Over time, the urban area has spread into the surrounding townlands. They include:
- Campsie
- Conywarren
- Coolnagard Lower, Coolnagard Upper ( or )
- Creevenagh
- Culmore
- Dergmoney Lower, Dergmoney Upper
- Gortin
- Gortmore
- Killybrack
- KillyclogherKillyclogherKillyclogher is a village on the outskirts of the town of Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is also a townland and an electoral ward of Omagh District Council...
- Lammy
- Lisanelly
- Lisnamallard
- LissanLissanLissan is a civil and ecclesiastical parish that spans into County Londonderry and County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The local Roman Catholic church was built in 1908....
- Mullaghmore
- Sedennan (possibly )
- Straughroy ( or )
Weather
Omagh has a history of flooding and suffered major floods in 1909, 1929, 1954, 1969, 1987, 1999 and, most recently, 12 June 2007. As a result of this, flood-walls were built to keep the water in the channel (River Strule) and to prevent it from overflowing into the flood plain. Large areas of land, mainly around the meander
Meander
A meander in general is a bend in a sinuous watercourse. A meander is formed when the moving water in a stream erodes the outer banks and widens its valley. A stream of any volume may assume a meandering course, alternately eroding sediments from the outside of a bend and depositing them on the...
s, are unsuitable for development and were developed into large, green open areas, walking routes and parks.
Demography
Omagh is classified as a large town settlement by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). On Census day (29 April 2001) there were 19,910 people living in Omagh. Of these:- 24.8% were aged under 16 years and 14.9% were aged 60 and over, with an average age of 34.0 years.
- 48.9% of the population were male and 51.1% were female.
- 68.2% were from a Catholic background and 29.5% were from a ProtestantProtestantismProtestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
background. - 3.9% of people aged 16–74 were unemployed.
- 13.8% of people where born outside Northern Ireland.
For more details see: NI Neighbourhood Information Service
Population change
According to the World Gazetter, the following reflects the census data for Omagh since 1981:- 1981 – 14,627 (Official census)
- 1991 – 17,280 (Official census)
- 2000 – 18,031 (Official estimate)
- 2001 – 19,910 (Official census)
- 2010 – 22,834 (Calculation)
Tourist attractions
- The Ulster American Folk ParkUlster American Folk ParkThe Ulster American Folk Park is an open-air museum in Castletown, just outside Omagh, in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The Park explores the historical link between Ulster and America, focusing particularly on the lifestyle and experiences of those immigrants who sailed from Ulster to America...
near Omagh includes the cottage where Thomas MellonThomas MellonThomas Alexander Mellon was a Scotch-Irish American, entrepreneur, lawyer, and judge, best known as the founder of Mellon Bank and patriarch of the Mellon family of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.-Early life:...
was born in 1813, before emigrating to PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, in the United States when he was five. His son Andrew W. MellonAndrew W. MellonAndrew William Mellon was an American banker, industrialist, philanthropist, art collector and Secretary of the Treasury from March 4, 1921 until February 12, 1932.-Early life:...
became secretaryUnited States Department of the TreasuryThe Department of the Treasury is an executive department and the treasury of the United States federal government. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1789 to manage government revenue...
to the US TreasuryUnited States Department of the TreasuryThe Department of the Treasury is an executive department and the treasury of the United States federal government. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1789 to manage government revenue...
. The park is an open-air museum that explores the journey made by the Irish (specifically those from Ulster) to America during the 1800s. The park is famous for its large events during Easter, Christmas, Fourth of July and HalloweenHalloweenHallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
. It also hosts a major BluegrassBluegrass musicBluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
festival every year. Over 127,000 people visited the park in 2003.
- The Gortin Glens Forest Park, 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) north of Omagh is a large forest with many attractions, including a deer enclosure and many areas of natural beauty, including waterfalls, lakes, etc.
- Strule Arts CentreStrule Arts CentreStrule Arts Centre is a multi-purpose arts venue in Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It features a 400-seat theatre, a 125-seat lecture theatre, a visual arts gallery, dance studio and cafe. It has featured international musical acts, drama, film and dance in its events calendar and also is...
opened in 2007 is good example of urban renewal in Omagh town centre. Creating a modern civic building, in a newly created public space reclaimed from the formerly disused area, between the River Strule and High Street.
