Month: January 2026

 Wednesday 28 January 2026: Mr Daryl Simpson

The expression “local lad made good” is one that rests comfortably on Daryl Simpson, a distinguished member of the Celtic Tenors and singer and musician in his own right. Following A-levels in Omagh Academy, Daryl progressed to the Queens University, Belfast where he took a degree in Music before embracing the challenge of becoming an opera singer. During the seven years of training which this required, Daryl travelled all over Europe perfecting his voice and studying drama, dance, fencing and all the other stage crafts which underpin classical opera. In the course of his travels, he met and was was encouraged by some of the great tenors of the modern era including Placido Domingo.

Daryl’s talk was as much a Masterclass in singing, as it was about his career since graduating. Many times during his talk he reached for his guitar to sing phrases from different operas by different composers to demonstrate the variety of vocal techniques required to perform in front of live audiences in large concert halls. He also explained how making records had changed over the years and how today computers can digitally enhance performance.

Daryl has been a member of the Celtic Tenors for nigh on twenty years, a trio of Irish tenors who have travelled widely bringing classical and traditional music to audiences around the world. Wherever they perform the group is invariably requested to sing Nessun Dorma, an aria from Italian opera, ever associated with Pavarotti. The high notes at the end represent a pinnacle of achievement for all would-be tenors, and Daryl proved his talent and stature by hitting them in Omagh Golf Cub to an audience of very impressed and appreciative club members.

In a lively question and answer session his role in the formation of the Omagh Community Choir in 1998 following the Omagh Bomb was acknowledged and applauded. He was thanked for a fascinating and memorable presentation by Club Member, Eamon Cunningham.

Probus Wednesday 21 January 2026.

The speaker on Wednesday 21st January was Dr Dominic Pinto OBE, returning to Probus after a gap of 8 Years. In February 2018 Dr Pinto gave a memorable account of his time in Tyrone County Hospital from his appointment as Consultant Surgeon in 1980 until the closure of the hospital in 2017. His talk on this occasion could be described as a “Prequel” in that he spoke about his life from the age of 17 in Goa to his arrival in Omagh.
The 4th of 9 children he grew up speaking Portuguese and arrived in Kenya without a word of English. However, he quickly became fluent and having determined on a career in medicine he won a scholarship to Norwood College in London to study A-level science. His account of his voyage from Mombasa to London on a passenger ship showed that it was an experience that lived long in his memory.

While studying in London he undertook variety of jobs including working with Hungarian refugees in the aftermath of the Hungarian revolution in 1956. In 1957 he gained admission to School of Medicine in London Hospital and threw himself wholeheartedly into University life, excelling at cricket and tennis. His first posting as newly qualified doctor was to Southend Hospital, back in the day a tough part of London infamous for gangland violence.

Through it all Dr Pinto continued to study hard and passed the demanding examinations for admission to the Royal College of Surgeons. This led to a Registrar Post in Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, from where he moved on to set up a post-graduate course for surgeons in Uganda. He returned to Britain to do pioneer work for the Medical Research Council in transplant surgery and CAT scans – both at an early stage of development. After 8 years in this role he felt drawn back to “hands-on” surgery and in 1980, encouraged by a senior colleague, applied for a job in country he had never visited, in a town he had never heard of. And as they say -the rest is history.
He was warmly thanked for his talk by Club President Aidan Quinn

Probus Club AGM Wednesday 14th January 2026

Omagh Probus Club held its Annal General Meeting on Wednesday 14th January 2026 in Omagh Golf Club with 14 members present. Following a welcome by the President, the secretary read the minutes of the last AGM. In his report on 2025 Club Secretary, Alistair Orr, noted that the Club had met 27 times with an average attendance of 14, and speakers drawn in equal numbers from the ranks of our own membership and invited guests. Mr Felim O’Neill, in his capacity as out-going President, thanked members for their loyalty and support during the two years in which he had occupied the Chair. He said it had been an honour and privilege to lead the Club and hoped that it would continue to have the warmth and camaraderie which characterised weekly meetings during his time in office.

In the election of Officers for 2026 Mr Aidan Quinn was elected President and Mr Oliver Loughran, Vice-President. Mr Alistair Orr and Mr Jim Graham were re-elected as Secretary and Treasurer respectively and Mr Jim McBain retained his role as Archivist, with responsibility for the Club website and press briefings. Under Club business it was agreed to raise the annual sub from £40.00 to £50.00 and continue to meet weekly in the Golf Club at 10.30 am each Wednesday. Discussion on matters relating to a programme for 2026 including outings and annual events was deferred.

Probus Meeting 7 January 2026: Speaker Mr Gareth Hayden

Wintery weather on Tuesday 6th January introduced a degree of uncertainty about whether to go ahead or cancel. In the event the President decided to resume after the Christmas recess and 9 members braved the conditions to provide an audience for the guest speaker, Mr Gareth Hayden, Lay Pastor in Omagh Methodist Church.

Gareth had been invited to bring a New Year Message and share something of his own background and journey of faith. Born in Lurgan his first job after he left school was in a local linen factory which provided tablecloths and sheets for the “White House” – the one in Portrush!  Aged 24 he joined the RUC and after training in Police College in Enniskillen had a varied career in uniform. Gareth’s time in the RUC spanned “the Troubles” furnishing some amusing anecdotes and sobering stories.

A committed Christian from his youth, Gareth was an active member of the Police Fellowship and on retirement from the Force became a qualified Lay Preacher.  His New Year message was taken from Proverbs 2. V 1-11 in which all are encouraged to aspire to wisdom and acquire knowledge of what is right and just and fair.
Gareth was thanked for his reflections and thoughtful talk by club member Jim McBain