Situated at the point where the rivers Drumragh and Camowen join to form the Strule, Omagh is the county town of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
The earliest evidence of human habitation of the area that was to become Omagh was in 792 AD, when a monastery was established there. This was followed by a Franciscan friary in 1464, and a permanent settlement rose up around it.
Omagh was founded as a town in 1610. It was 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.
The town's name is an anglicisation of the Irish Óghmaigh, which refers to "the virgin plain."
Omagh has long been a significant centre in Northern Ireland. In 1768, Omagh replaced Dungannon as the county town of County Tyrone.
Omagh is about 34 miles southwest of Derry and 68 miles west of Belfast, a location that made it an ideal hub for connections to other major towns and cities in the region. It is near the intersection of several major roads, and its position at the confluence of two rivers provided access to water routes. As a county town, Omagh's central position made it a natural focal point for further infrastructure development, including railway links.
Railway links were established to Londonderry, Enniskillen, and Belfast in the mid-19th century. However, these rail services were eventually closed, the final closure occurring in 1965. 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 route that came to be known as the Derry Road. The Great Northern Railway (GNR) absorbed the PD&O in 1876 and the L&ER in 1883. The Northern Ireland government forced the closure of the Omagh-Enniskillen line in 1957. The Ulster Transport Authority took over the GNR's remaining lines in 1958, closing the Derry Road through Omagh on 15 February 1965. There are plans to reopen railway lines in Northern Ireland, including the Derry Road from Portadown to Derry, but this has not yet occurred.
Bus services to the town are operated by Ulsterbus. Several roads, including A32, A5, A4, A505, and the Omagh Throughpass, connect the town with surrounding localities and beyond.
Today, Omagh serves as a hub for various government and administrative services, housing offices for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, the Department for Infrastructure, and the Northern Ireland Roads Service. Additionally, it is home to the headquarters of the Western Education and Library Board.
Primary schools in Omagh include Christ the King Primary School, Gibson Primary School, Gillygooley Primary School, Holy Family Primary School, Omagh County Primary and Nursery School, Omagh Integrated Primary and Nursery School, St. Mary's Primary School, St. Conor's Primary School, and Recarson Primary School. Additionally, there is Gaelscoil na gCrann Irish language Primary School, and Naíscoil – Irish language Nursery School.
Its secondary schools are Christian Brothers Grammar School, Drumragh Integrated College, Loreto Grammar School, Omagh Academy, Omagh High School, and Sacred Heart College.
Omagh College of Further Education, locally known as Omagh College or The Tech, is based on one central campus in the town centre. It has been under the jurisdiction of South West College since 2007.
There is a proposal to co-locate the town's six secondary schools on the former 190-acre St. Lucia Army Barracks as a large shared campus, a plan that is anticipated to be brought to fruition by 2026.
Omagh is home to several Christian churches and ministries, including, but not necessarily limited to, the Roman Catholic, Baptist, Church of Ireland, Free Presbyterian, Jehovah's Witness, Latter-day Saints, Methodist, Presbyterian, and non-denominational Protestant congregations.
There are several amateur and professional sports teams and programmes in Omagh, including two Gaelic football clubs (Omagh St. Enda's and Drumragh Sarsfields), a football club (Strathroy Harps F.C.), a rugby football club (Omagh Academicals), and a cricket club (Omagh Cavaliers).
Notable places within the town include Strule Arts Centre, Omagh Leisure Complex, and OASIS Plaza. The town also has over twenty playgrounds and parks for children and adults, the largest of which is Grange Park, near the town centre. Additionally, many areas around the meanders of the River Strule have been developed into green spaces.
Government entities, businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, places of interest, organisations, and events in Omagh are appropriate topics for this category.
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Recommended Resources
Explore Omagh and the Sperrins Region
The market town of Omagh is situated in the heart of County Tyrone, in the footsteps of the Sperrin Mountains and Gortin Lakes. Created by Fermanagh & Omagh District Council, the regional tourism organisation responsible for local tourism, the website features a guide to local attractions, leisure and fitness facilities, activities, shopping and retail options, and walking trails, as well as places to eat or drink, hotels, bed and breakfasts, and other places to stay.
https://exploreomaghsperrins.com/
Specialising in ready-to-order wedding stationery and signage, Foxglove Stationery is a design studio and online shop based in Omagh, Northern Ireland. Several wedding stationery styles are available and may be browed on its e-commerce website. Delivering to the United Kingdom and Ireland, Foxglove features save-the-date cards, invitations, luxury embellishments, signage, on-the-day stationery, and thank you cards, which may be purchased online. Downloadable guides are available.
https://www.foxglovestationery.com/
The family-run nursery store is located in Market House, Omagh, just behind Dunnes Stores, offering plenty of parking. Specialising in products for babies and toddlers, the store stocks brands such as iCandy, Egg2, Cosatto, UPPAbaby, Mamas & Papas, Baby Jogger, and others. Shoppers may browse its online catalogue by brand, special offers, or by product type (prams, strollers & baby carriers, car seats, bath/changing/toileting, feeding/teething, nursery, sleep & bedding, toys & playtime).
https://kiddiescornerni.com/
With over 40. years of experience in dealing with various legal issues, Meyler McGuigan is a legal practice established in the heart of Omagh town. Among the legal issues the firm deals with include residential and commercial conveyancing, criminal law, employment law, family law, personal injury, and wills and probate. Its services are highlighted on the firm's website, which identifies its accreditations and partners, and offers contact data and other details.
https://meylermcguigan.com/
OM Dark Sky Park & Observatory
Located in the Davagh Forest near Omagh, Northern Ireland, Dark Sky Park & Observatory is the first International Dark Sky Park in Northern Ireland. The park features a visitor centre with exhibits, guided tours, and a virtual reality experience simulating a journey through space. Visitors can also explore the Beaghmore Stone Circles, which are ancient megalithic structures believed to have astronomical significance. Guided and group tours are available. Opening times and prices are stated.
https://omdarksky.com/
Located on High Street in Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, Pollock Estate Agents offers various services, including residential, commercial, and agricultural sales and auctions, serving as estate agents, chartered surveyors, land agents, and auctioneers. Its office location, hours, and contacts are noted, and an introduction to the firm is provided. Recently updated new developments, land, and sites are featured, and searches for available properties may be made on the site.
http://www.pollockestateagents.com/