Parks
- Omagh boasts over 20 playgrounds for children, and a large amount of green open area for all the public. The largest of these is the Grange Park, located near the town centre. Many areas around the meanders of the River Strule have also been developed into open areas. Omagh Leisure Complex is a large public amenity, near the Grange Park and is set in 11 hectares (26 acres) of landscaped grounds and features a leisure centreLeisure centreA leisure centre in the UK and Canada is a purpose built building or site, usually owned and operated by the city, borough council or municipal district council, where people go to keep fit or relax through using the facilities.- Typical Facilities :...
, boating pond, astroturfAstroTurfAstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as...
pitch and cycle paths.
Retail
Omagh is the main retail centre for Tyrone, as well as the West of Ulster (behind Derry and LetterkennyLetterkenny
Letterkenny , with a population of 17,568, is the largest town in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. The town is located on the River Swilly...
), due to its central location. In the period 2000–2003, over £80 million was invested in Omagh, and 60,960 m2 (200,000 sq ft) of new retail space was created. Shopping areas in Omagh include the Main Street Mall, Great Northern Road Retail Park and the Showgrounds Retail Park on Sedan Avenue in the town centre. High Street is also a prominent shopping street.
Transport
Former railways
Neither the town nor the district of Omagh has any railway service.The Irish gauge
Irish gauge
Irish gauge railways use a track gauge of . It is used in* Ireland * Australia where it is also known as Victorian Broad Gauge* Brazil where it is also known as Bitola larga no Brasil....
Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway
Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway
The Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway was an Irish gauge railway in Ireland.-Construction and opening:The Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway was incorporated in 1845. Construction began at Derry and followed the west bank of the River Foyle southwards to Strabane, which was reached in 1847...
(L&ER) opened as far as Omagh on 3 September 1852 and was extended to Enniskillen in 1854. The Portadown, Dungannon and Omagh Junction Railway
Portadown, Dungannon and Omagh Junction Railway
The Portadown, Dungannon and Omagh Junction Railway was an Irish gauge railway in County Armagh and County Tyrone, Ulster, Ireland .-Early development:...
(PD&O) reached Omagh in 1861, completing the Portadown – Derry route that came to be informally called "The Derry Road". The Great Northern Railway (Ireland)
Great Northern Railway (Ireland)
The Great Northern Railway was an Irish gauge railway company in Ireland.The Great Northern was formed in 1876 by a merger of the Irish North Western Railway , Northern Railway of Ireland, and Ulster Railway. The Ulster Railway was the GNRI's oldest constituent, having opened between Belfast and...
absorbed the PD&O in 1876 and the L&ER in 1883.
The Government of Northern Ireland
Government of Northern Ireland
The Government of Northern Ireland is, generally speaking, whatever political body exercises political authority over Northern Ireland. A number of separate systems of government exist or have existed in Northern Ireland....
made the GNR Board close the Omagh – Enniskillen line in 1957. The Ulster Transport Authority
Ulster Transport Authority
The Ulster Transport Authority ran rail and bus transport in Northern Ireland from 1948 until 1966.-Formation and consolidation:The UTA was formed by the Transport Act 1948, which merged the Northern Ireland Road Transport Board and the Belfast and County Down Railway...
took over the GNR's remaining lines in Northern Ireland in 1958. In accordance with The Benson Report submitted to the Northern Ireland Government in 1963, the UTA closed the "Derry Road" through Omagh on 15 February 1965. Later the Omagh Throughpass road was built on the disused trackbed.
Proposed railways
There is a proposal for Omagh to become a rail hub again by 2050. This is a proposal to reopen the rail line to BelfastBelfast Central railway station
Belfast Central is a railway station serving the city of Belfast in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is one of the four stations located in Belfast City Centre, the others being Great Victoria Street, City Hospital and Botanic....
via and also a rail link between Derry and via Omagh. However, this is only a proposal in the planning stage, and no plan has been finalised as yet.
Road connections
- A32 (Omagh – Enniskillen – BallinamoreBallinamoreBallinamore is a small town in County Leitrim, Ireland, from the border with Northern Ireland. It is located on the R202 regional road where it is joined by the R199 and R204. means "mouth of the big ford", and the town is so named because it was the main crossing point of the Yellow River,...
