What's on in County Tyrone

County Tyrone is one of Northern Ireland’s six counties and is also one of the thirty-two traditional Irish counties, located in the historical Ulster Province. It covers an area of about 3,200 square kilometers and is the largest of all Northern Ireland’s counties. It sits on the south-western shore of Lough Neagh (Ireland’s largest lake) and has a wonderful terrain that changes continuously as you pass through the county. From the mountainous landscape of the west (surrounding the Sperrin Mountains) to the shores of Lough Neagh to the flat East Tyrone peatlands, County Tyrone offers an exciting and exhilarating landscape, packed with not just natural sites but also historical monuments and ancient ruins.
Inhabited for thousands of years, by the 16th century Tyrone stretched from Lough Foyle in the north to County Londonderry. Most of this was split up in the 17th century when the land was passed to the Guilds of London to maximize profits from its endless natural resources.

Having been inhabited for so long and having been the traditional stronghold of ever changing families and clans, there are almost too many prehistoric and Celtic historical sites to visit but some highlights include the Beaghmore Stone Circles, (seven mysterious Bronze Age stone circles and cairns that were excavated from the surrounding bog land) as well as the chambered Knockmany cairn in north Clogher, the Ulster History Park near Gortin Glen Forest Park, the An Creagan Visitor Center and the Dun Uladh Cultural heritage Centre.

In addition there are multiple Christian high crosses which sprouted up from the land between the 7th and 12th centuries – there are fine examples at Ardboe and Donaghmore villages. For sites that celebrate the county’s industrial heritage there are the Benbury Valley Heritage Centre and Park, the Cornmill Heritage Centre and the Wellbrook Beetling Mill. With too many other attractions to list, County Tyrone is a county that is worth returning to again and again.