Serving as the seat of County Tyrone, Omagh lies at the junction of the Drumragh and Camowen rivers in Northern Ireland. It was officially founded in 1610 and became a refuge for fugitives during the Irish Rebellion of 1641. Today, Omagh serves as a gateway to the Sperrin Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Things to do in Omagh
A short drive from Omagh is the Ulster American Folk Park, an open-air museum that tells the story of Irish emigration. It is clustered with beautifully restored buildings connected to those who left Ulster for the United States in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. In the Old World section, you’ll find police barracks, a printing press and a bank while the New World section boasts a full-size replica of an immigrant sailing ship.
Nearby is the Abingdon Collection where you’ll find classic cars and motorcycles dating from the 1950s to the modern day. Get up close to a 1978 Porsche and a 1972 Triumph Bonneville, as well as a Harley Davidson Low Rider from 2006. In addition to its collection of vehicles, the museum houses more than 500 die-cast model cars, vintage jukeboxes and old radios.
Omagh makes a good base for exploring the Sperrin Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is traversed by four scenic driving routes. It encompasses unspoiled river valleys, lakes and viewpoints, as well as picturesque walking trails through the rural countryside. Keep an eye out for Goles Stone Row, an alignment of 11 upright stones that date from the early Bronze Age.
Getting around Omagh
Omagh is around 45 minutes’ drive from Derry and one hour from City of Derry Airport, which has flights to destinations across the United Kingdom. Regular buses connect to Omagh and the town centre is compact enough to explore on foot.