Strabane

Coordinates: 54°50′N 7°28′W / 54.83°N 7.47°W / 54.83; -7.47

Strabane (/strəˈbæn/ strə-BAN; from Irish: An Srath Bán, meaning "the white strath"), historically spelt Straban, is a town in West Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It was the headquarters of the former Strabane District Council.

Strabane has a population of around 18,000, which is mainly Irish nationalist. It is the second-largest town in Tyrone, after Omagh. It lies on the east bank of the River Foyle and is roughly equidistant from Omagh, Derry City and Letterkenny. The River Foyle marks the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. On the other side of the river (across Lifford Bridge) is the smaller town of Lifford, which is the county town of County Donegal. The Mourne flows through the centre of the town, and meets the Finn to form the Foyle River.

History

Seventeenth century

In the 1600s the town was settled by Scottish families, an action that preceded the Plantation of Ulster. In 1608 during O'Doherty's Rebellion most of the inhabitants fled to the safety of Lifford following Sir Cahir O'Doherty's Burning of Derry, as it was feared that Strabane would be his next target.

Strabane (barony)

The barony of Strabane is a former barony of Ireland, situated in County Tyrone. It is named after the settlement of Strabane and was later divided into the baronies of Strabane Lower and Strabane Upper.

Strabane (Parliament of Ireland constituency)

Coordinates: 54°49′23″N 7°28′05″W / 54.823°N 7.468°W / 54.823; -7.468

Strabane was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800.

Members of Parliament

1613–1801

Notes

References