Omagh District Council facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Omagh District |
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| Area | 1,130 km2 (440 sq mi) Ranked 2nd of 26 |
| District HQ | Omagh |
| Catholic | 70.3% |
| Protestant | 27.4% |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| EU Parliament | Northern Ireland |
| Councillors | |
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Omagh District Council was a local government body in Northern Ireland. It was responsible for managing public services and local affairs in the Omagh area. In April 2015, this council joined with Fermanagh District Council. Together, they formed a new, larger council called Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.
The main office for Omagh District Council was in the town of Omagh. Omagh is also the main town of County Tyrone. The area covered by the council was about 1,130 square kilometres (440 square miles). This made it the second largest local council area in Northern Ireland by size. Over 50,000 people lived in the council area. About half of these people lived in Omagh town itself. Besides Omagh, the district included smaller towns. These towns are Drumquin, Dromore, Trillick, Fintona, Beragh, Carrickmore, and Sixmilecross.
The council started in 1973. It first had 20 councillors, who are like local representatives. Later, in the 1980s, the number of councillors increased to 21. The Omagh District Council was divided into three voting areas. These were Omagh Town, Mid Tyrone, and West Tyrone. In the last elections held in 2011, councillors were elected from several political parties. These included Sinn Féin, the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). There were also some councillors who were Independent, meaning they did not belong to a political party. Each year in June, the councillors would choose a Chairman and Vice Chairman for the council.
Changes to Local Government
The way local government works in Northern Ireland has been reviewed. This review is called the Review of Public Administration (RPA). Because of this review, Omagh District Council was planned to merge with Fermanagh District Council. This merger happened in 2015. The new combined area is much larger, covering 2,829 square kilometres. It has a population of over 105,000 people.
Population Growth
The area that was once Omagh District Council has grown a lot. This is especially true for Omagh town. In recent years, the population has increased significantly. Many new housing areas and shopping centres have been built. According to the 2011 Northern Ireland census, the former Omagh District Council area had 51,536 residents.
Community Facilities
The council owned and managed important community buildings. One example is the Strule Arts Centre. This centre is located in the middle of Omagh town. It provides a place for arts and cultural events for the community.
Images for kids
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Map showing the district's voting areas from 1993 to 2014
