Omagh, United Kingdom

Omagh has a history of flooding and suffered major floods in 1909, 1929, 1954, 1969, 1987, 1999 and, most recently, 12 June 2007. Flood-walls have been built to keep the water in the channel (River Strule) and to prevent it from overflowing into the flood plain. Large areas of land, mainly around the meanders, are unsuitable for development and were developed into large, green open areas, walking routes and parks. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Cfb" (Marine West Coast Climate/Oceanic climate).

The central urban area south of River Strule forms the townland of Omagh in the civil parish of Drumragh, the adjacent area north of the river forms the townland of Lisnamllard in the civil parish of Cappagh (Upper Strabane portion).

Both civil parishes comprise also outskirts of Omagh and some surrounding countryside.

The town sprang up within the townland of Omagh, in the parish of Drumragh. Over time, the urban area has spread into the surrounding townlands. They include:

Coolnagard Lower, Coolnagard Upper (from Irish Cúil na gCeard 'nook/corner of the craftsmen' or from Irish Cúl na gCeard 'hill-back of the craftsmen')

Dergmoney Lower, Dergmoney Upper (from Irish Deargmhuine 'red thicket')

Gortrush (from Irish Gort an Rois 'field of the wood or promontory')

Killyclogher (from Irish Coillidh Chlochair 'wood of the stony place')

Omagh is the main retail centre for Tyrone, as well as the West of Ulster (behind Derry and Letterkenny), due to its central location. In the period 2000–2003, over £80 million was invested in Omagh, and 60,960 m2 (656,200 ft2) of new retail space was created. Shopping areas in Omagh include the Main Street, Great Northern Road Retail Park and the Showgrounds Retail Park on Sedan Avenue in the town centre. Market Street/High Street is also a prominent shopping street, which includes high street stores such as DV8 and Primark.

Strule Arts Centre is an example of urban renewal in Omagh town centre. Opened in 2007, this civic building is located in a newly created public space which was reclaimed from a formerly disused area between the River Strule and High Street.

The Mid Ulster Film Festival, established in 2004, took place in Omagh until its cancellation in 2010.

The Ulster American Folk Park, near Omagh, includes the cottage where Thomas Mellon was born (in 1813) before his family emigrated to Pennsylvania in the United States. His son, Andrew W. Mellon, became secretary of the US Treasury. The park is an open-air museum that explores the journey made by the Irish (specifically those from Ulster) to America during the 1800s. The park is used to host seasonal events and also hosts a Bluegrass festival every year. Over 127,000 people visited the park in 2003.

Omagh has a number of educational institutions at different levels. These include at least 10 primary schools.

The town was previously the headquarters of the Western Education and Library Board (WELB), located at Campsie House on the Hospital Road, before all local education boards in Northern Ireland were combined into the Education Authority in 2015.

Grammar and secondary schools in the area include Christian Brothers Grammar School, Drumragh Integrated College, Loreto Grammar School, Omagh Academy, Omagh High School and Sacred Heart College.

The Department for Education proposed to co-locate Omagh's six existing secondary schools on the former 190-acre St Lucia Army Barracks, as one large shared educational campus. In April 2009, at the inaugural Lisanelly Shared Educational Campus Steering Group meeting held in Arvalee School and Resource Centre, the Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane announced that funding had been allocated for exemplar designs and associated technical work for a shared educational campus. The construction was expected to cost in excess of £120 million. As of March 2022, the shared education campus was scheduled to open in 2026.

A campus of South West College, known until 2007 as the Omagh College of Further Education, is located in the town centre.