Northern Ireland

Commemorative video to mark 70th anniversary of Omagh rail tragedy

The rail crash happened in Omagh on November 24 1950
The rail crash happened in Omagh on November 24 1950 The rail crash happened in Omagh on November 24 1950

A COMMEMORATIVE video to mark the 70th anniversary of the rail tragedy which claimed the lives of five workers in Omagh was launched yesterday.

With testimonies from relatives of those who died as well as fellow railway workers, the video pays tribute to those killed on November 24, 1950.

John Cassidy, John Cleary, Charles Flanagan, Dan McCrory and John McCrory died when they were struck by a train.

To mark the 70th anniversary of their tragic deaths, Fermanagh and Omagh district council worked with Omagh Heritage Forum to produce the memorial video in their memory.

There are personal testimonies from Angela McSorley and Leo Flanagan, the children of victim Charles Flanagan, with photographs and written records as well as music from St Eugene’s Brass and Reed Band of which the late Dan McCrory was a member.

The rail crash happened on November 24 1950
The rail crash happened on November 24 1950 The rail crash happened on November 24 1950

Created by film maker, Oscar Bradley, it is hoped the video will be "fitting legacy to the five men".

Mark McGrath from Omagh Heritage Forum said: "We felt that it was important, given that the railways were such a huge part of our heritage in Omagh, that the 70th anniversary of the tragedy which claimed the lives of five local rail workers, be marked in some way.

"We knew that given the restrictions on public gatherings currently in place as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, any kind of commemoration at the site of the memorial was not going to happen.

"We felt, however, that it was important that we mark the anniversary just as we marked the 50th anniversary with the unveiling of the memorial stone, and the video will serve as a permanent reminder of the men who lost their lives so tragically in the Omagh Rail Tragedy.

Chris Smyth, chairman of Fermanagh and Omagh district council, said it is "only right that the council commemorates the 70th anniversary of the Omagh rail tragedy".

"The video will serve as a lasting memorial to the five local railway workers who tragically lost their lives when they were struck by a train on 24 November 1950," he said.

"For many years, prior to the move to Gortrush, the council depot was based in the former railway yard in John Street, where the station centre now stands so there is a tangible link between the railway and the council.

"I would like to thank everyone who participated in the making of the video, especially the families of the men who so tragically died, former railway workers and all those involved in the creative side of the video."

The video is available to view on the council’s YouTube channel.