The name Dromore is an
anglicisation of the Irish
Druim Mór (modern Irish
Droim Mór) meaning "large ridge", with historic anglicisations including Drumore, Drummore and Drummor. The town features a well-preserved Norman
motte and bailey that was constructed by
John de Courcy in the early 13th century, shortly after the
Norman invasion of Ireland. Known locally as "the Mound", the fort occupies a prominent site to the east of the town centre and has views along the valley of the
River Lagan. Dromore remained under Anglo-Norman control until it was captured and destroyed by
Edward Bruce during the
Irish-Bruce wars of 1315. It was the seat of the
diocese of Dromore, which grew out of an
abbey of
Canons Regular attributed to
Saint Colman in the 6th century. This was united in 1842 to the
Diocese of Down and Connor. The diocese was then divided in 1945, with the
Diocese of Connor being independent, and the
Diocese of Down and Dromore remaining united. The town and cathedral were wholly destroyed during the
Irish Rebellion of 1641, and the present church was built by
Bishop Jeremy Taylor in 1661, who is buried there. Also buried in the cathedral is
Thomas Percy, another famous bishop of the diocese, who laid out the fine grounds of the palace.
Jacobites under command of
Richard Hamilton, and rival
Williamites fought a battle here on 14 March 1689. The battle took place about a mile out of the town on the Milebush Road and was known as the
Break of Dromore. The Jacobites routed the Williamites and they fled in disorder, leaving 400 dead. After this
Break of Dromore the Jacobites did not meet any resistance while advancing northwards and occupying Belfast. Dromore had its own railway station from 1863 to 1956. The Banbridge, Lisburn and Belfast Junction Railway (BLB) through Dromore opened in 1863. Its line was a branch that joined the
Ulster Railway main line
Knockmore Junction, giving Dromore a direct link to and .
The Troubles 1976 7 April 1976 – William Herron (64), Elizabeth Herron (58) and their daughter, Noleen Herron (26), all Protestant civilians, were killed during a
Provisional Irish Republican Army incendiary bomb attack on their drapery shop on Market Square, Dromore. They lived in the flat above the shop.
1988 6 July 1988 – Terence Delaney (31), a Catholic civilian, was shot dead by the Ulster Freedom Fighters, a cover name used by the
Ulster Defence Association, while waiting for a lift to work.
Today The Dromore Town Centre Development Plan, published in July 2003, outlined that of the 190 units within Dromore Town Centre, over one quarter were vacant. This is in spite of recent population growth in the town; a result of the proximity to the A1 road and resultant commuting access to
Greater Belfast. The green-field development in recent years has mostly been around the edges of the town, and the doughnut effect has led to these houses being disconnected from the town centre. The population of Dromore tends to travel to nearby
Banbridge or
Sprucefield to shop, which has caused the high levels of obvious dereliction however more local shops are opening thus the number of people travelling beyond the town to shop is decreasing. The plan highlights the under use of the
River Lagan as a resource in the town, as well as the poorly used public space around
Dromore Town Hall in the Market Square. The square's 18th Century layout is protected, however it is identified as a traffic problem, which is exacerbated by poor parking provision and enforcement of parking restrictions. In 2008, some of the buildings in the Market Square were cleared to facilitate the construction of leisure space. ==Demography==