West Tyrone Historical Society

16/02/2026

Assistance appreciated:
Hi there - I was inspired by another member of the community asking for some help on high street merchants in Omagh in the 19th century. I would like to know if anyone knows any descendants of either Andrew McKinney, who owned a pub on Market Street from the 1830s-1856, or a relative of John Maguire, his son in law, who owned a grocery store at 26 Market Street from 1850s- 1864. The McKinney-Maguire family also had commercial space on Bridge Street around this time. John Maguire emigrated to Montreal with his wife Catherine McKinney and children in 1864. Andrew McKinney had other children, and one of his daughters was married to Terence Smyth, a merchant in Omagh, and another was married to William Gallagher.

15/02/2026

Anyone able to help?
Hello, my name is Aidan; I'm the grandson of Michael Gallagher, who owned a grocery shop on High Street in Omagh in the 1940s/50s - he also owned a pub and sweet shop, with his brother Terence on Bridge Street - however I can't find any record of the Bridge Street shops. Would anyone be able to help please? - The photo is of the High Street shop - T & M Gallagher.

27/01/2026

A reminder of tomorrow evening's talk!

16/01/2026

30/12/2025

Anyone able to help with a recent query?
Hello, greetings. I am working on my family tree. My mom was a Montague. I can trace her family back to Francis Montague b1817. It seems he was born and died in Omagh. He married an Alice. His son was Patrick Montague 1854-1917. Anyone able to help with research? Kind Regards, Terry

09/12/2025

Unfortunately, Newtownstewart Heritage Group have had to postpone this evening 's event.
We plan on having same event (speaker Roddy Hegarty) tomorrow evening at 7.30pm instead. Same venue: Church of Ireland Hall, Dublin Street.

06/12/2025

Newtownstewart Heritage Group will welcome a wonderfully knowledgeable speaker (a Strabane native) on Tuesday evening! This talk will appeal to farmers, landowners and local historians. Hope you can make it!

05/12/2025

https://struleartscentre.co.uk/show/centenary-of-the-ferguson-master-patent-1925-2025-the-ferguson-system/

07/11/2025

The Castlederg and Victoria Bridge tramline, which closed in 1933, was just seven miles long and held Ireland’s first internal combustion railcar

06/10/2025

In case you missed our recent lecture on the Desmond family, see details below.

04/09/2025

Know anyone who worked in Desmond's? Local knowledge would enhance our talk on the history of the company. We'd love to have as many locals as possible come along!