Industries and services in Coalisland, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, are the focal point of this part of our web guide.
As its name suggests, Coalisland arose as a coal mining town. The town grew directly from the rich coal seams discovered beneath East Tyrone in the late 17th century. The first recorded commercial shafts date back to a 1654 Civil Survey, which supplied both local needs and barges on Lough Neagh. Over the next two centuries, dozens of shallow pits opened across Derry, Drumglass, and Annagher, culminating in Sir Samuel Kelly's deep Annagher Colliery, which operated from 1924 to 1927. The colliery struck twelve seams but was abandoned due to flooding and geological faults.
To move coal to markets, work began on the Tyrone Navigation in 1732, with the Coalisland Canal section opening in 1744, completing a link to the River Blackwater by 1787. Italian engineer Davis Dukart's 1777 stretch featured dry "hurries" and an aqueduct at Newmills, although those inclined planes proved to be impractical and were soon abandoned. The canal basin became the town's nucleus, shaping Main Street and anchoring Coalisland's identity until it was made obsolete by the railroad and improved road systems.
By the mid-19th century, Coalisland was more than a coal mining town. The Hibernian Chemical Works opened in 1848, producing sulfuric acid and soda ash despite early setbacks. Complementary industries, such as the Derry Spad Mill (taken over by John Stevenson & Company in 1858) and domestic gas works established by George Sloan in 1862, further diversified the local economy.
Textile and clay processing became cornerstones of the town's economy during the 19th and early 20th century. Stevenson & Clark's weaving factory opened in 1868 with over 200 steam-powered looms, operating until 1978, while Ulster Fireclay Works was founded in 1874 to exploit rich local fireclays for refractory products. The Tyrone Brick Company introduced mechanised brick production in 1898, transforming glacial clays into building blocks throughout Mid Ulster.
Coalisland developed modern utilities, as well. George Sloan's 1862 gas works supplied street-lamp illumination and home lighting, marking the first public energy utility in the town.
The latter 20th century witnessed the launching of Tyrone Crystal in 1970, producing decorative glassware that attracted international clients until competition from imports brought about its closure in 2010. The original weaving factory closed after an arson attack in 1978 and was subsequently repurposed as the Coalisland Enterprise Centre, which now houses the Museum & Heritage Centre. The 1907 cornmill closed in 1979 but reopened as a community venue in 1993, under the leadership of President Mary Robinson. Owned and managed by the Coalisland & District Development Association, the ground floor currently houses a library and offices for accountants, while the upper floors are reserved for community use, including meeting spaces, classes, rehearsals, exhibitions, and functions.
Coalisland is home to a variety of light industries and services, such as Hamilton & Casement Limited, which delivers commercial and civil engineering projects across Mid Ulster, offering design-build, project management, extensions, new builds, and specialised stonework. Although the canal and railway are closed, an improved road system and daily Ulsterbus routes link Coalisland to Dungannon, Derry, and beyond, supporting local commerce.
Recommended Resources
The family-owned construction company is based in Coalisland, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The company delivers new builds, renovations, refurbishments, and groundworks across Northern Ireland, the wider United Kingdom, and Ireland. An overview of its services is provided, along with key current and past projects, client testimonials, and featured case studies on its website, as well as information on the company's accreditation, compliance, and data protection. Its location and contacts.
http://www.carndevelopments.com/
Based in Coalisland, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, CMK Mechanical Services is a leading mechanical contractor delivering high-quality innovative products within strict timeframes and budgets. Its services include the design, installation, and maintenance of all aspects of mechanical engineering, plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning installations, as well as expertise across the education, industrial, commercial, retail, and residential sectors. Accreditations and contacts are posted.
http://www.cmkmechanical.com/
Formed in 1963, the Coalisland Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial co-operative offering its members a safe place to save and access affordable loans, governed by its members and a voluntary board of directors. To join, members must live or work within the Credit Union's "common bond" area, which includes Coalisland, Stewartstown, Newmills, and the surrounding areas in County Tyrone. Key services include savings accounts, digital loan applications, and free insurance services.
https://www.coalislandcu.com/
Colin S. O'Neill is a Northern Irish solicitor based at Clonoe Rural Business Park in Coalisland. He provides legal advice and representation across a broad spectrum of personal and commercial matters, serving clients throughout County Tyrone and beyond. His areas of expertise include accident claims, charity law, commercial litigation, consumer law, residential and commercial conveyancing, criminal injuries, criminal law, debt and money problems, employment law, and others.
https://colinsoneillsolicitor.com/
Specializing in the repair, servicing, and sales of all types of garden machinery, Hughes Small Engine Services handles everything from domestic lawnmowers and strimmers to commercial ride-on mowers and rotavators, with a particular focus on the areas of Coalisland, Dungannon, Cookstown, and Omagh. The company's website offers information on its location, opening hours, contact details, a contact form, services, certifications, brands, and customer reviews.
https://www.hughessmallengineservices.com/
Based in Coalisland, Northern Ireland, the studio specialises in tailored web solutions. The company has been crafting websites and e-commerce platforms since 1999, serving both small businesses and major UK and Irish organisations. Its core services include web design and development, building modern, responsive sites built on content management systems. Other services include e-commerce development, website revamps and redesigns, search engine optimisation, and domain and email hosting.
https://www.linkni.com/
MMD is the largest O2 franchise operating across Northern Ireland and Scotland. With a network of eighteen retail outlets, a dedicated contact centre, and a business solutions team, they deliver mobile, broadband, and connected tech services to both consumer and corporate customers. Headquartered in Coalisland, County Tyrone, they offer retail mobile phones, business mobile plans, home and small-business broadband, on-site and in-store tech support, and a dedicated contact centre.
https://www.mmdcommunications.co.uk/
