Some bygone facts about Omagh

What was the original crest of the town of Omagh?
Three lions couchant but it was never officially registered.

Where was the Pavilion?
It was a corrugated iron clad building along Sedan Avenue, located where the Sedan Avenue Retail Park now stands. It belonged to the Tyrone Agricultural Farming Society. It housed the branch library for many years, before it moved to its present site at Spillars Place

When was the Omagh Urban Omagh Urban District Council established?
By law in 1898. The first elections were held in 1899. It disappeared in 1973 when Omagh District Council came into being

Where did the O'Neill Castle in Omagh stand in the 15th century?
In Market Street, The exact location has not been determined but it was somewhere between Bogan's Bar and the Community House complex

When did the railways first come to Omagh?
1852,

Why is Bell's Bridge so called?
From a bakery that stood at the end of Bridge Street, to the left, as you went out of the town. The site is now vacant.

Where was the site of the Butter Market in Omagh?
It is believed to have been down from C. A. Andersons, Lower Market Street.

What is the legend of the Drumragh Pearl?
That a pearl worth the value of seven townlands would be fished out of the Drumragh by a red-haired widow's son.

Where was The Tanyard, in 19th century Omagh?
Up the Old Mount-field Road past the Health Centre, in the vicinity of Beechgrove Park.

What height is the taller of the two spires of the Sacred Heart Church?
225 ft. Some authorities give it as 215 ft. The discrepancy may arise from consideration of whether the cross is included or not

Where was Hamilton's forge?
On your left as you enter the New Brighton Terrace Car Park from the Kevlin Road.

When was the auditorium in the Town Hall built?
Just before 1915.

The song-writer Jimmy Kennedy was born in Pretoria Terrace, Omagh. It is still there. Where, exactly?
Where the Brookmount Road curves towards the new flyover, on the 'town' side of the Convent Primary School.

The celebrated Temperance advocate Father Matthew spoke publicly in Omagh in 1843. Where?
In the old church of Saint Peter and Paul in Brook Street, where the school now stands.

What,in early 19th century Omagh, was a chase (or chaise) marine?
A light horse-drawn carriage.

What is the connection between Omagh and the film 'Jurassic Park'?
The film's star, Sam Neill, was born in the town where his father was a serviceman.

What, in the mid-1960's was described, in the papers, as 'Omagh's Berlin Wall'?
A fence across Townview Avenue preventing through traffic from the Kevlin Road to the Dublin Road

Before the present INF hall came into being where did the Foresters have their rooms?
Beside the present Coach Inn, on the Dromore Road

In what year was the Battisti Cup first contested?
1953.

What arrangements did bus travellers make before an Omagh bus station was built on its present sits?
There were bus-stops on either side of the street near the present Wellworth's, depending whether you were embarking or dismounting.

When was was the existing phase of the Great Northern Roadway the Omagh throughpass first opened to vehicular traffic?
September 1990.

Where, in Omagh, did William Glass conduct his business. What was his business?
A saddlers on Bridge Street corner at the site of the O2 shop

Where, in Omagh, in the last century, was the Stewart Arms Hotel?
In the vicinity of the present Hogshead Bar, McConnell lace.

What is the name of Brian Friel's play that a pub on the Gortin Road was named after?
Molly Sweeney.

The Omagh Hiring Fair took place twice a year, on the the Courthouse Brae In what two months?
In May and November.

Who or what, locally were the Coxtonians
A soccer team made up of local printers and newspapermen. Late 1950s, early 1960s.

How many public houses were there in Omagh in 1895
Approximately 50. For a population of just over 4000.

The Omagh Post Office in High Street bears the date of construction above the front entrance. What is the date?
1960.

Where, in 1895, Would You have found:
(a) The Grain Market, (b) The Butter Market, and (c) The Potato Market?
(a) Close to the GNR Yard in James Street, beside the Convent gates.
(b) In lower Market Street, close to Anderson's hardware store.
(c) Off Bridge Street, the Present Old Market Place.

