Our Society was formed following a meeting convened in the Ulster American Folk Park in June 1981 by Michael Murphy the then Chief Executive of the Western Education and Library Board to ascertain whether there was sufficient local interest to support such a society. Since this initial meeting was attended by 106 people the outcome was in little doubt and the Folk Park has remained our venue of choice ever since.

John Gilmour, the Education Officer of the Folk Park had sparked the idea by having a series of successful lectures on 18th century emigration during the previous winter and as a result the Society was formally launched in September 1981 as the Omagh and District Historical Society.

To mark our 20th anniversary a memorable birthday party was masterminded by David Haddow and Una Timoney on 9th November 2001 with music by Ray and Bobby Moore.

The current name was adopted to reflect the wider distribution of the membership during the first year of the Society while under the chairmanship of Cyril Bailie.

A summer outing has always been an integral part of the Society's calendar - the broad spectrum of venues reflects assiduous personal research by the committee who undertakes the arrangements each year - an effort greatly appreciated by the membership at large.

That the incipient Society survived and prospered is largely due to the dedication of early committee members such as William McGrew, Robert McKinley, Moyra Teague, Norman Johnston, Jane O'Donnell, Haldane Mitchell and Hazel Henderson to name but a representative few.

The Society has been well served by a series of dedicated chairmen - to have had only four in the course of 20 years gives an indication of their stamina and drive. The calibre of our speakers has always been a major strength of the Society - Archbishop Simms of Armagh on the Book of Kells, the Origins of Folk Music by Tony McAuley and Bill Crawford on the Ulster Linen Industry are just a random sample to give a flavour of the diversity of topics covered.