The townland of Altanagh, located just outside Carrickmore in the centre of County Tyrone, is a unique landscape that has been inhabited for several millennia. The name ‘Alt na n-Each’ translates into English as ‘the height of the horses’. Over the past fifteen years Carrickmore native Ian McGarrity along with friends and family have attempted to research and record the history of this townland to preserve the stories and family connections for future generations. The outcome of this painstaking work is an exceptional new book soon to be released by Termonmaguirc Historical Society of which Ian was a long-standing member. Ian sadly passed away in January 2023 however his friends and family continued his work and were determined to publish this volume in his memory.
Larry Sheeran is a long-time friend of Ian and helped with the research for the book. After Ian’s death he teamed up with local men Gene Grogan, Pat O’Brien and Ian’s son, Ciaran McGarrity, to complete the work.
This publication is a must read for those with family connections to Altanagh, those interested in local Tyrone history or others who just enjoy a great read about ancient Irish heritage and a special townland. Cormac McAleer is Chairperson of Termonmaguirc Historical Society and remarked;
"The real significance of this book lies in the fact that it draws together between its covers the research of the late Ian McGarrity and his support group over many years. A further contribution to its importance is that its publication comes hot on the heels of some of the Altanagh excavation artefacts returning to the area where many of them had last been viewed by the human eye some 6,000+ years previously. The Historical Society is indebted to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the support it has given to the project".