| Omagh rail tragedy victims remembered 75 years on Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 09:20, 24th November 2025 |     |
From the BBC:
Keeping the memory alive of five rail workers killed by train
The new memorial features a train image and original track from the Derry Road Line
A memorial to five men killed by a train in Omagh, County Tyrone, has been upgraded ahead of the 75th anniversary of their deaths.
The railway workers died after being struck by a passenger train as they carried out routine maintenance work on the Derry Road line.
John Cassidy, John Cleary, John McCrory, Dan McCrory and Charles (Charlie) Flanagan were permanent way men, responsible for maintaining the track.
A remembrance service will be held later on Monday at the newly improved memorial garden, funded by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.
"It's just lovely to keep their memory alive," Mr Flanagan's granddaughter told BBC News NI.
Heavy fog had descended over Omagh that morning and the noise of the Enniskillen train idling in the station meant that the men weren't aware of the oncoming train bound for Belfast.
Two died instantly, two more succumbed to their injuries later that day and Mr Flanagan died the following morning.
Their deaths left 19 children without fathers.
(BBC article continues)
The new memorial features a train image and original track from the Derry Road Line
A memorial to five men killed by a train in Omagh, County Tyrone, has been upgraded ahead of the 75th anniversary of their deaths.
The railway workers died after being struck by a passenger train as they carried out routine maintenance work on the Derry Road line.
John Cassidy, John Cleary, John McCrory, Dan McCrory and Charles (Charlie) Flanagan were permanent way men, responsible for maintaining the track.
A remembrance service will be held later on Monday at the newly improved memorial garden, funded by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.
"It's just lovely to keep their memory alive," Mr Flanagan's granddaughter told BBC News NI.
Heavy fog had descended over Omagh that morning and the noise of the Enniskillen train idling in the station meant that the men weren't aware of the oncoming train bound for Belfast.
Two died instantly, two more succumbed to their injuries later that day and Mr Flanagan died the following morning.
Their deaths left 19 children without fathers.
(BBC article continues)
