Exhibition celebrates 120 years of Omagh Academy

A SPECIAL exhibition has opened celebrating the rich 120-year history of one of Tyrone’s top schools.

For the next three weeks, the Strule Arts Centre is playing host to ‘Veritas Vincet’, which marks the 120th anniversary of Omagh Academy.

Generations of schoolchildren from Omagh and the surrounding areas have been educated at the Academy since it first opened in 1903.

The launch of the exhibition included speeches from the school’s proud principal Ruth Maxwell, numerous current and past pupils and staff, and Fermanagh and Omagh District Council vice-chair Ann-Marie Donnelly.

Speaking at the event, Cllr Donnelly congratulated Omagh Academy on reaching this significant milestone and said, “This exhibition will evoke many memories of the past and present.

“It is also a time to celebrate how the school has evolved and progressed over the years, instilling pride in all those who have had connections with the school, including the current staff and pupils.

“I understand that the ethos of the school over the years has always been to educate young people to achieve their highest academic standard, and to develop their gifts and talents for the good of themselves and others.”

Cllr Donnelly further stated that the school has upheld these standards over the years, having been named one of the North’s top schools.

INSPIRED

She concluded, “All staff and board of governors connected to the school should be proud of the history of the school and should be inspired and empowered to continue to achieve as they have done in the past.

“On behalf of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, and on my own behalf, I would like to wish you all every success for the future.”

As the opening of the exhibition was officially declared, those in attendance were encouraged to take a walk down memory lane and experience the vast history of the school.

The exhibition showcases a wealth of relics and information relating to the school over the decades, displaying a range of old school photos, registers, uniforms and local newspaper articles dating back as far as the early 1900s.

It also highlights the Academy’s rich history in music, art and sport – shining the spotlight on many of its teachers and past pupils who have went on to succeed in their chosen field.

The exhibition is open to the public until March 23 in the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh.