Omagh

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox UK place

Omagh (Template:IPAc-en;<ref>G. M. Miller, BBC Pronouncing Dictionary of British Names (Oxford University Press, 1971), pg. 110</ref> from Template:Langx Template:IPA, meaning 'the virgin plain')<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is the county town of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is situated where the rivers Drumragh and Camowen meet to form the Strule. Northern Ireland's capital city, Belfast, is 68 miles (109.5 km) to the east of Omagh, and Derry is 34 miles (55 km) to the north.

The town had a population of 20,458 at the 2021 census.<ref name="2021 pop"/> At the time of 2011 census, the former district council, which was the largest in County Tyrone, had a population of 51,356.<ref name=Census2011LGD>Template:Cite web</ref> Omagh contains the headquarters of the Western Education and Library Board, and also houses offices for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs at Sperrin House, the Department for Infrastructure and the Northern Ireland Roads Service at the Tyrone County Hall and the Northern Ireland Land & Property Services at Boaz House.

History

File:Campsie, Omagh, Co. Tyrone (44630959131).jpg

Campsie, Omagh, in the early 20th century

Name

The name Omagh is an anglicisation of the Irish name an Óghmaigh (modern Irish an Ómaigh), meaning "the virgin plain". A monastery was apparently established on the site of the town about 792, and a Franciscan friary was founded in 1464.<ref name="OmaghMonastic">Template:Cite book</ref> Omagh was founded as a town in 1610. It served as a refuge for fugitives from the east of County Tyrone during the 1641 Rebellion. In 1689, James II arrived at Omagh, en route to Derry. Supporters of William III, Prince of Orange, later burned the town.

County Town

In 1768, Omagh replaced Dungannon as the county town of County Tyrone. Omagh acquired railway links to Londonderry with the Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway in 1852, Enniskillen in 1853 and Belfast in 1861. St Lucia Barracks were completed in 1881. In 1899, Tyrone County Hospital was opened. The Government of Northern Ireland made the Great Northern Railway Board close the Omagh – Enniskillen railway line in 1957.<ref name="Baker 1972 153, 207">Template:Cite book</ref> In accordance with the Benson Report submitted to the Northern Ireland Government in 1963, the Ulster Transport Authority closed the Template:Rws – Omagh – Londonderry main line in 1965,<ref>Baker, 1972, pages 155, 209</ref> leaving Tyrone with no rail service. St Lucia Barracks closed in August 2007.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On 30 December 1942, a Consolidated Catalina Ib of No. 240 Squadron RAF that was operating from RAF Killadeas crashed into the town. The crash killed all eleven occupants, however no one on the ground was killed or injured. The cause of the crash was never ascertained.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Omagh Town Hall, which opened on 29 September 1915, hosted a number of notable performers, including the actors Anew McMaster, Micheál Mac Liammóir and Jimmy O'Dea, before it was demolished to make way for the Strule Arts Centre in 1997.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The Troubles

Template:Main Omagh became the focus of international media attention when, on 15 August 1998, the Real Irish Republican Army 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In February 2023, an off-duty senior police officer was shot and critically injured at a sports complex in the town. Police stated they were focusing on the New IRA.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Demographics

Template:Bar box Template:Historical populations

2021 census

At the time of the 2021 census, there were 20,458 people living in Omagh. Of these:

19.56% were aged under 16, 63.87% were aged between 16-65, and 16.57% were aged 66 and over.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
51.37% of the usually resident population were female and 48.63% were male.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
70.88% (14,500) belong to or were brought up in the Catholic, 22.91% (4,687) belong to or were brought up Protestant (including Christian denominations), 1.11% (228) belong to or were brought up in other religions and 5.1% (1,043) belong to no religion.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
43.24% had an Irish national identity,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 32.62% had a Northern Irish national identity,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 24.01% had a British national identity,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and 11.02% had an 'other' national identity.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (respondents could indicate more than one national identity)
16.43% had some knowledge of Irish (Gaeilge) and 5.61% had some knowledge of Ulster Scots.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2011 census

On census day 2011 (27 March 2011), there were 19,659 people living in Omagh, accounting for 1.09% of the NI total.<ref name=Census2011>Template:Cite web File:UKOpenGovernmentLicence.svg This article contains quotations from this source, which is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.</ref><ref>Census 2011 Template:Webarchive</ref> Of these:

20.85% were aged under 16 years and 13.69% were aged 65 and over;
51.27% of the usually resident population were female and 48.73% were male;
71.32% belong to or were brought up in the Catholic Christian faith and 25.36% belong to or were brought up in a 'Protestant and other Christian (including Christian related)'denominations;
36.97% had an Irish national identity, 33.97% had a Northern Irish national identity and 28.51% indicated that they had a British national identity (respondents could indicate more than one national identity);
36 years was the average (median) age of the population;
13.92% had some knowledge of Irish (Gaeilge) and 4.30% had some knowledge of Ulster-Scots.

Geography

Weather

File:Omagh Snow 2006.jpg

Snow is common in Omagh during the winter months. Shown here is the River Strule.

Omagh has a history of flooding and suffered major floods in 1909, 1929, 1954, 1969, 1987, 1999 and, most recently, 12 June 2007. Flood-walls have been 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 meanders, are unsuitable for development and were developed into large, green open areas, walking routes and parks. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Cfb" (Marine West Coast Climate/Oceanic climate).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Weather box

Wards

The following wards cover the town:Template:Fact

Camowen (2001 population: 2,377)
Coolnagard (2,547)
Dergmoney (1,930)
Drumragh (2,481)
Gortrush (2,786)
Killyclogher (2,945)
Lisanelly (2,973)
Strule (1,780)Template:Fact

Administrative areas

The central urban area south of River Strule forms the townland of Omagh<ref>townlands.ie, Omagh Townland, Co. Tyrone</ref> in the civil parish of Drumragh,<ref>townlands.ie, Civil Parish of Drumragh, Co. Tyrone</ref> the adjacent area north of the river forms the townland of Lisnamllard<ref>Lisnamallard Townland, Co. Tyrone</ref> in the civil parish of Cappagh (Upper Strabane portion).<ref>townlands.ie, Civil Parish of Cappagh (Upper Strabane portion), Co. Tyrone</ref> Both civil parishes comprise also outskirts of Omagh and some surrounding countryside. Omagh Urban Electoral Division comprises both townlands.

Townlands

File:The four hill churches (St Columba's COI), Omagh - geograph.org.uk - 754131.jpg

St. Columba's Church of Ireland in Omagh.

The town sprang up within the townland of Omagh, in the parish of Drumragh. Over time, the urban area has spread into the surrounding townlands. They include:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Campsie (Template:Etymology)
Conywarren (an old name for a rabbit warren)
Coolnagard Lower, Coolnagard Upper (Template:Etymology or Template:Etymology)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Crevenagh (Template:Etymology)
Culmore (Template:Etymology)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Dergmoney Lower, Dergmoney Upper (Template:Etymology)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Gortin (Template:Etymology)
Gortmore (Template:Etymology)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Killybrack (Template:Etymology)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Killyclogher (Template:Etymology)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Lammy (Template:Etymology)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Lisanelly (Template:Etymology)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Lisnamallard (Template:Etymology)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Lissan (Template:Etymology)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Mullaghmore (Template:Etymology)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sedennan (possibly Template:Etymology)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Strathroy or Straughroy (Template:Etymology)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Economy

Retail

File:Omagh lower market street in 2001.jpg

Lower Market Street

Omagh is the main retail centre for Tyrone, as well as the West of Ulster (behind Derry and Letterkenny), due to its central location. In the period 2000–2003, over £80 million was invested in Omagh, and Template:Convert of new retail space was created. Shopping areas in Omagh include the Main Street, Great Northern Road Retail Park and the Showgrounds Retail Park on Sedan Avenue in the town centre. Market Street/High Street is also a prominent shopping street, which includes high street stores such as DV8 and Primark.

Events and culture

Strule Arts Centre is an example of urban renewal in Omagh town centre. Opened in 2007, this civic building is located in a newly created public space which was reclaimed from a formerly disused area between the River Strule and High Street.Template:Fact

The Mid Ulster Film Festival, established in 2004,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> took place in Omagh until its cancellation in 2010.<ref name="MUFF">Template:Cite web</ref>

Places of interest

File:Glenpark Road - geograph.org.uk - 1503127.jpg

Gortin Road. Heading south-west towards Omagh; to the left is the "Rest and be thankful" bench.

The 'Omagh Accessible Shared Inclusive Space' (OASIS), a £4.5 million facelift for Omagh's riverbank, was funded by the European Union and planning approved in 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Construction began in March 2014, and the OASIS plaza was officially opened in June 2015.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Ulster American Folk Park, near Omagh, includes the cottage where Thomas Mellon was born (in 1813) before his family emigrated to Pennsylvania in the United States. His son, Andrew W. Mellon, became secretary of the US Treasury. 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 used to host seasonal events and also hosts a Bluegrass festival every year. Over 127,000 people visited the park in 2003.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Gortin Glens Forest Park, Template:Convert north of Omagh, is a large forest with a deer enclosure and several waterfalls and lakes.

Omagh has over 20 playgrounds for children,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and several public green spaces. The largest of these is the Grange Park near the town centre. Several areas alongside the River Strule have also been developed into open areas. Omagh Leisure Complex is a public amenity, near Grange Park on Template:Convert of landscaped grounds, which has a leisure centre, boating pond, astroturf pitch and cycle paths.Template:Fact

Transport

File:Omagh - geograph.org.uk - 507071.jpg

Looking at the town's Bridge Street area from an elevated height at the college

Former railways

As of the 21st century, neither the town nor the district of Omagh has any railway service.

