Category: County Tyrone

Posted in County Tyrone

County Tyrone: Strabane

Posted on by fitzjameshorse

10th July 2018. Bus to Strabane (population 13,000) a distance of 105 kilometres. A strongly republican town. It lies on the River Mourne which combines with the River Finn to form the River Foyle.

Statue of Strabane-born Brian O’Nolan (aka Flann O’Brien) 1911-1966, novelist, playwright and satirist.

The printing shop where John Dunlap, printer of the United States Constitution was apprenticed. It is owned by the National Trust.

The Tinnies a group of five sculptures, each six metres high. They are a drummer, flautist, fiddler and two dancers and on the roundabout that leads across the River Foyle to Lifford in County Donegal.

Posted in County Tyrone

County Tyrone: Clonoe

Posted on by fitzjameshorse

9th June 2018. A drive 0f 30 kilometres from my home to Clonoe, a small village outside Coalisland in County Tyrone.

I have many happy memories in Coalisland. I had a maternal granny who died there in 1956. I can remember her. And I actually have an earlier memory encouraged by relatives. Seemingly when I was in a buggy/stroller my parents and my paternal grandparents and Auntie Sheila took me on a walk from Coalisland to the Catholic church at Clonoe.

Some years ago, the old church building was replaced by a new modern structure.

St Joseph and Baby Jesus holding the world in his hands.

I still want to play with him.

My wife with St Joseph and Baby Jesus.

The church furniture includes St Joseph holding Baby Jesus. And Baby Jesus is holding the “whole world in his hands” as the song says. But to a toddler in a stroller circa 1954, Baby Jesus is holding a ball and …for many years those loving people who took me there teased me with the memory that I cried because I wanted Baby Jesus to let me play with him.

It is nice to know that the statue I first saw about 65 years previously is still there. And sad that all the other people are gone. Good of course to bring my wife with me.

We never know how things will turn out. I have some relatives in the graveyard at Clonoe.

In February 1992, four members of a IRA Active Service Unit were ambushed and killed by a British Army undercover unit in the car park of the church.

Posted in County Tyrone

County Tyrone: Dungannon

Posted on by fitzjameshorse

14th June 2018. Bus from Lurgan to Dungannon (population 16,000) a distance of 22 kilometres. I lived in Dungannon from 1979 to 1982.

Ranfurley House.

The Hill of the O’Neill (the ruins of the O’Neill Castle). The O’Neills were the most powerful clan in the Tudor Ireland.

The military-looking building was the town’s police station (Royal Ulster Constabulary) when I lived here. There is an urban myth that the design was supposed to be used in the North West Frontier of the British Raj but somehow was sent to County Tyrone.

The War Memorial.

This path was not in Dungannon when I lived here. The train station was closed in the mid 1960s when train service west from Portadown was discontinued. The path is the old railway track and nice to see the landscaping.