Omagh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Omagh Scots: Omey Irish: An Ómaigh
County town
From top, left to right: Skyline of Omagh, "Courthouse Brae", Strule, Omagh, "Life Goes On" organ donation billboard, Christian Brothers Grammar School, Omagh
Omagh Coat of Arms
Omagh
Population	20,458 (2021 Census)
District	Fermanagh and Omagh
County	County Tyrone
Country	Northern Ireland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	OMAGH
Postcode district	BT78, BT79
Dialling code	028
Police	Northern Ireland
Fire	Northern Ireland
Ambulance	Northern Ireland
EU Parliament	Northern Ireland
UK Parliament	West Tyrone
NI Assembly	West Tyrone
List of places UK Northern Ireland Tyrone 54°35′53″N 7°18′32″W / 54.598°N 7.309°W / 54.598; -7.309

Omagh is a town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Its name comes from an old Irish word meaning 'the virgin plain'. Omagh is located where the Drumragh and Camowen rivers meet to form the Strule.

Omagh is about 68 miles (109.5 km) west of Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland. It is also 34 miles (55 km) south of Derry. In 2021, about 20,458 people lived in Omagh. The town is home to several government offices and educational headquarters.

History of Omagh

Campsie, Omagh, in the early 20th century

How Omagh Got Its Name

The name Omagh comes from the Irish words an Ómaigh, which means "the virgin plain." A monastery was built here around the year 792. Later, a Franciscan friary was founded in 1464. Omagh officially became a town in 1610.

In 1689, King James II visited Omagh on his way to Derry. Later, supporters of King William III burned parts of the town.

Becoming a County Town

In 1768, Omagh became the main town of County Tyrone, taking over from Dungannon. The town got its first railway connections in the mid-1800s. Trains connected Omagh to Londonderry in 1852, Enniskillen in 1853, and Belfast in 1861.

However, these railway lines were later closed. The Omagh-Enniskillen line closed in 1957, and the main line to Londonderry closed in 1965. This left Omagh without any train services.

A Difficult Time

Omagh faced a very sad event on 15 August 1998. A car bomb exploded in the town centre. This event caused many deaths and injuries. It was a very difficult time for the community.

Later, in 2011, a police officer was killed by a car bomb. In 2023, another police officer was seriously injured in a shooting. These events show some of the challenges the town has faced.

People of Omagh

2021 Census Information

In 2021, Omagh had 20,458 residents. Here's a quick look at the population:

• About 19.56% of people were under 16 years old.
• About 63.87% were between 16 and 65 years old.
• About 16.57% were 66 years old or older.
• More than half (51.37%) of the residents were female.
• Most people (70.88%) were raised in the Catholic faith. About 22.91% were raised Protestant.
• Many people identified as Irish (43.24%), Northern Irish (32.62%), or British (24.01%). Some people chose more than one identity.
• About 16.43% of people knew some Irish (Gaeilge).
• About 5.61% knew some Ulster Scots.

Geography and Weather

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

Omagh has experienced many floods over the years, including major ones in 1909, 1929, 1954, 1969, 1987, 1999, and 2007. To help prevent flooding, special walls have been built along the River Strule.

Many areas near the river are not suitable for building. These spots have been turned into large green parks and walking paths for everyone to enjoy. Omagh has a mild, wet climate, typical of places near the ocean.

Townlands Around Omagh

St. Columba's Church of Ireland in Omagh.

Omagh started in a small area called a townland. Over time, the town grew and spread into nearby townlands. Some of these include:

• Campsie
• Conywarren (an old name for a rabbit warren)
• Coolnagard Lower and Upper
• Crevenagh
• Culmore
• Dergmoney Lower and Upper
• Gortin
• Gortmore
• Killybrack
• Killyclogher
• Lammy
• Lisanelly
• Lisnamallard
• Lissan
• Mullaghmore
• Sedennan
• Strathroy or Straughroy

Things to See and Do

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

Fun Places to Visit

• The Ulster American Folk Park: This outdoor museum shows what life was like for Irish people who moved to America in the 1800s. You can see old cottages and learn about their journey. It hosts special events like Easter, Christmas, and a big Bluegrass music festival.
• The Gortin Glens Forest Park: Located about 16 km (10 mi) north of Omagh, this large forest has a deer enclosure, waterfalls, and lakes. It's a great place for nature lovers.
• Strule Arts Centre: This modern building opened in 2007. It's a cultural hub in the town centre, built in a new public space by the River Strule.