) (Becomes N87N87 road (Ireland)-Route:Belturbet – Ballyconnell – Swanlinbar – -See also:*Roads in Ireland*Motorways in Ireland*National primary road*Regional road-References:* – Department of Transport...
at border) - A5 (Northbound) (Omagh – Strabane [and from here north-west to Letterkenny, via LiffordLiffordLifford is the county town of County Donegal, Ireland. It is the administrative capital of the county and the seat of Donegal County Council, although the town of Letterkenny is often mistaken for fulfilling this role...
, becoming the N14 at the county border] – Derry) - A5 (Southbound) (Omagh – MonaghanMonaghanMonaghan is the county town of County Monaghan in Ireland. Its population at the 2006 census stood at 7,811 . The town is located on the main road, the N2 road, from Dublin north to both Derry and Letterkenny.-Toponym:...
– AshbourneAshbourne, County MeathAshbourne, historically called Killeglan or Kildeglan , is a town in County Meath, Ireland. It is about 20 km north of Dublin city centre and is bypassed by the M2 motorway.-History:...
– Dublin) (Becomes N2 at border) - A4 (Eastbound) (Omagh – DungannonDungannonDungannon is a medium-sized town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the third-largest town in the county and a population of 11,139 people was recorded in the 2001 Census. In August 2006, Dungannon won Ulster In Bloom's Best Kept Town Award for the fifth time...
– Belfast) (A4 joins A5 near Ballygawley) - A505 (Eastbound) (Omagh – CookstownCookstownCookstown may refer to either of the following:*Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland*Cookstown, Ontario, Canada*Cookstown, New Jersey, United States...
) - The Omagh Throughpass (Stage 3) opened on 18 August 2006.
Education
Omagh has a large variety of educational institutions at all levels. Omagh is also the headquarters of the Western Education and Library Board (WELB), which is located in Campsie House on the Hospital Road.Primary schools (elementary schools)
- St. Colmcille's Primary School
- Christ The King Primary School
- Gibson Primary School
- Loreto Primary School
- Omagh County Primary School (and Nursery School)
- Omagh Integrated Primary School
- St Mary's Primary School
- St Conor's Primary School
- Gaelscoil na gCrann Irish language Primary school (and Naíscoil – Irish language nursery school)
- Recarson Primary School – Arvalee
Grammar/secondary school
- Christian Brothers Grammar SchoolCBS OmaghThe Christian Brothers Grammar School Omagh is a single sex grammar school in Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland...
- Drumragh Integrated CollegeDrumragh Integrated CollegeDrumragh Integrated College is an integrated mixed-religion, non-selective secondary school for girls and boys aged from 11 to 18, located at 70 Crevenagh Road, Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland....
- Loreto Grammar School, Omagh
- Omagh AcademyOmagh AcademyOmagh Academy is a grammar school in Omagh, County Tyrone, located at 21-23 Dublin Road. The school currently has approximately 700 pupils and over 40 teaching staff. The school is one of the top performing grammar schools in County Tyrone and Northern Ireland with excellent GCSE and 'A'-level...
- Omagh High School
- Sacred Heart College
Colleges/universities
- Omagh College of Further EducationOmagh College of Further EducationOmagh College of Further Education is a college in Omagh, County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. The college is based in one central campus in the Town Centre...
Religious buildings
The following is a list of religious buildings in Omagh:- Christ the King (Roman Catholic)
- Evangelical Presbyterian Church
- First Omagh Presbyterian
- Independent Methodist
- Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's WitnessesJehovah's WitnessesJehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
- Omagh Baptist
- Omagh Community Church (non-denominational)
- Omagh Free PresbyterianFree Presbyterian Church of UlsterThe Free Presbyterian Church is a Presbyterian denomination founded by the Rev. Ian Paisley in 1951. Most of its members live in Northern Ireland...
Church - Omagh Gospel Hall (A company of Christians sometimes referred to as "open brethren")
- Omagh Methodist
- Sacred Heart (Roman Catholic)
- St. Columba's (Church of IrelandChurch of IrelandThe Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
) - St. Mary's (Roman Catholic)
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon)
- Trinity Presbyterian Church
Local newspapers and magazines
- Omagh Today
- Tyrone Advertiser
- Tyrone ConstitutionTyrone ConstitutionThe Tyrone Constitution is a newspaper based in Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is published by the Alpha Newspaper Group. It describes itself as "The traditional newspaper for Omagh and district since 1844"....
