Overview
Drumragh is a historic parish around Omagh, and its old church stands roofless on the right bank of the River Drumragh, now within the edge of the town. The ruin is small, with two gables, weathered walls and a graveyard around it. The parish gives its name to the river and to a wide civil parish that the county town has slowly grown into, with the Sperrin Mountains beyond.
An old church and graveyard appear in the record of historic monuments. Respect the graveyard and keep away from unstable walls.
A Layered History
The name Drumragh comes from the Irish Druim Ráith, “ridge of the rath” or fort. The old church dates from pre-Reformation times, and local tradition has it destroyed by Cromwellian troops firing from Cannon Hill in Omagh during the wars of the 1640s. It was first mapped by the Ordnance Survey in 1833 as “Drumragh old church”: a modest rectangular building with double-chamfered windows and two gables still standing. The graveyard around it holds 19th- and 20th-century headstones.
The parish’s later church history moved into Omagh town. The main church there was erected in 1777 by the Mervyn family, greatly enlarged in 1820, and given its tower and spire by Bishop Knox. It is the building that grew into the town’s skyline rather than anything left at the old Drumragh site.
Tracing family history
The Drumragh parish records are a separate resource for people tracing local family history.
A riverside walk in Omagh
For a public route, use Omagh’s Riverside Walk and Cycle Path. The district council’s outdoor recreation guide has route information for the area. Keep to the shared path and give the riverbank a wide berth, particularly after heavy rain, when banks can be slippery. Take extra care with children.
Practical Information
If you have time to extend your visit, the summit walk at Bessy Bell offers views of the Sperrins, and the historic estate and gardens at Baronscourt are a short drive north. There are no facilities at the ruin; the nearest toilets, cafés and shops are in Omagh town centre.