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film · Wednesday 29 July 2026 · 11:00am 
War of the Buttons - Dementia Friendly Film Screening
At Strule Arts Centre · Townhall Square, Omagh, Co. Tyrone BT78 1BL
At Strule Arts Centre · Townhall Square, Omagh, Co. Tyrone BT78 1BL
A mid-week morning at the cinema, stripped of the usual rush and noise, with a classic film on screen and a bowl of soup waiting after - that is what this screening at Strule Arts Centre is designed to be. The July showing of War of the Buttons is part of a regular dementia-friendly programme run by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, and it is one of the more quietly lovely things on offer in Omagh this summer. The event is specifically designed for people living with dementia and their carers, though everyone is welcome to attend.
War of the Buttons (cert 12, 1 hour 34 minutes) follows the children of two rival Irish villages who wage mock battles against each other - the prize being the buttons, shoelaces, and underwear snipped from captured opponents, to get them in trouble at home. It is a warm, funny film, and a good choice for the format.
The screening starts at 11am and the whole environment has been adjusted to make the experience more comfortable. The theatre uses softer lighting and lower sound levels than a regular showing. Additional signage helps people move around the building without stress, and staff have completed dementia awareness training. There are no strict rules around audience interaction - people can talk, move, or step out without anyone minding.
After the film, you can stay on for lunch in the Strule Café: homemade soup with sandwiches, tea, coffee, and biscuits. The lunch option is worth adding on - it turns a morning out into a proper occasion, with no need to hurry.
Strule Arts Centre has been running these screenings for a number of years, with previous films including Calamity Jane, Meet Me in St Louis, and Casablanca. They are run as part of the Council’s Access and Inclusion programme.
Strule Arts Centre sits right in Omagh town centre, on Townhall Square. Omagh is the county town of Tyrone and is straightforward to reach by road - it sits at the junction of the A5 (from Derry or Monaghan direction) and the A32. Translink operates bus services into Omagh from Derry, Enniskillen, Dungannon, and Strabane. The bus station is a short walk from Townhall Square. There is public parking in the town centre close to the venue.
Omagh has a good town centre for a morning out - a handful of independent cafés and shops within easy walking distance of the arts centre. The Ulster American Folk Park is just a few miles north of town if anyone in the group has energy for the afternoon. There is more to see in Omagh and across Co. Tyrone.
Heading to Strule Arts Centre in Omagh? Tyrone has plenty more to see. Read the Omagh area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.