- Tyrone Herald
- Ulster HeraldUlster HeraldThe Ulster Herald is a weekly newspaper based in Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, known locally as The Herald.It is published by the North West of Ireland Printing & Publishing Co. Ltd...
Local radio
- Q101.2 FM WestQ101.2Q101.2 FM West is a radio station based in Market Street, Omagh, County Tyrone and in Belmore Mews Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.It broadcasts on the FM frequency on 101.2 to Counties Fermanagh, Tyrone and the surrounding counties....
– Broadcast from Omagh - BBC Radio UlsterBBC Radio UlsterBBC Radio Ulster is one of two Northern Irish BBC radio stations, the other being BBC Radio Foyle located in the city of Derry. BBC Radio Ulster is located at Broadcasting House in the Ormeau Avenue area of Belfast city centre...
has a studio in the town.
Community Radio project Strule FM broadcast for 4 weeks in December 2008. The station featured a mixture of local interest programming and music programming produced by local radio presenters, historians and South West College Media/Music students. The station received the Bronze award for Community Radio at the 2009 Sony Radio Academy Awards.
Internet
Omagh was one of the first areas in Northern Ireland, outside the Belfast commuter belt, to transfer to broadband internet. Prior to this, the only means for internet connection was through dial-up connections.Gaelic games
Gaelic gamesGaelic games
Gaelic games are sports played in Ireland under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The two main games are Gaelic football and hurling...
, primarily Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
, are the most popular sports in Omagh. The town has two Gaelic football clubs, Omagh St. Enda's
Omagh St. Enda's
Omagh St. Enda's is a Gaelic Athletic Association club from Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Their home ground is Healy Park which was opened in 1972....
, which plays its home games in Healy Park
Healy Park
Healy Park is a Gaelic Athletic Association stadium in Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the second largest stadium in Northern Ireland with a modern capacity of approximately 18,500. It is the home of Omagh St. Enda's and the Tyrone Gaelic football teams. It is located on the Gortin...
, and Drumragh Sarsfields
Drumragh Sarsfields
Drumragh Sarsfields is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the village of Clanabogan between Omagh and Dromore in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1972 as a result of an amalgamation of Tattysallagh St. Eugenes and Tattyreagh St.Patricks...
, which plays its home games at Clanabogan.
Healy Park
Healy Park
Healy Park is a Gaelic Athletic Association stadium in Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the second largest stadium in Northern Ireland with a modern capacity of approximately 18,500. It is the home of Omagh St. Enda's and the Tyrone Gaelic football teams. It is located on the Gortin...
, the main GAA stadium in the town, located on the Gortin
Gortin
Gortin is a village and townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is ten miles north of Omagh in the valley of the Owenkillew river, overlooked by the Sperrins. It had a population of 360 at the 2001 Census.-Geography:...
Road, has a capacity nearing 25,000, and had the distinction of being the first Gaelic-games stadium in Ulster to have floodlights.This was completed by Barrett Sports lighting.
The stadium now hosts the latter matches of the Tyrone Senior Football Championship, as well as Tyrone's
Tyrone GAA
The Tyrone County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Tyrone GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Tyrone. The county board is also responsible for the Tyrone inter-county teams....
home games, and other inter-county matches that require a neutral venue.
Association football (soccer)
Omagh no longer has a top-flight local football team, since the demise of Omagh Town F.C.Omagh Town F.C.
Omagh Town Football and Athletic Club was a Northern Irish association football club that was based in Omagh, County Tyrone. Founded in 1962, the club played in the Irish Football League from 1990 up until its closure in 2005. They won the North West Senior Cup on six occasions and competed in the...
in 2005.
Rugby
Omagh's rugby team, Omagh Academicals (nicknamed the "Accies"), is an amateur team, made up of primarily of local players.People
Notable residents or people born in Omagh include:- Willie Anderson – Ireland Rugby UnionRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
International - Charles BeattieCharles BeattieCharles Beattie was a Northern Irish farmer and auctioneer. Active in the Ulster Farmers' Union and in Unionist associations, he achieved senior office in the Orange Order and the Royal Black Institution and served on Omagh Rural District Council from 1952 until his death...
– Auctioneer and briefly Member of Parliament - Jimmy KennedyJimmy KennedyJimmy Kennedy OBE was an Irish songwriter, predominantly a lyricist, putting words to existing music such as "Teddy Bears' Picnic" and "My Prayer", or co-writing with the composers Michael Carr, Wilhelm Grosz and Nat Simon amongst others.-Biography:Kennedy was born near Omagh...
(1902–1984) – Songwriter's Hall of Fame-inductee (Red Sails in the SunsetRed Sails in the Sunset (song)"Red Sails in the Sunset" is a popular song.Published in 1935, its music was written by Hugh Williams with lyrics by prolific songwriter Jimmy Kennedy...
, Teddy Bears Picnic) - Benedict KielyBenedict KielyBenedict "Ben" Kiely was an Irish author and broadcaster from Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland.-Early life:Benedict Kiely was born in Dromore, County Tyrone to Thomas John and Sara Alice Kiely. He was the youngest of six children, the others were Rita, Gerald, Eileen, Kathleen and Macartan; four of...
(1919–2007) – author (Land Without Stars) - Linda MartinLinda MartinLinda Martin is an Irish singer and television presenter. She is best known in Europe as the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1992, with the song "Why Me?", and in Ireland as a member of the 1970s/1980s band, Chips.-Chips:Martin started off her musical career when she joined the band Chips...
– musician (Eurovision Song ContestEurovision Song ContestThe Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
-winner 1992) - Patrick McAlinneyPatrick McAlinneyPatrick McAlinney was an Irish-born character actor who starred in many British dramas and sitcoms. His most memorable roles included a brother on the hit sitcom Oh, Brother! which starred Derek Nimmo, Mr. O'Reilly in The Tomorrow People and Dr...
(1913–1990) – Actor (The Tomorrow PeopleThe Tomorrow PeopleThe Tomorrow People is a British children's science fiction television series, devised by Roger Price. Produced by Thames Television for the ITV Network, the series first ran between 1973 and 1979. The series was re-imagined in 1992, Roger Price acting as executive producer...
) - Frankie McBrideFrankie McBrideFrankie McBride was an Irish country singer from Omagh who rose to stardom in the second half of the 1960s.McBride's hit single, "Five Little Fingers", reached #2 on the Irish charts and #19 on the UK Singles Chart in 1967. A full-length self-titled album hit #29 on the UK Albums Chart the...
– country musician - Robert McDonaldRobert McDonald (soccer)Whitey McDonald was a Canadian soccer player who earned two caps with Ireland. He began his professional career in Canada, spent four seasons in the American Soccer League, then finished it in Scotland with Rangers F.C.....
– CanadianCanadian Soccer AssociationThe Canadian Soccer Association is the governing body of soccer in Canada. It is a national organization that oversees the Canadian men's and women's national teams for international play, as well as the respective junior sides...
soccer international and RangersRangers F.C.Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
player. - Joe McMahonJoe McMahonJoe McMahon is a two-time All-Ireland-winning Tyrone Gaelic footballer. He started the 2005 All-Ireland Final, but had to be replaced because of injury, making him the first Omagh man to win an All-Ireland...
– All-IrelandAll-Ireland Senior Football ChampionshipThe All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
-winning TyroneTyrone GAAThe Tyrone County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Tyrone GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Tyrone. The county board is also responsible for the Tyrone inter-county teams....
Gaelic footballGaelic footballGaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
er. - Justin McMahonJustin McMahonJustin McMahon is an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship-winning Tyrone Gaelic footballer. In 2006, he captained the Tyrone Under 21 team in their Ulster Championship-winning campaign, and has lived up to expectation and has graduated to the senior squad, joining his older brother, Joe.He made...
– All-IrelandAll-Ireland Senior Football ChampionshipThe All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
-winning TyroneTyrone GAAThe Tyrone County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Tyrone GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Tyrone. The county board is also responsible for the Tyrone inter-county teams....
Gaelic footballGaelic footballGaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
er. - Gerard McSorleyGerard McSorleyGerard McSorley is a theatre, television and an Irish film actor.-Early life:He was born in Omagh, County Tyrone, and after attending a Christian Brothers school in his hometown he attended St. Columb's College in Derry. He then attended Queen's University, Belfast, where he was taught by among...
