3.10PM THE DAY IRELAND STOPS TO MOURN
3.10PM THE DAY IRELAND STOPS TO MOURN
By JENNIFER DOHERTY
THE people of Northern Ireland will stand still in poignant silence today at 3.10pm to remember the 28 people who died in the Omagh bombing.
An emotional open-air interdenominational service in Omagh will be mirrored by similar religious services right across the province.
Catholic Primate, Archbishop Sean Brady, Church of Ireland Primate, Archbishop Robin Eames, Presbyterian Moderator, the Rev John Dixon and the President of the Methodist Church, the Rev David Kerr, will speak at the Omagh service.
The service will begin at 2.45pm and include a minute's silence at 3.10pm - the time of the explosion.
The event has been organised by the Churches Forum with the co-operation of Omagh District Council, Omagh Town Traders Association, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Tyrone Vintners Association.
Meanwhile, Omagh's town centre traders moved into the area where the bomb exploded for the first time last night, to survey the damage to their property.
Organisers of today's rally, anticipating a massive turnout, have appealed for those attending to arrive at 1 pm.
Car parking will be strictly controlled, and people are being asked to share transport and park on the outskirts of the town.
Visitors using the designated car parks will then be bussed into the town centre for the service.
Due to the high numbers of people expected to travel to Omagh, the RUC has announced special traffic arrangements.
Approach roads to Omagh will be closed to cars.
Drivers will be able to park on the following roads from where Ulsterbus will run a free shuttle service into the town centre: Enniskillen/Dromore Road, Derry Road, Cookstown Road, Ballygawley Road, Sixmilecross/ Carrickmore Road.
To help rural communities in the area attend the service, buses will operate to Omagh at 11am from the following areas: Castlederg via Drumquin, Fivemiletown via Fintona, Irvinestown via Dromore, Sixmilecross via Beragh, Augher via Eskra, Gortin, Newtownstewart and Carrickmore.
Paddy McGowan, Omagh's Ulsterbus manager, said: 'The drivers and staff of the Omagh depot feel that this is their way of making a practical contribution in this time of distress which they share with the people of Omagh and beyond.
"Further assistance is being provided by other local depots."
There will be disruptions to local and rural Ulsterbus services between 11.30am and 5pm on Saturday, Express services will be redirected avoiding Omagh town centre.
Limited movement will be possible for through traffic only along the Great Northern Road for Dublin/Derry traffic.
Drivers will not be permitted to stop in Omagh on this through route.
Inspector George Douglas from Omagh RUC said: "Despite these arrangements, we appeal to the public to be patient as there is probability of lengthy delays."
The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Cllr David Alderdice, last night encouraged people to support the initiative by taking part in the Acts of Reflection which will be held in various part of the city at 3pm.
The Lord Mayor will attend the Act of Reflection which will be held in St Peter's Cathedral, St Peter's Square, off the Falls Road.
Other venues in and around Belfast include: Good Shepherd,
Ballynafeigh, Cregagh Presbyterian Church, Cregagh Road, The Park, Kingsway, Dunmurry.
The Park, opposite the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald, Shankhill Road Memorial Garden, Belfast City Mission in Glengall Street, Upper Falls Church and Cavehill Shops in Cavehill Road.
A service of remembrance and prayer will also be held in St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast, at 3pm.
The cathedral will be open from 9am until 4pm for private prayer, all Sunday services will be offered for all those affected by the tragedy.
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.
Churches in the Ards area have organised an inter-denominational service in the Queen's Hall, Newtownards.
Doors will open at 2.30pm, with the service beginning at 3pm.
The Ballymena 3pm service will be held at the band stand in Broadway, while the Carrickfergus service will be held at the town's War Memorial.
The Lurgan Interfriendship Group has organised a service in Market Street in the town, while the Armagh service will be held in the town's Market Square at 3pm.
In Newry, an interdenominational service is to be held in the town's Marcus Square at 3pm, with a similar service planned for the nearby village of Bessbrook.
The Larne memorial service will take place at the Inver War Memorial at 2.45pm, with a service also planned at the Glenlough community centre in Carnlough.
The car park of Whiteabbey Presbyterian Church is the venue for the interdenominational service in that area.
Services will also be held in the centre of Cookstown, Enniskillen, Magherafelt, Banbridge, Kesh and Belcoo, at 3pm.
Other services will take place in Dungannon, Kilkeel and Downpatrick.
In Clogher a service will begin at 3pm in St Macartan's Cathedral, and in St Michael's Trory at 3pm and St Margaret's Clabby at 3pm.
In Portadown, clergy have organised An Act of Reflection, from 3pm-3.15pm, in Portadown Town Centre.
A number of services will also take place in the north west of the province.
In Londonderry services will take place in Guildhall Square at 2.45pm and in The Diamond in Castlederg at 2.55pm.
The Limavady District Orange Lodge No 6 will hold a service at the town's War Memorial at 3pm.
The service will conclude with a minute's silence at 3.10pm and prayers from children from across Ireland.
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.
Motorists have also been asked to halt safely for the duration of the silence.
Royal Mail has announced that all deliveries and collections in the Omagh area will be suspended.
TransLink has announced that the minute's silence will be observed at all bus and rail stations in the province.
In addition, no buses or trains will depart during the minute's silence.
In the Republic a number of commemoration services are also planned.
In Dublin, there will be a service at St Anne's Church of Ireland 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.
A special Ecumenical Memorial Service will also be held in St Patrick's Cathedral at 3.15pm, attended by The President Mary McAleese and Archbishop of Dublin.
Local clergy in Cork will also conduct services at the Guildhall at 3pm, and at Ballydehob. There will also be services at Dun Laoghaire and outside Monaghan court house.
At 5pm, residents of the Co Louth town of Dundalk are to hold a mass rally to demonstrate opposition to those responsible for the bombing.
The move comes amid reports that townspeople are shunning the republican elements in the area being blamed for the bombing.
The Community Relations Council has urged as many people as possible to support the minute's silence.
A spokesman said: "We owe it to the people of Omagh, to those who are the victims of previous acts of violence and to ourselves.
"We need time to think, to ensure that the hope which came with the ceasefires, the Agreement, the referendum and the elections is not also a victim.
"We must continue to have hope - hope for a new day, a new way and an alternative to terror, hate and death - an undiminished hope that is an essential part of the recovery process from this and other tragedies."
Acts of Remembrance also planned for London and New York.
St Martin's-ln-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 in Camden.
In New York, ex-patriots and local people will gather for mass at St Theresa's in Woodside.
SPORT PAYS ITS RESPECTS
THE sporting world will also observe the minute's silence.
Omagh town's home soccer against Newry town postponed until September 15.
The Irish Football League has decided to delay kick-off all matches until 3.15pm instead of the normal 3pm.
The minute's silence will be observed at all matches.
Omagh Rugby Club's match against Collegians has been cancelled.
Ulster's inter-provincial rugby match against Connaught in Galway will also kick off 15 minutes late, to allow players and spectators to observe the minute's silence.
The GAA will mark the event by holding a multi-denominational service at Croke Park in Dublin at 3pm, prior to the All-Ireland hurling semi-final replay between Clare and Offaly.
By JENNIFER DOHERTY
THE people of Northern Ireland will stand still in poignant silence today at 3.10pm to remember the 28 people who died in the Omagh bombing.
An emotional open-air interdenominational service in Omagh will be mirrored by similar religious services right across the province.
Catholic Primate, Archbishop Sean Brady, Church of Ireland Primate, Archbishop Robin Eames, Presbyterian Moderator, the Rev John Dixon and the President of the Methodist Church, the Rev David Kerr, will speak at the Omagh service.
The service will begin at 2.45pm and include a minute's silence at 3.10pm - the time of the explosion.
The event has been organised by the Churches Forum with the co-operation of Omagh District Council, Omagh Town Traders Association, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Tyrone Vintners Association.
Meanwhile, Omagh's town centre traders moved into the area where the bomb exploded for the first time last night, to survey the damage to their property.
Organisers of today's rally, anticipating a massive turnout, have appealed for those attending to arrive at 1 pm.
