ULSTER STOPS IN SILENCE
3.10, Saturday. Ulster set to stop in silence
By Janet Devlin and Peter McVerry
ULSTER was today making final preparations for a day of mourning in memory of the 28 people killed in the Omagh atrocity.
The province is expected to come to a virtual standstill at 3. l0 pm tomorrow during a minute's silence.
An open-air interdenominational service in Omagh will be mirrored by similar religious services across Ireland - and even farther afield.
Acts of Remembrance are also planned for Dublin. London and New York.
In Belfast, there will be a service at St Anne's Cathedral at 3pm, although the doors will be open from 9am for private prayer.
Political and religiousdifferences will be put to one side in Londonderry for a service in Guildhall Square at 2.45pm.
There will also be prayers said in all the main towns in the north-west, including Newtownstewart, Limavady, Strabane and Coleraine.
The sense of shock and outrage at the Omagh bombing is being reflected in tributes in the Republic and across the world.
In Dublin, there will be a service at St Anne's Church of Ireland Cathedral and a public vigil has been arranged by the Workers' Party at the Peace Garden outside Christchurch Cathedral.
A wreath will be laid in the garden in memory of the 28 dead as a lone piper plays a lament.
There will also be services at Dun Laoghaire and outside Monaghan court house, while hundreds are expected to attend a service at Buncrana.
A silent parade of townspeople will take place through Dundalk - where members of the Real IRA are suspected of being based - at 5pm.
St Martin's-In-The-Fields in Trafalgar Square, which works with cross-community groups, will light candles for the dead and the Irish chaplaincy in Britain will be holding a Memorial Mass at Camden.
In New York, Irish exiles and others will be gathering for Mass at St Teresa's in Woodside.
Catholic primate Archbishop Sean Brady, Church of Ireland primate Archishop Robin Eames, Presbyterian Moderator, the St Rev John Dixon and the President of the Methodist Church, the Rev David Kerr will all he speak at the Omagh the service.
President of the Republic Mary McAleese, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Junior Foreign Minister Liz O'Donnell and all the leaders of political parties in Northern Ireland are expected to attend.
Professor McAleese will also be attending another remembrance - service in Dublin on Sunday, at St Patricks Cathedral.
Sporting fixtures at Croke park both tomorrow and Sunday will be preceded by a minute's silence and short prayer service. And the sporting world in Northern Ireland will also observe the sad occasion.
Omagh Town's home soccer match against Newry Town has been cancelled and will now take place on Tuesday September 15. The Irish Football League has decided to delay the kick-off of all matches until 3.15pm rather than the normal 3pm.
The minute's silence will be observed at all matches.
Omagh Rugby Club's match against Collegians has also been cancelled.
In the rest of Northern Ireland, Enniskillen will hold a service tomorrow in memory of the Omagh victims - 11 years after their own Poppy Day massacre.
A ten minute peal of bells will precede a five minute commemorative silence at 3.10pm in the Diamond.
The silence will be followed by 28 individual bell tolls in memory of those killed.
And Banbridge will show poignant solidarity with the Omagh victims - just three weeks after dissident republicans tried to blow up the town.
Lisburn borough council has also organised a Time of Reflection in Market Square from 3pm until 3.15pm tomorrow.
Bells from local churches will toll at 2.55pm and the minute's silence will be observed at 3.10pm.
Other towns will also join in the Act of Remembrance - most of the services will take to place at town centre venues, starting shortly before 3pm. They include Ballyclare, Newry, Bess brook, Kilkeel, Ballymoney, Larne, Ballymena, Carrick, Lurgan, Armagh, Kilkeel, Newcastle, Glenlough, Whiteabbey, Cookstown, Kesh, Belcoo, Downpatrick, Dungannon, Ballynahinch, Antrim, Portadown. Cookstown and many
others.
Details can be obtained from local council offices.
The Northern Ireland branch of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the Confederation of British Industry has recommended that all members observe the minute's silence.
The two organisations have asked shops to cease trading for one minute to allow employees and customers to pay their respects.
Those driving vehicles have also been asked to halt safely for the duration of the silence.
Translink has announced that the minute's silence will be observed at all bus and rail station's in the province.
