Hidden From View: The bridge to Omagh’s heart

The 120-year-old Abbey Bridge is a historic crossing etched with tales of hauntings and tragedies.

The structure, often dubbed the ‘dry bridge’, spans the Strule River between Sedan Avenue and Ashfield Terrace in Omagh.

Constructed in the late 19th century to connect Gaol Square to burgeoning urban areas, Abbey Bridge emerged as a symbol of Omagh’s expansion.

Despite the name’s association with the nearby Sacred Heart Abbey, historians debate its origins, believing the name came from a religious site once built near where the bridge is located.

Construction finished in 1900 and the bridge was officially opened for public use.

Within a few years it became the focal point of paranormal sightings that quickly circulated among the townsfolk.

In November 1912, Omagh’s nightwatchman, Patrick Hunter, encountered a mysterious figure on the bridge.

It was in the early hours of the morning when Mr Hunter was in the vicinity of Abbey Bridge extinguishing gas street lamps.

Accompanying him at his work was his canine companion, who suddenly became startled and began barking into the darkness.

Patrick then turned to see what had ‘spooked’ the dog.

He was met with a mysterious man who approached him from across the bridge with
‘cat-like swiftness’.

Patrick addressed the figure, but was met with a deafening silence as it passed and proceeded to jump into a nearby field.

The nightwatchman immediately reported the strange incident to the police and a search was conducted but no trace of this stranger was found.

The following Sunday, the same mysterious figure appeared and Patrick suddenly fainted at its presence.

It was rumoured that the figure was a ghost of a young man named Corry who drowned under the bridge some time after its construction.

Afterwards, Patrick’s dog would refuse to cross the bridge at night.

Abbey Bridge’s mysteries did not end there.

During World War II, the bridge became the focus of another tragic tale, one that would be shrouded in secrecy for decades to come.

It was said that a US soldier named Ryan had met his demise under strange circumstances, after his body discovered beneath the murky depths of the Strule River.

At the time, the US military was stationed in the area and its soldiers would enjoy nights out across the town.

However, they had to abide by a curfew, and when the trucks arrived to return them to base, whoever was unaccounted for was left behind.

It is thought that the soldier named Ryan became stranded in the town after missing his lift home.

The events that unfolded for this isolated soldier are unknown, but it is alleged he was found drowned under the Abbey Bridge in ‘suspicious circumstances’.

The first time the public heard of this incident was in the years following the war, when military documents were declassified.

However, the exact details surrounding Ryan’s death remained obscured by a veil of military censorship.

In the years following the war, Abbey Bridge became the subject of renewed scrutiny.

Structural issues and flooding risks prompted calls for renovation and modernisation, leading to a series of upgrades in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

A ‘new and improved’ Abbey Bridge was announced in 1948 but concerns were raised about the noticeable drop in height after its reconstruction, which many feared left the bridge prone to flooding.

This was ultimately resolved by the introduction of drainage pipes.

Abbey Bridge would undergo a number of further renovations and improvements, adapting to the changing needs of a growing community and increased traffic.

Today, its aging frame remains a vital artery connecting the heart of Omagh to the world beyond.