Parks and Recreation

Omagh has over 20 playgrounds for kids and many green spaces for everyone. The biggest park is Grange Park, close to the town centre. The Omagh Leisure Complex is a large public area with a leisure centre, a boating pond, and paths for cycling.

Shopping in Omagh

Lower Market Street

Omagh is a major shopping area for County Tyrone and western Ulster. Many new shops and retail spaces have been built in recent years. Popular shopping areas include Main Street, Great Northern Road Retail Park, and Showgrounds Retail Park.

OASIS Plaza

The 'Omagh Accessible Shared Inclusive Space' (OASIS) is a £4.5 million project that improved the riverbank area of Omagh. It opened in 2015, creating a new public space for the community.

Getting Around Omagh

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

Train Services

Omagh does not currently have any train services. However, there are plans to reopen railway lines in Northern Ireland, including a route through Omagh.

Bus Services

Ulsterbus in 2007 in Omagh Ulsterbus station.

Bus services in Omagh are run by Ulsterbus. They help people travel around the town and to other areas.

Road Connections

Omagh is connected by several main roads:

• The A32 goes to Enniskillen.
• The A5 goes north to Derry and south towards Dublin.
• The A4 goes east to Belfast.
• The A505 goes east to Cookstown.
• The Omagh Throughpass road helps traffic move smoothly through the town.

Education in Omagh

Omagh has many schools for different age groups. It used to be the main office for the Western Education and Library Board (WELB), which managed education in the area. Now, all local education boards in Northern Ireland are part of the Education Authority.

Primary Schools

• Christ The King Primary School
• Gibson Primary School
• Gillygooley Primary School
• Holy Family Primary School
• Omagh County Primary School (and Nursery School)
• Omagh Integrated Primary School (and Nursery School)
• St Mary's Primary School
• St Conor's Primary School
• Gaelscoil na gCrann (Irish language Primary school and nursery)
• Recarson Primary School – Arvalee

Secondary Schools

• Christian Brothers Grammar School
• Drumragh Integrated College
• Loreto Grammar School
• Omagh Academy
• Omagh High School
• Sacred Heart College

Colleges

• Omagh College of Further Education

Lisanelly Shared Educational Campus

There are plans to bring Omagh's six secondary schools together onto one large campus. This new campus will be built on the former St Lucia Army Barracks site. This big project aims to create a shared learning space for students. It is expected to open in 2026.

Places of Worship

Omagh has many different religious buildings:

• 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
• 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

International Connections

Omagh is twinned with L'Haÿ-les-Roses, a town in France.

Sports and Culture

Gaelic Games

Omagh has two Gaelic football clubs: Omagh St. Enda's and Drumragh Sarsfields.

Healy Park is a very important stadium in Omagh. It is the home ground for Tyrone GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) and is the largest sports stadium in the county. It can hold almost 25,000 people and was the first Gaelic games stadium in Ulster to have floodlights.

Football

Omagh used to have a top football team called Omagh Town F.C., but it closed in 2005. Now, Strathroy Harps FC is a local team that has won the Irish junior cup twice.

Rugby

Omagh's rugby team is called Omagh Academicals, often called the "Accies." It's an amateur team made up mostly of local players.

Cricket

Omagh also has a cricket team called Omagh Cavaliers Cricket Club.

Greyhound Racing

From 1932 to 1940, Omagh had a greyhound racing track at 'The Park' in the Showgrounds.

Famous People from Omagh

Many notable people have come from Omagh:

• Thomas Mellon (1813-1908) – An Irish-American businessman and bank founder.
• Alice Milligan (1865–1953) – A well-known poet.
• Jimmy Kennedy (1902–1984) – A famous songwriter who wrote songs like "Red Sails in the Sunset."
• Benedict Kiely (1919–2007) – A respected author.
• Brian Friel (1929–2015) – A famous playwright born near Omagh.
• Linda Martin (born 1947) – A musician who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1992.
• Sir Sam Neill (born 1947) – An actor famous for movies like Jurassic Park.
• Gerard McSorley (born 1950) – An actor who appeared in films like Veronica Guerin.
• Willie Anderson (born 1955) – An international rugby player for Ireland.
• Ivan Sproule (born 1981) – A former international football player for Northern Ireland.
• Joe McMahon (born 1983) – An All-Ireland-winning Gaelic footballer for Tyrone.
• Janet Devlin (born 1994) – A singer who was a finalist on X-Factor in 2011.
• Justin McMahon – An All-Ireland-winning Gaelic footballer for Tyrone.

See also

In Spanish: Omagh para niños