1783 Taylor & Skinner Strabane, Lifford, Omagh, Newtownstewart, Tyrone, Donegal Ireland Road Map
Published in 1783, this antique road map is Map 36 from the second revised edition of Taylor & Skinner’s Maps of the Roads of Ireland, surveyed in 1777 and corrected down to 1783. The engraving records the historic road network through Omagh, Newtownstewart and Strabane in County Tyrone, together with Lifford and the border with County Donegal.
The original heading, “From Dublin,” indicates that this sheet continues one of the longer routes beginning in the capital. The two adjoining strip sections carry the journey through the north-west of Ireland towards Strabane and Lifford.
Omagh is prominently shown as an important road junction, with routes towards Enniskillen, Fintona, Gortin and Drumquin branching from the town. Several waterways converge around Omagh, while nearby churches, estates and residences are carefully marked.
Beyond Omagh, the engraving follows the road through the surrounding County Tyrone countryside. Drumconley and Mullaghmore are identified beside the route, together with numerous smaller roads, estates and natural features.
The adjoining section centres on Newtownstewart, another important settlement on the historic route. Nearby Baron’s Court, associated with the Earl of Abercorn, is prominently recorded, while the surrounding landscape includes wooded hills, waterways and connecting roads towards Drumquin.
From Newtownstewart the route continues towards Strabane, following the river valley through a landscape of estates and country houses. Camus Church and Douglas Bridge are among the named landmarks shown along this section of the road.
Strabane appears as a substantial road junction beside the River Foyle, with several routes converging around the town. Roads towards Castlefin, Raphoe and neighbouring settlements are clearly identified, illustrating Strabane’s importance as a regional crossing point.
Immediately beyond Strabane, Lifford is shown on the County Donegal side of the river system. The engraving explicitly marks the entry into “Donegal Co.” and records roads towards Raphoe and Castlefin, together with the River Finn and the waterways around the Strabane–Lifford crossing.
The rivers are particularly prominent features on Map 36. The Foyle, Finn and associated tributaries run alongside or intersect the road network, demonstrating how closely late-18th-century travel routes followed the valleys and crossing points of this part of Ulster.
The combination of Strabane, Lifford, Omagh and Newtownstewart makes this map an especially useful record of the historic connections between County Tyrone and County Donegal during the late 18th century.
As throughout Taylor & Skinner’s survey, numerous named estates, country houses, churches, rivers and contemporary landowners appear beside the roads, giving the engraving additional interest for Irish local history, genealogy and family-history research.
Identified as Map 36 in Taylor & Skinner’s Maps of the Roads of Ireland, it forms part of their extensive late-18th-century survey of Ireland’s principal roads.