Local bards and composers; who wrote of?
(a) The big brown bock of Mullaghcarn
(b) The Mass Rock in the Glen
(c) The Trecherous waves of Lough Muck

(a) W. F. Marshall
(b) Felix Kearney
(c) Frank McCrory





How many steps lead up to the Courthouse?
Unlucky for some - thirteen.

As you look down Omagh's High Street the even numbers are (a) on the left or (b) on the right?
On the left.

What is the height of the Mullaghcarn mountain which dominates the town?
1776 feet.

Can you name six places in Omagh, past and present, named in honour of Saint Patrick?
St. Patrick's Street, Terrace, High School, Hall, Park, and Tennis Club. -- That's six.

Entertainments in Omagh 100 years ago were held in the Assembly Room. Now known as..
The Royal Arms Ballroom - (compiled in 1985) - RAH does not now exist

And where, in Omagh, was the Ulster Hall?
Near the entrance to the Livestock Mart on the Dublin Road, just beyond the Market Street traffic lights.

Where was Omagh's biggest turntable?
Used for turning railway engines it was situated where the Playing Fields at St. Patrick's School fringe the former GNR railway line removed 1965.

The Gasworks, soon to close, was established in (a) 1850, (b) 1875, or (c) 1990?
1850.

One of the country's oldest weather observation posts is located in Omagh. Where?
At Edenfell, on the Crevenagh Road,

Where was Omagh's egg market located?
Behind JB Anderson's store which was at Lower Market Street.

Which building in Omagh is in three streets?
The Courthouse - John St., High St., and George's St.

Where was Omagh's last liquor bonding store?
In across the street from Bank of Ireland.

The only play staged in the Town Hall in 1985 was by a professional company. The leading part was played by an Omagh man. What was the play, and who was the actor?
Gerald McSorley - Northern Star

When was Cannondale first occupied?
1955.

The anchor of the ship that took King James II off to France after his defeat at the Boyne is preserved near Omagh, Where exactly?
In the grounds of the Baronscourt Estate.

For what are John Holden, and George Conway remembered in the annals of Omagh?
Not as celebrated as T. H. Montgomery they were hanged at Omagh Jail. Conway was the last man to be hanged there (1880).

The first motor car was first seen in Omagh in (a) 1902, (b) 1904 or (c) 1906) ?
1902.

When Halley's Comet last showed up in 1910 which of these Omagh buildings were in existence : The INF Hall, the Munster & Leinster Bank, The Town Hall auditorium?
None of them.

Omagh Courthouse was restored in 1986. When. was it first built?
1814-1820. The pillars and portico were added in 1822.

The Gasworks closed this year (1986). When did it open?
In 1850.

Which Omagh Street was once called New Street?
John Street.

Where was Dry Bridge Street?
Abbey Street / Lower Castle Street.

in what year was the latest bridge over the Strule constructed?
1966. (The Drumragh Bridge).

Who was the subject of Benedict Kiley's early study "The Poor Scholar"?
The Clogher-born novelist William Carleton.

Can you locate the former female prison?
In the Military Barrack area beyond the present Gaol Square, on land occupied in former years by Omagh Rural Council and, until recently, by the Roads Service of the DoE. Part of the old prison complex.

When did the former Urban Council come into existence? When did it cease to function?
1899. 1973.

(a) How many councillors did the Urban Council elect for the Town of Omagh? (b) How many are elected today (year 1986)for the town on the Omagh District Council?
(a) Twenty-one. (b) Seven.

Where was Omagh's main Post Office before it moved to its present site? (question was asked in 1986)
Just down from the Town Hall in the building now occupied by the Anglia Building Society.

Cannondale and Hacketts Villas opened in the same year. What was that year?
In 1955.

In what year did the Town Hall open?
In 1914.(does not exist now)

Which Omagh tavern was formerly known as 'The Military Arms'?
The Hogshead.

What was the name of the old Church that stood in Brook Street from 1829 and served for the rest of the 19th century?
Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

How are the names McLaughlin and McCrossan associated with Castle Street?
The blacksmith McLaughlin took the life of the attorney McCrossan in 1864, with a hook that he had allegedly fashioned for the purpose.

Where was St. Patrick's Hall?
Opposite the Sacred Heart Church