Wednesday 11 February2026: Speaker, Mr Oliver Loughran
The speaker on Wednesday 11th February was Club member, Oliver Loughran, reminiscing about Ballygawley and the changes he has seen in the town in his lifetime. In terms of geography, Oliver claimed that Ballygawley always saw itself as part of the Clogher valley. While Augher, Clogher and Fivemiletown each have their own distinctive characteristics, Ballygawley was a place apart and continues to be so.
It was the first village in the region to have electricity, the power being generated by a hydro-electric turbine in the local river. It was operated by Oliver’s father until 1947 when electricity supply to the country was “nationalised” and taken over the forerunner of NIE. From 1887 to 1942 it was an important staging post on the Clogher Valley Railway, at a time when Aughnacloy was the commercial hub of the region.
The closure of the railway came at a time when road transport was growing, particularly in the use of lorries. In recent years, the most significant development has been the opening of the A4 dual carriageway, effectively extending the M1 motorway from Dungannon to Ballygawley. Ease of access to the East of the Province has placed the town within commuting distance of Craigavon and Belfast, leading to a rapid expansion in housebuilding. The town is now well provided for with shops, schools, restaurants, and other services for comfortable living in the 21st century.
Oliver’s talk sparked a lively conversation giving members the opportunity to share their own memories of the town and its environs.