Omagh offers different ways to explore history and culture: from the story of emigration and self-guided trails to art and music. Cycling can also be explored as a theme in its own right. The perspective that shapes your stay can help guide your plans and your search for accommodation in Omagh.
Emigration history at the Ulster American Folk Park
At the Ulster American Folk Park, the exhibition tells the story of people emigrating from Ulster to North America in the 18th and 19th centuries. One particularly vivid part of this experience takes visitors aboard the ship Brig Union, where they can experience the confined conditions of a twelve-week Atlantic crossing. The story of the journey is conveyed not only through historical accounts, but also through the limited space in which such a crossing took place.
A visit also includes a walk along well-trodden paths through rural Ulster. The route passes a lively street and welcoming farmhouses. The onboard history and the walk through this rural setting offer different perspectives: you can learn about the crossing and emigration while also exploring a portrayal of life in rural Ulster.
Art, music and historical trails
Strule Arts Centre is in the heart of Omagh and brings theatre, music, dance and visual arts together under one roof. A visitor information centre is also located inside. During opening hours, you can get information there about attractions and places to visit in the Omagh and Sperrins area. The centre therefore combines a wide-ranging arts programme with a practical place to get your bearings in the region.
Those interested in the showband era can follow the self-guided Omagh Heritage Music Trail. It leads to places significant to this musical history and shows where rehearsal rooms, dance halls and ballrooms were located. The Omagh Historical Trail offers a different way to explore: its interactive map is designed to help you discover important places in the town and can be accessed on any device. Both are self-guided; one focuses on music history, the other on Omagh’s historical sites.
The town’s churches are another cultural highlight. Churches Street invites you to take a self-guided tour of Omagh’s historic churches. A striking example is St Columba’s Church of Ireland, with its impressive stained-glass windows and a three-towered façade. The tour allows you to take in both the churches’ architecture and the individual features of this building.
Workshops and cycling
DĂşn Uladh offers visitors, tour groups and organisations tailor-made workshops on Irish tradition. Depending on your plans, these can be half-day or full-day sessions. This sets them apart from the self-guided trails: the focus here is on exploring a subject in depth through a specially designed workshop. If you would like to include a workshop in your plans, you can enquire about a suitable date in advance.
For a cycling perspective, National Route 92 passes through Omagh. The section of the route in Omagh follows a path alongside the Camowen River; in Glencree Park, the route picks up a path again.
Planning your stay in Omagh
When planning, you can first consider what kind of exploration you are looking for: an account of emigration, self-guided trails through music history and historical sites, church architecture, a workshop on Irish tradition or Route 92. This selection can help you weigh up the activities you want to do against the time available. If you plan to include cultural activities, check the visitor information centre’s opening hours in advance and enquire about your preferred workshop dates.
Discover more destinations: Greencastle, Newtownstewart, Strabane, Castlederg
Return to the main travel guide: Tyrone.
