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County Tyrone

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Walking the Landscape of the Red Hand

Beyond the rolling farmland, Tyrone offers a network of waymarked trails that link ancient sites with contemporary community hubs. The Ulster Way skirts the edge of Lough Neagh, giving walkers a chance to glimpse the solitary cotton‑wools of the shoreline before cutting inland to the basalt slopes of the Sperrin’s lowlands. A lesser‑known segment runs from the quiet village of Drumquin through the Gortin Glen, where the scent of heather mingles with the distant hum of a working dairy. These routes are maintained by local volunteers, whose knowledge of safe river fords and seasonal footbridge conditions can be a lifesaver for anyone unacquainted with the county’s variable weather.

Food for Thought: From Hatchards to Hearty Pies

Tyrone’s culinary reputation rests on more than its famed soda bread. The county’s centre‑west, especially around the towns of Dungannon and Cookstown, has seen a resurgence of artisanal cheesemaking, drawing on traditional dairy farms that now supply boutique producers in Dublin and beyond. Pair a slice of locally aged Cashel Blue with a pint of craft stout from a micro‑brewery in Omagh, and you’ll taste the subtle influence of the neighbouring peat bogs. For a sit‑down meal, seek out a family‑run eatery serving “Tyrone stew” – a slow‑cooked lamb dish enriched with root vegetables grown on the same fields that once supplied the local market.

Seasonal Rhythms and Community Events

While the county’s calendar is peppered with the usual fairs, the true pulse can be heard during the summer agrarian festivals that celebrate the harvest of barley and oats. The annual County Tyrone Agricultural Show, held on the outskirts of Omagh, showcases not only prize‑winning livestock but also a vibrant display of traditional music and step‑dancing, often featuring groups that perform in both Irish and Ulster‑Scots. In autumn, the colour change on the Sperrin hills is marked by a series of countryside walks organised by local heritage groups, offering guided insights into the region’s geological past and its lingering folklore about the Red Hand.

Introduction

County in Northern Ireland County in Northern Ireland, United KingdomCounty Tyrone Contae Thír Eoghain (Irish)County Coat of armsNickname: The Red Hand CountyMotto:  Consilio et Prudentia (Latin)"By Wisdom and Prudence"CountryUnited KingdomConstituent countryNorthern IrelandProvinceUlsterEstablished1585County townOmaghArea • Total1,261 sq mi (3,270 km2) • Rank8thHighest elevation (Sawel Mountain)2,224 ft (678 m)Population (2021) • Total188,383 • Rank11thTime zoneUTC±0 (GMT) • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)Postcode areaBTContae Thír Eoghain is the Irish name; Countie Tyrone, Coontie Tyrone and Coontie Owenslann are Ulster Scots spellings (the latter used only by Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council). County Tyrone (/tɪˈroʊn/; from Irish Tír Eoghain, meaning 'land of Eoghan' [tʲiːɾʲ ˈoːnʲ]) is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, one of the nine counties of Ulster and one of the thirty-two traditional counties of Ireland. Its county town is Omagh. Adjoined to the south-west shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 1,261 square miles (3,266 km2), making it the largest of Northern Ireland's six counties by size, and the second largest county in Ulster after Donegal. With a population of 188,383 as of the 2021 census, Tyrone is the 5th most populous county in both Northern Ireland and Ulster, and the 11th most populous county on the island of Ireland. The county derives its name and general geographic location from Tír Eoghain, a Gaelic kingdom under the O'Neill dynasty which existed until the 17th century.

History

[edit] Main article: List of Kings of Tír Eógain Historical populationYearPop.±%16533,988—    16594,088+2.5%1821261,865+6305.7%1831304,468+16.3%1841312,956+2.8%1851255,661−18.3%1861238,500−6.7%1871215,766−9.5%1881197,719−8.4%1891171,401−13.3%1901150,567−12.2%1911142,665−5.2%1926132,792−6.9%1937127,586−3.9%1951132,082+3.5%1961133,919+1.4%1966136,040+1.6%1971139,073+2.2%1981150,729+8.4%1991156,284+3.7%2001164,235+5.1%2011177,986+8.4%2021188,383+5.8% Historically Tyrone (then Tír Eoghain or Tirowen) was much larger in size, stretching as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern-day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610 and 1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on natural resources located there. Tyrone was the traditional stronghold of the various O'Neill clans and families, the strongest of the Gaelic Irish families in Ulster, surviving into the seventeenth century. The ancient principality of Tír Eoghain, the inheritance of the O'Neills, included the whole of the present counties of Tyrone and Londonderry, and the four baronies of West Inishowen, East Inishowen, Raphoe North and Raphoe South in County Donegal. In 1608 during O'Doherty's Rebellion areas of the country were plundered and burnt by the forces of Sir Cahir O'Doherty following his destruction of Derry. However, O'Doherty's men avoided the estates of the recently fled Earl of Tyrone around Dungannon, fearing Tyrone's anger if he returned from his exile.