By Janet Devlin and Peter McVerry
ULSTER was today making final preparations for a day of mourning in memory of the 28 people killed in the Omagh atrocity.
The province is expected to come to a virtual standstill at 3. l0 pm tomorrow during a minute's silence.
An open-air interdenominational service in Omagh will be mirrored by similar religious services across Ireland - and even farther afield.
Acts of Remembrance are also planned for Dublin. London and New York.
In Belfast, there will be a service at St Anne's Cathedral at 3pm, although the doors will be open from 9am for private prayer.
Political and religiousdifferences will be put to one side in Londonderry for a service in Guildhall Square at 2.45pm.
There will also be prayers said in all the main towns in the north-west, including Newtownstewart, Limavady, Strabane and Coleraine.
The sense of shock and outrage at the Omagh bombing is being reflected in tributes in the Republic and across the world.
In Dublin, there will be a service at St Anne's Church of Ireland Cathedral and a public vigil has been arranged by the Workers' Party at the Peace Garden outside Christchurch Cathedral.
A wreath will be laid in the garden in memory of the 28 dead as a lone piper plays a lament.
There will also be services at Dun Laoghaire and outside Monaghan court house, while hundreds are expected to attend a service at Buncrana.
A silent parade of townspeople will take place through Dundalk - where members of the Real IRA are suspected of being based - at 5pm.
St Martin's-In-The-Fields in Trafalgar Square, which works with cross-community groups, will light candles for the dead and the Irish chaplaincy in Britain will be holding a Memorial Mass at Camden.
In New York, Irish exiles and others will be gathering for Mass at St Teresa's in Woodside.
Catholic primate Archbishop Sean Brady, Church of Ireland primate Archishop Robin Eames, Presbyterian Moderator, the St Rev John Dixon and the President of the Methodist Church, the Rev David Kerr will all he speak at the Omagh the service.
President of the Republic Mary McAleese, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Junior Foreign Minister Liz O'Donnell and all the leaders of political parties in Northern Ireland are expected to attend.
Professor McAleese will also be attending another remembrance - service in Dublin on Sunday, at St Patricks Cathedral.
Sporting fixtures at Croke park both tomorrow and Sunday will be preceded by a minute's silence and short prayer service. And the sporting world in Northern Ireland will also observe the sad occasion.
Omagh Town's home soccer match against Newry Town has been cancelled and will now take place on Tuesday September 15. The Irish Football League has decided to delay the kick-off of all matches until 3.15pm rather than the normal 3pm.
The minute's silence will be observed at all matches.
Omagh Rugby Club's match against Collegians has also been cancelled.
In the rest of Northern Ireland, Enniskillen will hold a service tomorrow in memory of the Omagh victims - 11 years after their own Poppy Day massacre.
A ten minute peal of bells will precede a five minute commemorative silence at 3.10pm in the Diamond.
The silence will be followed by 28 individual bell tolls in memory of those killed.
And Banbridge will show poignant solidarity with the Omagh victims - just three weeks after dissident republicans tried to blow up the town.
Lisburn borough council has also organised a Time of Reflection in Market Square from 3pm until 3.15pm tomorrow.
Bells from local churches will toll at 2.55pm and the minute's silence will be observed at 3.10pm.
Other towns will also join in the Act of Remembrance - most of the services will take to place at town centre venues, starting shortly before 3pm. They include Ballyclare, Newry, Bess brook, Kilkeel, Ballymoney, Larne, Ballymena, Carrick, Lurgan, Armagh, Kilkeel, Newcastle, Glenlough, Whiteabbey, Cookstown, Kesh, Belcoo, Downpatrick, Dungannon, Ballynahinch, Antrim, Portadown. Cookstown and many
others.
Details can be obtained from local council offices.
The Northern Ireland branch of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the Confederation of British Industry has recommended that all members observe the minute's silence.
The two organisations have asked shops to cease trading for one minute to allow employees and customers to pay their respects.
Those driving vehicles have also been asked to halt safely for the duration of the silence.
Translink has announced that the minute's silence will be observed at all bus and rail station's in the province.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0145
Published Date: 21-Aug-98
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.