A campaign has been launched in an effort to bring one the most historic sites in Omagh back into public ownership.
A meeting took place in the town this week from a group of campaigners hoping to preserve the Governor’s House, which formed part of Omagh Gaol until it closed in the early 1900s. The building is now up for sale, with a number of offers believed to have been made on it from private bidders.
Local historian Vincent Brogan is one of those keen to see the unique eight-sided building preserved, and says it represents a special opportunity to bring the building back into public ownership.
READ MORE: Omagh primary school on move to become integrated as alternative to closure
“By 1902, the jail ceased to function as a jail and It fell into dereliction and was eventually sold off to a private owner,” Vincent told MyTyrone.
“That person bought the jail and the buildings within it, quite a number of the buildings were demolished and used to build different other buildings we can identify in Omagh town.
“What we have here in the Governor’s House is one of the pristine remaining buildings, it’s B1 listed and it needs to be protected for the future.
“The building was last bought in 1961, which is more than 60 years ago and it’s been in private ownership since then.
“It’s now up for public sale and we feel if it’s not brought into public ownership now it could be another 60 years before it would come available again.”
Vincent called on Fermanagh and Omagh District Council to intervene and attempt to buy the building.
“We are asking the local council to take on board the importance of the building to Omagh’s history.
“We feel that the heritage in Omagh is in this area and we have lost other buildings within the town to development or dereliction and work should be advanced rapidly to keep a building like this.”
A spokesperson for Fermanagh and Omagh District Council said there are currently no plans for it to purchase any land or property in Omagh.
"The Council's acquisition and disposal of land is governed by its Estates Strategy; at present, the Council has no requirement for the acquisition of land or property in Omagh," the spokesperson said.
READ NEXT:
