Northern Ireland

Ulster's highest village puts call out for photographs to help tell its unique story

Outside Quin's bar in the Diamond, Pomeroy
Outside Quin's bar in the Diamond, Pomeroy Outside Quin's bar in the Diamond, Pomeroy

ULSTER'S highest village is putting a call out to anyone with a connection to help tell its unique story.

Pomeroy, perched more than 500ft up in the Sperrins, is also the geographical centre of Ulster and a traditional boundary between east and west Tyrone.

Its central location made it an obvious point for a train station - once the highest in Ireland - which for decades welcomed people and products on a busy arterial route linking Belfast, Derry and Donegal.

Pomeroy's former train station was the highest in Ireland
Pomeroy's former train station was the highest in Ireland Pomeroy's former train station was the highest in Ireland

The sights and sounds of the railroad may now be just a memory, but a new project aims to remember all the stories of daily life in this rural community in times gone by.

Cavanakeeran Community Centre, recently built at a cost of £750,000, is to feature a special gallery providing a permanent social history of the area.

Anyone with a connection to Pomeroy is now being asked to check attics or under beds for old photographs.

Whether it's making hay in the fields or gathering turf in the bogs, life on the railroad, or forgotten faces from dances or family scenes at home, the hope is to preserve the memories of previous generations in a dedicated display.

Pomeroy accordion band leads the triumphant Plunketts team through the village after winning the 1967 Tyrone Intermediate Football Championship
Pomeroy accordion band leads the triumphant Plunketts team through the village after winning the 1967 Tyrone Intermediate Football Championship Pomeroy accordion band leads the triumphant Plunketts team through the village after winning the 1967 Tyrone Intermediate Football Championship

Spokesman Denis Devlin said the appeal is going out to families within the parish but also anyone with a link to Pomeroy across Ireland and around the world.

“The centre will be a much-needed focal point for parishioners young an old, providing space to connect through sporting and cultural activities as well as modern facilities for community groups and businesses,” he said.

“It has been built by the people of Pomeroy for the people of Pomeroy and we want to enhance that special connection through this history gallery.

“We have already gathered many images of people and places from times gone by but we know there are many more out there and we want help finding them.

“If you have anything at all that will help tell the story of Pomeroy down the years, please get in touch. All original photos will treated with the utmost care and returned.”

The initiative follows a successful appeal to help meet the cost of the new community centre through a ‘Buy a Brick’ scheme.

A specially-designed pathway will be laid outside the building, made up of stones bearing names and messages from hundreds of people with connections to the area.

Individual stones can still be bought and personalised to celebrate family connections to Pomeroy and record that link for posterity.

To contact Cavanakeeran Community Centre or find out more about the history gallery or pathway home see @CavanakeeranCC on Facebook or ring 07867 904229 or 07525 130618.