Strabane

Understand

Strabane has been defined by its three rivers. The River Finn flows out of Donegal to the west, while the Mourne River flows down from Omagh to the south. At Strabane they combine into the River Foyle, which flows 14 miles north to reach the sea at Derry. Fed by the ample Ulster rain, they're fast-flowing and were harnessed for mills, to process flax into linen. But that made them difficult to ford, so at Strabane there was a ferry to Lifford on the west bank, and since 1730 a bridge. There's no other crossing of the Foyle until you reach Derry. The area has good farmland and its Irish name is An Srath Bán, "the white strath, the grassy water-meadow". It attracted a series of settlers: Celts, Vikings, the O'Neill dynasty of Tyrone, the Plantation Scots. This meant that prehistoric and early Christian sites hereabouts have been lost to the plough, while surviving in wilder country elsewhere. Ulster was organised into counties after the Nine Years' War broke Gaelic resistance to the English, and the Finn and Foyle became the natural boundary between County Donegal on the west bank and County Tyrone on the east. County Londonderry began a few miles north at the tidal and navigation limit of the Foyle. Scottish settlers were already moving in before the war, but 1607 saw the flight of the defeated Earl of Tyrone into exile, and seizure of his estates. In 1608 rebels burned Derry, and London authority was determined to prevent further uprisings, so they began the systematic Plantation of Ulster with loyal Protestants. These became the majority population especially in the industrial east, but Strabane remained mostly Catholic. In 1921 the prolonged Anglo-Irish conflict led to the partition of Ireland. County Donegal, though geographically in Ulster, was Catholic and joined Southern Ireland, which became an independent Republic. Tyrone and Londonderry were mostly Protestant and joined Northern Ireland, which remained within the United Kingdom. A boundary commission recom

Getting there

By road from Belfast follow M2 / A6 towards Derry and branch off onto B49 at Claudy. Ulsterbus 273 runs from Belfast Grand Central hourly M-Sa and every two hours Sunday, taking 2 hr 30 min via Lurgan, Dungannon and Omagh, and continuing to Derry. Bus 97 is an extra between Strabane and Omagh, twice M-F. Ulsterbus 98 takes 40 min between Derry and Strabane, M-Sa every hour or two. Goldliner X3 runs three times a day from Dublin Busáras and Airport to Strabane (3 hr) and Derry. Expressway 32 also runs every hour or two from Dublin Busáras and Airport, taking 4 hours via Monaghan and Omagh, and continuing to Lifford and Letterkenny. Unlike the X3, you can ride this between intermediate points. Derry is the nearest railway station, with hourly trains from Belfast. 1 Strabane bus station is south bank of the Mourne River on A5, a short walk from town centre.

Getting around

Lifford is walking distance, and there are no border checks. It's up to you to ensure that you're eligible to cross between UK and Ireland, that you carry any relevant documents with you, and that your car insurance / rental agreement is valid for both countries. Buses towards Omagh will take you to Sion Mills. You need your own wheels for other out-of-town sites. Taxi firms are Street Taxis (+44 7519 481210), Whitestar (+44 28 7138 3838) and Sun Taxis (+44 28 7188 5000). National Cycleway 95 runs mostly on-road from Armagh to Dungannon, Cookstown and Strabane. Route 92 runs from Enniskillen to Omagh, Strabane and Derry.

See

1 "The Tinneys" is the local name for the street sculpture "Let the dance begin." They're five 20-foot steel figures northwest edge of town, where A38 branches off A5 to cross the river into the Republic. They were commissioned to celebrate the relaxation of the border, the "dance" being the re-united communities. 2 Gray's Printing Press, 49 Main Street BT82 8AU, ☏ +44 28 8674 8210, [email protected]. Closed. The National Trust owns this shop in which John Dunlap (1747-1812) learnt the printing trade. He moved to Philadelphia to work for his uncle's printing business, eventually taking it over. He fought alongside Washington in the War of Independence, and won the printing contract for the Continental Congress. He printed their 1776 declaration of their break with Britain, now called the United States Declaration of Independence, and other government documents including currency. The shop displays printing technology of his time. (updated Aug 2025) Christ Church on Bowling Green is C of I (Anglican), built in 1879. Church of the Immaculate Conception on Barrack St is RC, completed in 1895. 3 Wilson Homestead, 28 Spout Rd BT82 8NB (off B536 Fountain St). Jul-Sep W 1-4PM by prior arrangement only. The homestead of James Wilson, grandfather of President Woodrow Wilson, 28th President of the USA. It's run as part of the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh. Free. (updated Aug 2025) Political murals are painted here and there in the town. They change with events so ask around for any worth seeking out. 4 Lifford is the village half a mile west of Strabane that is the county town of County Donegal. The Old Courthouse, built in 1746, has a museum and does tours; it also operates as an escape room.

5 Sion Mills is a planned village 3 miles south of Strabane, built in the late 19th century around Herdman's flax mill. "Sion" is from an Irish placename Seein, probably referring to a mound, it doesn't derive from "Zion". The mill is imposing and there's a cluster of fin

Do

Alley Theatre and Conference Centre, Railway Street BT82 8EF, ☏ +44 28 7138 4444. Daily 10AM-5PM. A 270-seat theatre, conference centre, art gallery, tourist information centre and cafe-bar. (updated Aug 2025) Strabane Drama Festival is in mid-March at Alley Theatre. See also listings for Derry, which co-hosts some events with Strabane. Eclipse Cinema is north bank of the river in Lifford. Golf: Strabane GC is on Ballycolman Rd. White tees 5542 yards, par 69. Hillvalley GC and driving range is at Sion Mills. Strabane Canal, built in 1796, fell derelict in 1962 and is mostly just a line of shrubs. Its north end at the confluence of River Foyle and Burn Dennett was expensively but incompetently rebuilt in 2006 and is again derelict, but you can walk the towpath.

Buy

Asda and its filling station north side of town is open 24 hours.

Eat

Town centre eateries include Oyster (below), Cherry Tree, Wok Inn, Tusk, Giuseppe's Pizza, Murphys on the Green, and The Banks. Oysters, 37 Patrick St BT82 8DQ, ☏ +44 28 7138 2690. W-Su noon-9PM. European menu, the fish earns the best reviews, but plenty of meat and veggie / GF choice. (updated Aug 2025)

Drink & nightlife

Dicey Riley's is a sports bar at 30 Market St, open daily noon-midnight. Bowling Green Bar at 28 Main St is open M-F 11AM-1AM, Sa Su 10AM-2AM. Dixie's at 8 Castle Place is open daily 11AM-midnight. Devlin's at 5 Castle Place is open daily 11AM-11PM. Charlie's at 15 Castle St is open daily 11AM-midnight. Joe's at 11 Market St is open daily 11AM-1AM. Christy's