Omagh, town, administrative centre of Omagh district in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is also a market town, and public and agricultural services, including those concerning livestock and dairy products, are the largest sources of employment. There is also some light industry that includes textile manufacture. Omagh grew around the point where the rivers Camowen and Drumragh converge to form the River Strule, and a fortress was established there by the O'Neill clan who ruled the ancient province of Ulster until the 17th century. The Ulster-American Folk Park 8 km (5 mi) north of Omagh recalls the lives of prominent figures in American history who traced their origins to County Tyrone. They include the 19th-century banker and industrialist Thomas Mellon, and James Buchanan, President of the United States from 1857 to 1861. The playwright Brian Friel was born in Omagh. In August 1998 a car bomb exploded in Omagh, killing 29 people and injuring hundreds—it was the worst terrorist action in Northern Ireland for over 30 years. Population (1991) 17,280.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Omagh Information info
|
