Inniskilling Fusiliers Memorial

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A freestanding granite sculptural memorial, built c.1904 to designs by Sydney March, located to the north side of Drumragh Avenue. Square-on-plan, facing south

Memorial consists of a tripartite arrangement of plinth blocks supporting full-height bronze allegorical figurative sculptures over a two-tier plinth block.

Principal (south) elevation has central splayed plinth block supporting a standing allegorical figure of Victory holding a laurel wreath; plinth flanked by two setback diminished plinth blocks over square base with stepped-out coping supporting squatting bronze figures. Each plinth affixed with bronze panels embossed with names (that to centre surmounted by separate bronze cartouche of the Royal Inniskillings Fusiliers standard) surmounting tapered dressed plinth over a chamfered rock-faced plinth base.

West elevation of central plinth apex has cavetto moulded apex. Flanking plinth blocks affixed with low-relief bronze panel of solider in period uniform of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

Rear (north) elevation detailed as principal elevation, except flanking plinth blocks do not have panels.

East elevation detailed as west.

Setting:-
Situated with road to south and parking lot to north and mature trees to east and west; Omagh bus station and the County Tyrone War Memorial (HB11/12/011) are to southeast.

Roof: Granite coping.
Walling: Granite
Windows: None
RWG: None

Historical information

‘The Boer War Memorial’, is also known as the ‘Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers South African War Memorial. It was unveiled on the High Street in Omagh town on the 24th November in 1904 by the Duchess of Abercorn. It is composed of grey granite, and is a memorial to the men of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers who fell in the Boer War 1899 - 1902.

The central pedestal supports a bronze angelic figure with support on either side bearing a seated bronze angelic figure by Sidney March . The copper casts with names are by Elkington and Co.

The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers was an Irish infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1881, which saw service in the South African War, the First World War and the Second World War, before being amalgamated into the Royal Irish Rangers in 1968. The regiment recruited mainly from the counties of Donegal, Londonderry, Tyrone and Fermanagh, with its garrison depot located at Omagh. (Elliott, p.152).

The memorial was located on the High Street until the 1970’s, when it was re-sited to Drumragh Avenue for reasons relating to traffic management. (Omagh Council Website).

References:

Secondary Sources

1. Omagh Council Website: History & Heritage. [Internet Source].
Available from: Accessed 11th January, 2009.
2. Elliott, Wesley J. “The History of the 5th (Territorial Army) Battalion The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers” in Mitchell, Haldane, Ed. “Images of Omagh and District.” Vol. 7. (Omagh: Rotary Club of Omagh, 1999), 152-155.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A freestanding granite sculptural memorial, built c.1904 to designs by Sydney March. An elegant freestanding granite sculptural memorial, that, although relocated from a prominent site in front of the court house (HB11/13/001) to its present location, still retains its character and quality. The sculptures, as well as the low-relief brass panels cast by Elkington & Co. display excellent early-twentieth-century craftsmanship.