Victoria Housden

The impressive exhibition will be on proud display at the Strule Arts Centre, Omagh, until Saturday, May 24

The event at Greencastle Community Centre was part of their recently-launched ‘Greencastle to Gaza’ campaign

A SION Mills community activist has voiced fears that a fire which ravaged the village’s historic Herdman’s Mill yesterday (Saturday) evening ‘may have been started deliberately’. At 18.37 on Saturday, the NI Fire and Rescue Service received a report of a fire at an isolated part of the mill which houses the hydroplant. The fire […]

The exhibition welcomed a full house for its official opening and will remain on striking display at the Strule Arts Centre until April 26

“Art has been the vibrant thread woven through the fabric of my life…”Without the beauty and magic of art, Oisín Hassan, reflects, his world would feel ‘flat and monochromatic’. The Strabane artist has been creating artworks for as long as he can remember, and describes his relationship with the creative outlet as ‘a lifelong journey’. […]

‘Darach’, the gentle giant sculpture, is set to greet all adventurers who are set to take part in next weekend’s Cairn Sunday walk – an ancient dander to the dizzying and beautiful peak of Mullaghcarn Mountain. Taking place on Sunday, July 28, the historic three-hour walk will begin at the ‘Trail Head’ information sign at […]

GOOD food was on the menu and wonderful music filled the walls of Aughabrack Hall as local people came together to thank the wonderful volunteers that keep community group, Aughabrack & District Community Association (ADCA), thriving. Organised by ADCA along with Donagheady Parish, attendees were treated to a delicious three course meal provided by Cathy from […]

FUN, fundraising and sparkles were on the menu for Loreto Grammar students recently, when they held a glamorous gala dinner at the Silverbirch Hotel in aid of an African school building project. Indeed, this October, a dozen Year 12 students have been selected to travel to Lusaka in conjunction with the ‘Spirit of Paul McGirr […]

Donna-Marie McGillion opens up about the bomb blast that left her with burns to 65 per-cent of her body, writes Victoria Housden. It was the afternoon of Saturday, August 15, 1998 in Omagh. For many, it was an ordinary day; it was relatively cloudy, the temperatures were averaging 17 degrees Celsius, and the dry summer […]

‘I WAS overwhelmed by the joy, the smiles, and the sheer quality of the singing, acting and breathtaking dance routines’… It is safe to say that Omagh trailblazing musical theatre group, Skyzdalimit, absolutely wowed a packed Strule Arts Centre on Friday and Saturday night with a stunning performance of its latest musical production, ‘Sandy and […]

AN inspirational Sacred Heart teacher is looking forward to ‘building’ upon her success, having achieved the highest honour in a prestigious Lego competition in Dublin recently. It was Arlene Corrigan’s genuine ‘enthusiasm’ that caught the attention of the judges at the national stage of the ‘First Lego League’, and, as such, she was crowned winner […]

THE Golden Apples Players have made a ‘ripe’ return to the stage for the first time in more than two years, with the all-singing and dancing Broadway classic, ‘Rent’. Taking place at the Strule Arts Centre over four nights last week, the rock opera retold the emotional story of a group of impoverished young artists […]

BOGANS Bar is raising a glass and cheering for success, after being named County Tyrone’s ‘best bar’ in this year’s National Pub & Bar awards. Hand-picked by National Pub & Bar magazine, which runs the award, the Omagh bar will now compete for the coveted title of ‘National Pub & Bar of the Year’, alongside […]

THE Year 12 pupils of Dean Maguirc were put through their academic paces when they took part in a very special interview skills training day at the school. The day commenced with an insightful workshop, led by Pat Jamison from Sentinus and it was followed by mock interviews with the students, conducted by a number […]

A THOUGHTFUL Omagh man will soon be using his technical skills for the greatest of good, after raising more than £7,000 to purchase a state-of-the-art thermal drone to help locate missing persons and pets – even in the darkest of nights. Drone pilot, Chris Colton, was inspired, and deeply moved, to buy the flying craft […]

MORE than £20,000 has now been raised by the local community to help a kind-hearted Drumquin mum, who has aggressive stomach cancer, make beautiful memories with her family. The most recent event in the fundraising drive for Danielle Donnelly was hosted by Drumquin Wolfe Tones in their clubrooms on Friday night, and festivities featured a […]

THE sky is certainly certainly the limit for a groundbreaking Omagh theatre group for people with disabilities who celebrated the most successful year in their history with a lavish ‘Gran Gala Ball Oscars Night’ at the Mellon Country Inn on Friday night. The glamorous stars of ‘Skyzdalimit’ made the journey to the Mellon via an […]

From showbands to showcasing legendary wordsmiths, folk concerts to tea parties, Omagh Music Festival promises to turn back the time in the town by showcasing the pearls of the musical past. The weekend launches at 8pm on Thursday, September 29 with the opening of a dedicated exhibition, ‘Presenting the Omagh Showbands’. The displays will tell […]

A SPECIAL proposal beside the sparkling canals of Amsterdam transformed into a beautiful white wedding, filled with laughter and love for Dr Sarah and Mark Brown. ‘A traditional day, with a modern twist’ is how Sarah (née Smyth) of Killyman, Tyrone, described the occasion, which took place at the stunning Lough Erne Resort, Enniskillen, on […]

THE melodic life and tuneful heritage of champion lilter, Mickey McCann, who died in 1972, was commemorated in fitting musical style at the third annual ‘Mickey McCann Mouth Music Festival’ in Dromore. This event, which took place in canorous splendour on Friday and Saturday, was organised and funded by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, in […]