Geography

[edit] With an area of 1,261 square miles (3,266 km2), Tyrone is the largest county in Northern Ireland. The flat peatlands of East Tyrone border the shoreline of the largest lake in the British Isles, Lough Neagh, rising gradually across to the more mountainous terrain in the west of the county, the area surrounding the Sperrin Mountains, the highest point being Sawel Mountain at a height of 678 metres (2,224 ft). The length of the county, from the mouth of the River Blackwater at Lough Neagh to the western point near Carrickaduff hill is 55 miles (89 km). The breadth, from the southern corner, southeast of Fivemiletown, to the northeastern corner near Meenard Mountain is 37.5 miles (60.4 km); giving an area of 1,261 sq mi (3,270 km2). Annaghone lays claim to be the geographical centre of Northern Ireland. Tyrone is connected by land to the counties of Fermanagh to the southwest; Monaghan to the south; Armagh to the southeast; Londonderry to the north; and Donegal to the west. Across Lough Neagh to the east, it borders County Antrim. It is the eighth largest of Ireland's thirty-two counties by area and tenth largest by population. It is the second largest of Ulster's nine traditional counties by area and fourth largest by population. Blackrock Bridge near Newtownstewart, carrying the closed GNR mainline that ran through the county

Demography

[edit] Religious Background in Tyrone (2021) Religion Per cent Catholic   66.5% Protestant and Other Christian   28.9% None   4.0% Other faiths   0.7% It is one of four counties in Northern Ireland which currently has a majority of the population from a Catholic community background, according to the 2021 census. In 1900 County Tyrone had a population of 197,719, while in 2021 it was 188,383. At the time of the 2021 census, 66.49% were from a Catholic background, 28.88% were from a Protestant and Other Christian (including Christian related), 0.66% were from other religions, and 3.97% had no religious background. Religion or religion brought up in (2021 Census) Religion or religion brought up in Number % Catholic 125,251 66.49% Protestant and Other Christian 54,407 28.88% Other religions 1,251 0.66% None (no religion) 7,474 3.97% Total 188,383 100.00% National identity (2021 Census) National identity Number (%) Irish only 78,291 41.6% British only 39,551 21.0% Northern Irish only 38,698 20.5% British and Northern Irish only 8,197 4.4% Irish and Northern Irish only 3,853 2.1% British, Irish and Northern Irish only 1,175 0.6% British and Irish only 737 0.4% Other identity 17,881 9.5% Total 188,383 100.0% All Irish identities 84,562 44.9% All British identities 50,768 27.0% All Northern Irish identities 52,667 28.0% Irish language and Ulster Scots[edit] In the 2021 UK census in County Tyrone: 18.44% claim to have some knowledge of the Irish language, whilst 5.84% claim to be able to speak, read, write and understand spoken Irish. 3.62% claim to use Irish daily. 0.38% claim that Irish is their main language. 8.15% claim to have some knowledge of Ulster Scots, whilst 0.91% claim to be able to speak, read, write and understand spoken Ulster Scots. 1.26% claim to use Ulster Scots daily.

Settlements

[edit] Main article: List of places in County Tyrone Large towns[edit] (population of 18,000 or more and under 75,000 at 2021 Census) Omagh Medium towns[edit] (population of 10,000 or more and under 18,000 at 2021 Census) Cookstown Dungannon Strabane Small towns[edit] (population of 4,500 or more and under 10,000 at 2021 Census) Coalisland Intermediate settlements[edit] (population of 2,250 or more and under 4,500 at 2021 Census) Castlederg Villages[edit] (population of 1,000 or more and under 2,250 at 2001 Census) Ardboe Aughnacloy Carrickmore Dromore Fintona Fivemiletown Killyclogher Moy Newtownstewart Sion Mills Small villages[edit] (population of less than 1,000 at 2001 Census) Altamuskin Altmore Ardstraw Artigarvan Augher Ballygawley Ballymagorry Benburb Beragh Bready Brockagh Caledon Clady Clogher Clonoe Coagh Derryloughan Derrytresk Donaghmore Donemana Drumquin Edenderry Eglish Erganagh Eskra Evish Glenmornan Gortin Greencastle Killyclogher Loughmacrory Kildress Plumbridge Pomeroy Rock Sixmilecross Stewartstown Tamnamore Trillick Tullyhogue Victoria Bridge

Sport

[edit] Major sports in Tyrone include Gaelic games, association football, rugby union and cricket: Gaelic football is more widely played than hurling in Tyrone. The Tyrone GAA football side has had considerable success since 2000, winning four All Ireland titles (in 2003, 2005, 2008 and 2021). They have also won sixteen Ulster titles (1956, 1957, 1973, 1984, 1986, 1989, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2017 and 2021) and two National League titles (in 2002 and 2003). Association football also has a large following in Tyrone. Omagh Town F.C. were members of the Irish Football League until they folded in 2005 due to financial problems. Dungannon Swifts F.C. compete in the NIFL Premiership – the top division. Other teams include NIFL Championship side Dergview F.C. Rugby union is very popular in the county. Dungannon RFC, Omagh Academicals RFC and Clogher Valley RFC play in the All-Ireland League. Other teams include Cookstown RFC and Strabane RFC. International Cricket is also played on the Bready Cricket Club Ground which is owned by Bready Cricket Club. It is Ireland's fourth venue for International Cricket hosting its first International Cricket match when Ireland played against Scotland in a series of T20I matches in June 2015. It was selected as a venue to host matches in the 2015 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier tournament.

Notable people

[edit] See also: Category:People from County Tyrone Philomena Begley, Irish country music singer James E. Boyd, seventh governor of Nebraska Paul Brady, musician Conor Bradley, footballer Colin Broderick, Author and Filmographer. William Burke (1792–1829), grave robber and murderer Peter Canavan, former All Ireland Tyrone captain William Carleton (1794–1869), writer Chipzel, musician Darren Clarke, professional golfer Tom Clarke, Irish Republican and leader of the 1916 Easter Rising Jimmy Cricket, comedian Sidney Elisabeth Croskery, doctor Austin Currie, politician, founding member SDLP; Member of Parliament (MP) and later Teachta Dála (TD) Janet Devlin, soul and pop artist and contestant on The X Factor (UK) Ryan Dolan, Ireland representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 Brian Dooher, former captain of the Tyrone senior football team Hugo Duncan, singer and broadcaster on BBC Radio Ulster John Dunlap (1747–1812), publisher of the first American daily newspaper the Pennsylvania Packet in 1784, also the printer of the American Declaration of Independence Brian Friel, dramatist and theatre director Sylvia Hermon, Member of Parliament for North Down, born in Galbally, County Tyrone Aaron Hughes, captain of the Northern Ireland football team John Hughes (1797–1864), first Archbishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of New York Martin Hurson, Irish Republican Ryan Kelly, singer with Celtic Thunder Benedict Kiely (1919–2007), writer and broadcaster Conor McKenna, AFL Player for the Brisbane Lions Gerry McKenna MRIA (1953–), biologist; Vice Chancellor and President, University of Ulster; Senior Vice President, Royal Irish Academy William McMaster (1811–1887), founder of Canadian Bank of Commerce and namesake of McMaster University Mary Mallon (1869–1938), more commonly known as Typhoid Mary W. F. Marshall (1888–1954), the 'Bard of Tyrone', Presbyterian minister, author and poet Thomas Mellon, founder of Mellon Bank, now Bank of New York Mellon Sister Nivedita (1867–1911), Irish social activist Flann O'Brien (1911–1966), writer Dominic Ó Mongain (c.1715–1770s), poet and harpist Arthur O'Neill (c.1737–1816), travelling blind Irish harpist Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone (Aodh Mór Ó Néill) (c.1550–1616), Irish leader during the Nine Years' War Thomas Porter, member of the Wisconsin State Assembly Martha M. Simpson (1864–1948), educationalist Victor Sloan, visual artist Ivan Sproule, retired footballer Dennis Taylor, former world snooker champion John K. Tener, former baseball player and Governor of Pennsylvania. Creator of Congressional Baseball Game.