Popular Campsie premises is Omagh’s oldest bar

Nestled within the confines of Campsie is an establishment that has weathered nearly 150 years of hardship and stout.

Known formally as McAleer’s but cherished locally as ‘Charlie’s’ in honour of its legendary proprietor, the bar is believed to be the oldest in Omagh.

First established in 1873 by Peter McAleer, he dedicated his new pub “to those merry souls who make drinking a pleasure, who achieve contentment long before capacity, and who, whatever they may drink… prove able to carry it, enjoy it, and remain ladies and gentlemen.”

In its early years, McAleer’s offered little variety in alcoholic beverages, with patrons restricted to whiskey or plain stout.

However, the bar quickly evolved under Peter’s stewardship, expanding beyond its role as a licensed premises to include a shipping agency by 1912. For many, McAleer’s became the gateway to new beginnings, as migrants sought passage to distant lands across the Atlantic, facilitated by Peter’s services.

In those early days, there was no such things as passports and visas.

Instead, it was a simple case of buying a travel ticket, a complimentary pint of Guinness and leaving with a date to board the boats from Derry, Cobh, Moville or Belfast.

Among those who contributed to McAleer’s enduring legacy was Charlie, Peter’s son and a man of adventurous spirit.

In 1926, Charlie embarked on a journey to British Columbia, Canada, where he worked as a cowboy.

However, the 1930s saw a turn in Peter’s health and Charlie returned to Omagh to assist in the running of the businesses.

It was Charlie who introduced a then-unconventional practice to the bar – adding ice to patrons’ drinks! Despite initial resistance, Charlie persevered, forever altering the landscape of bar culture in Omagh. His commitment to innovation and hospitality underscored McAleer’s reputation as a hub of warmth and conviviality.

‘Initially’, reluctant customers argued that ‘it’s cold enough in here already’, but Charlie persevered, forever altering the landscape of bar culture in Omagh

In 1958, Charlie embarked on a unique journey, becoming one of the first to travel by plane to the United States.

A UH report at the time revealed that Charlie’s travels took him from Boston to Toronto, where he reunited with Omagh emigrants and forged new connections across the Atlantic.

In 1952, Eugene Boyle, Charlie’s nephew, joined the ranks of McAleer’s, assuming the role of bar manager under Charlie’s guidance. Together, they upheld McAleer’s tradition of a hospitality that transcended social divides.

In a 2005 interview with the UH, Eugene recalled the pre-troubles civility in Omagh.

He said, “When I first started here, Protestants and Catholics drank and had the craic together without any problems.”

“The Catholic percentage dropped due to the Troubles, which was sad to see,” continued Eugene, “but the Protestant clientele always stayed true to me and I never encountered any hostility.”

In 1966, Charlie entrusted the travel agency side of the business to his daughter Bernadette, ensuring that McAleer’s remained a family affair.

Charlie himself would step away from the family business in 1969, when he handed the bar to his nephews Peter McAleer and Eugene Boyle.

However, Peter had little interest in the bar as he was preoccupied with international business in Ireland, Australia and Chilie, and left his role as joint proprietor a few years later.

McAleer’s continued to thrive under Eugene’s leadership, offering solace, craic and companionship to patrons.

However, McAleer’s resilience would be tested in the most violent of fashions as sectarian conflict engulfed Northern Ireland.

In November 1972, two men, one armed with a sub-machine gun, planted a bomb inside the bar after taking the patrons hostage.

After the men left, the barmen and managers, including Eugene, got all of the patrons out and awaited the pending damage.

Half an hour later, the bomb, estimated to be between 50 to 100lbs detonated, flattening the bar to just a few walls.

Despite the destruction, McAleer’s rose from the ashes, rebuilt with a renewed sense of purpose and determination.

Disaster struck once more in 1987, as Campsie grappled with the worst floods in decades.

But McAleer’s, flooded by at least four feet of water, washed away the overflow and repaired the bar within days.

Eugene’s retirement after 50 years with the bar marked the end of an era, as McAleer’s passed into the hands of new owners in 2005.

With the looming smoking ban and the prospect of longer opening hours, Eugene hung up his bar towel and the premises switched hands to Desmond Scott and Phillip Ewing in 2005.

Thus ended the family’s legacy of ownership, but the name ‘Charlie’s’ has still stuck to this day.