– actor (Veronica GuerinVeronica Guerin (film)Veronica Guerin is a 2003 Irish biographical film directed by Joel Schumacher. The screenplay by Carol Doyle and Mary Agnes Donoghue focuses on Irish journalist Veronica Guerin, whose investigation into the drug trade in Dublin led to her murder in 1996....
), (OmaghOmagh (film)Omagh was a film dramatising the events surrounding the Omagh bombing and its aftermath, co-produced by Irish state broadcaster RTÉ and UK network Channel 4, and directed by Pete Travis. It was first shown on television in both countries in June, 2004....
) - Sam NeillSam NeillNigel John Dermot "Sam" Neill, DCNZM, OBE is a New Zealand actor. He is well known for his starring role as paleontologist Dr Alan Grant in Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park III....
– Jurassic ParkJurassic Park (film)Jurassic Park is a 1993 American science fiction adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton. It stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Martin Ferrero, and Bob Peck...
actor (born in Omagh) - Pat SharkeyPat SharkeyPatrick George Sharp Sharkey is a former Northern Irish international footballer.One of just a handful of Omagh-born players to play at the highest level, Pat Sharkey made his name as a teenager with Portadown F.C. after making three League appearances for Sligo Rovers in the 1970–71 League of...
– Ipswich Town F.C.Ipswich Town F.C.Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
and Northern IrishIrish Football AssociationThe Irish Football Association is the organising body for association football in Northern Ireland, and was historically the governing body for Ireland...
soccer player in the 1970s. - Ivan SprouleIvan SprouleIvan Sproule is a Northern Irish professional association football player. Sproule, a winger who is known for his explosive pace, only turned professional after he signed for Scottish Premier League side Hibernian in January 2005, just a month before his 24th birthday...
– current Northern IrishIrish Football AssociationThe Irish Football Association is the organising body for association football in Northern Ireland, and was historically the governing body for Ireland...
soccer international and Bristol City F.C.Bristol City F.C.Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
player. - Juliet TurnerJuliet TurnerJuliet Turner is a singer/songwriter from Tummery, near Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. She has been a part of the Dublin music scene since she started recording in 1996. In the course of her career she has opened for such artists as Bob Dylan, U2 and Bryan Adams and toured with Roger...
– singer/songwriter - Arty McGlynnArty McGlynnArty McGlynn is an Irish guitarist born in Omagh, County Tyrone. In addition to his solo work, he has collaborated with different notable groups such as Patrick Street, Planxty, Four Men and a Dog, De Dannan and the Van Morrison Band. He played guitar on the critically acclaimed 1989 Van Morrison...
– International renowned guitarist. - Gerald GrosvenorGerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of WestminsterMajor-General Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster, , is the son of Robert George Grosvenor, 5th Duke of Westminster, and his wife Hon. Viola Maud Lyttelton. He is the owner of property company Grosvenor Group...
– 6th Duke of WestminsterDuke of WestminsterThe title Duke of Westminster was created by Queen Victoria in 1874 and bestowed upon Hugh Grosvenor, 3rd Marquess of Westminster. The current holder of the title is Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster....
. - Aaron McCormackAaron McCormackAaron McCormack is a former leader of the Youth Wing of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland who more recently has been a business leader and CEO in the IT sector - most notably as CEO of ....
– company CEO and one of the Young Global Leaders of the World Economic ForumWorld Economic ForumThe World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit foundation, based in Cologny, Geneva, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland.... - Daryl SimpsonDaryl SimpsonDaryl Simpson is a Tenor and musician from Omagh in Northern Ireland. He is a graduate in music from Queen’s University Belfast, majoring in Piano and Voice. Upon graduating he became the founder and Musical Director of the Omagh Community Youth Choir, in an attempt to promote peace and...
– Musician and Tenor. Performs with the Celtic Tenors and founder of the Omagh Community Youth Choir. - Brian FrielBrian FrielBrian Friel is an Irish dramatist, author and director of the Field Day Theatre Company. He is considered to be the greatest living English-language dramatist, hailed by the English-speaking world as an "Irish Chekhov" and "the universally accented voice of Ireland"...
– playwright was born in Killyclogher near Omagh. - Philip TurbettPhilip TurbettPhilip Turbett is a British bassoonist and clarinettist also specialising in historically informed performance.- Orchestral career :...
– bassoonist, clarinettist and saxophonist - Janet Devlin - Xfactor Finalist 2011