Special Memories Day to celebrate Strabane's shirt-making heritage
8 September 2026
Anyone with connections to Strabane's shirt-making industry is encouraged to attend a special Shirt Factory Memories Day later this month.
Anyone with connections to Strabane's historic shirt-making industry is being encouraged to help preserve an important part of the town's social and industrial heritage by attending a special Shirt Factory Memories Day later this month.
The free drop-in event, supported by the National Archives’ ‘Archives Revealed’ programme, will take place at Strabane Library on Friday, September 25th, from 1pm to 4pm, offering former factory workers and members of the public an opportunity to share memories, photographs, documents and artefacts relating to the local industry.
The event follows the success of a recent Shirt Factory Memories Day at the Tower Museum, where participants shared valuable stories, archives and personal recollections that helped enrich the growing Shirt Factory Archive.
While the archive contains significant material relating to the shirt-making industry across the North West, it currently holds very little connected specifically to Strabane's factories and the wider rural region, despite the important role they played in the region's textile history.
With some factories now scarcely documented, the team at the Tower Museum believe the memories, photographs and objects kept by former workers and their families may represent some of the only surviving records of these workplaces and the people who worked there.
At the event visitors will have the opportunity to explore original archive material and museum objects, share memories of factory life, bring items for possible donation, or have photographs and documents scanned and returned. Staff will also be available to discuss ways people can contribute their stories to the project.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Grace Uí Niallais, encouraged members of the public to get involved and thanked those who have already contributed to the archive.
"The shirt-making industry played a hugely important role in the economic, social and cultural life of Strabane and the wider North West, providing employment for generations of local families and helping to shape our communities,” she explained.
"I would encourage anyone who worked in a shirt factory, had family members who did, or who has memories, photographs or artefacts connected to the industry, to come along and share their stories. Every memory and object helps us build a richer understanding of this important chapter in our history.
"I would also like to sincerely thank everyone who has already contributed materials and personal recollections to the Shirt Factory Archive. Their generosity is helping to ensure that these stories are preserved for future generations. We now hope to build on that success by uncovering and recording more of Strabane's unique shirt-making heritage."
Organisers stress that no memory is too small and are keen to hear from anyone who remembers the people, workplaces and everyday experiences associated with the industry.
The event is supported by Strabane Library, and all are welcome to attend at any time between 1pm and 4pm on Friday 25 September.