The Irish gauge Template:RailGauge Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway (L&ER) opened as far as Omagh on 3 September 1852<ref name=RailScot>Template:Cite web</ref> and was extended to Enniskillen in 1854.<ref name=Hajducki7>Template:Cite book</ref> The Portadown, Dungannon and Omagh Junction Railway (PD&O) reached Omagh in 1861,<ref name=Hajducki7/> completing the Portadown – Derry route that came to be informally called "The Derry Road".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The Great Northern Railway (Ireland) absorbed the PD&O in 1876<ref name=Hajduckixiii>Hajducki, op. cit., page xiii</ref> and the L&ER in 1883.<ref name=Hajduckixiii/>

The Government of Northern Ireland made the GNR Board close the Omagh – Enniskillen line in 1957.<ref name="Baker 1972 153, 207"/> 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.<ref name=RailScot/><ref>Hajducki, op. cit., map 39</ref><ref>Baker, op. cit., pages 155, 209</ref> Later the Omagh Throughpass road was built on the disused trackbed through Omagh railway station.

As of 2014, there were plans to reopen railway lines in Northern Ireland including the Derry Road from Template:Rws to Derry via Template:Rws to Omagh and Template:Rws.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Bus services

File:The Omagh Bus - geograph.org.uk - 539651 crop.jpg

Ulsterbus in 2007 in Omagh Ulsterbus station.

Bus Services in Omagh are operated by Ulsterbus.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Road connections

A32 (Omagh – Enniskillen – Ballinamore) (Becomes N87 at border)
A5 (Northbound) (Omagh – Strabane [and from here north-west to Letterkenny, via Lifford on the A38, becoming the N14 at the county border] – Derry)
A5 (Southbound) (Omagh – Monaghan – Ashbourne – Dublin) (Becomes N2 at border)
A4 (Eastbound) (Omagh – Dungannon – Belfast) (A4 joins A5 near Ballygawley)
A505 (Eastbound) (Omagh – Cookstown)
The Omagh Throughpass (Stage 3) opened on 18 August 2006.

Education

Omagh has a number of educational institutions at different levels. These include at least 10 primary schools.Template:Fact

The town was previously the headquarters of the Western Education and Library Board (WELB), located at Campsie House on the Hospital Road, before all local education boards in Northern Ireland were combined into the Education Authority in 2015.

Secondary schools

Grammar and secondary schools in the area include Christian Brothers Grammar School, Drumragh Integrated College, Loreto Grammar School, Omagh Academy, Omagh High School and Sacred Heart College.Template:Fact

The Department for Education proposed to co-locate Omagh's six existing secondary schools on the former 190-acre St Lucia Army Barracks, as one large shared educational campus. In April 2009, at the inaugural Lisanelly Shared Educational Campus Steering Group meeting held in Arvalee School and Resource Centre, the Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane announced that funding had been allocated for exemplar designs and associated technical work for a shared educational campus.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The construction was expected to cost in excess of £120 million.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As of March 2022, the shared education campus was scheduled to open in 2026.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Third level

A campus of South West College, known until 2007 as the Omagh College of Further Education, is located in the town centre.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Religious buildings

File:First Omagh Church with a mantle of trees - geograph.org.uk - 1020671.jpg

Omagh First Presbyterian Church

The following is a list of religious buildings in Omagh:Template:Fact

Christ the King (Roman Catholic)
Evangelical Presbyterian Church
Gillygooley Presbyterian Church
First Omagh Presbyterian
Independent Methodist
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
Omagh Baptist
Omagh Community Church (non-denominational)
Omagh Free Presbyterian 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 Ireland)
St. Mary's ( Roman Catholic)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church)
Trinity Presbyterian Church

Sport

Gaelic games

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 is the home of Tyrone GAA and the county's largest and main sports stadium located on the Gortin Road, has a capacity nearing 25,000,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and had the distinction of being the first Gaelic-games stadium in Ulster to have floodlights.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Football

Omagh no longer has a top-flight local football team, since the demise of Omagh Town F.C. in 2005. Strathroy Harps FC are the only Omagh and Tyrone team to win the Irish junior cup twice in 2012 and 2013.

Rugby

Omagh's rugby team, Omagh Academicals (nicknamed the "Accies"), is an amateur team, made up of primarily of local players.

Other sports

A greyhound racing track operated from 1932 until 1940.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The track was opened by the Duke of Abercorn on 25 May 1932 and racing took place at 'The Park' in the Showgrounds. It was organised by the Tyrone Greyhound Racing Association until 1940.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Omagh Cavaliers Cricket Club is also located in Omagh.Template:Fact