�COPYRIGHT RESERVED On the cover is a sketch of the Dromore Viaduct by Jim Hutchinson. PUBLISHED BY DROMORE & DISTRICT LOCAL HISTORICAL GROUP 1991. Printed by Review Press (Banbridge) Ltd.

FOREWORD

Some twelve months ago, a small group of people decided to republish an out of print book entitled "A Ramble Through Dromore" by J. F. Mulligan. This was a daring venture for what then was a fledgling local historical group and without doubt the project was embarked on with a mixture of fear and optimism.
It was therefore with great relief and much joy that the book completely sold out it's print run of 500 copies and generated a revival in local interest in the town. This revival has seen an increase in the membership of the group not only in terms of numbers but in all age groups.
The educational institutions have over the past few years changed the emphasis of teaching history from a collection of dates to the social aspects of how people lived, worked and enjoyed themselves in past centuries. This has fuelled the quest for knowledge on local history as evidenced by the number of television programmes, books and articles on such events.
The group this year has compiled a publication to meet that need. It has gathered a variety of interesting and informative articles of life in and around Dromore area over the last few centuries. The articles have been picked as much for their diversity as their literary content and I hope they will give a taste of what the group is about. Anyone who becomes interested in the contents of the book is welcome to join the group and details of our meetings are advertised in the following pages. In addition to our monthly lecture round, we have organised historical treasure hunts, children's painting competitions and quizzes so please come along and join us.
Before you finally dash off to enjoy the book there are some people who should be acknowledged. The editorial committee who put in long hours to pull the strings together, the advertisers for their support in producing the publication and finally, the contributors, without whom nothing was possible.

Enjoy the book.
TREVOR MARTIN
Chairman.

Dromore -
"The morning's beam
Falls here upon no spot unknown to fame;
The very breeze that passeth seems to claim
High reverence, telling of the mighty dead
That once inhaled it."

16/03/05