Car parking will be strictly controlled, and people are being asked to share transport and park on the outskirts of the town.
Visitors using the designated car parks will then be bussed into the town centre for the service.
Due to the high numbers of people expected to travel to Omagh, the RUC has announced special traffic arrangements.
Approach roads to Omagh will be closed to cars.
Drivers will be able to park on the following roads from where Ulsterbus will run a free shuttle service into the town centre: Enniskillen/Dromore Road, Derry Road, Cookstown Road, Ballygawley Road, Sixmilecross/ Carrickmore Road.
To help rural communities in the area attend the service, buses will operate to Omagh at 11am from the following areas: Castlederg via Drumquin, Fivemiletown via Fintona, Irvinestown via Dromore, Sixmilecross via Beragh, Augher via Eskra, Gortin, Newtownstewart and Carrickmore.
Paddy McGowan, Omagh's Ulsterbus manager, said: 'The drivers and staff of the Omagh depot feel that this is their way of making a practical contribution in this time of distress which they share with the people of Omagh and beyond.
"Further assistance is being provided by other local depots."
There will be disruptions to local and rural Ulsterbus services between 11.30am and 5pm on Saturday, Express services will be redirected avoiding Omagh town centre.
Limited movement will be possible for through traffic only along the Great Northern Road for Dublin/Derry traffic.
Drivers will not be permitted to stop in Omagh on this through route.
Inspector George Douglas from Omagh RUC said: "Despite these arrangements, we appeal to the public to be patient as there is probability of lengthy delays."
The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Cllr David Alderdice, last night encouraged people to support the initiative by taking part in the Acts of Reflection which will be held in various part of the city at 3pm.
The Lord Mayor will attend the Act of Reflection which will be held in St Peter's Cathedral, St Peter's Square, off the Falls Road.
Other venues in and around Belfast include: Good Shepherd,
Ballynafeigh, Cregagh Presbyterian Church, Cregagh Road, The Park, Kingsway, Dunmurry.
The Park, opposite the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald, Shankhill Road Memorial Garden, Belfast City Mission in Glengall Street, Upper Falls Church and Cavehill Shops in Cavehill Road.
A service of remembrance and prayer will also be held in St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast, at 3pm.
The cathedral will be open from 9am until 4pm for private prayer, all Sunday services will be offered for all those affected by the tragedy.
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.
Churches in the Ards area have organised an inter-denominational service in the Queen's Hall, Newtownards.
Doors will open at 2.30pm, with the service beginning at 3pm.
The Ballymena 3pm service will be held at the band stand in Broadway, while the Carrickfergus service will be held at the town's War Memorial.
The Lurgan Interfriendship Group has organised a service in Market Street in the town, while the Armagh service will be held in the town's Market Square at 3pm.
In Newry, an interdenominational service is to be held in the town's Marcus Square at 3pm, with a similar service planned for the nearby village of Bessbrook.
The Larne memorial service will take place at the Inver War Memorial at 2.45pm, with a service also planned at the Glenlough community centre in Carnlough.
The car park of Whiteabbey Presbyterian Church is the venue for the interdenominational service in that area.
Services will also be held in the centre of Cookstown, Enniskillen, Magherafelt, Banbridge, Kesh and Belcoo, at 3pm.
Other services will take place in Dungannon, Kilkeel and Downpatrick.
In Clogher a service will begin at 3pm in St Macartan's Cathedral, and in St Michael's Trory at 3pm and St Margaret's Clabby at 3pm.
In Portadown, clergy have organised An Act of Reflection, from 3pm-3.15pm, in Portadown Town Centre.
A number of services will also take place in the north west of the province.
In Londonderry services will take place in Guildhall Square at 2.45pm and in The Diamond in Castlederg at 2.55pm.
The Limavady District Orange Lodge No 6 will hold a service at the town's War Memorial at 3pm.
The service will conclude with a minute's silence at 3.10pm and prayers from children from across Ireland.
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.
Motorists have also been asked to halt safely for the duration of the silence.
Royal Mail has announced that all deliveries and collections in the Omagh area will be suspended.
TransLink has announced that the minute's silence will be observed at all bus and rail stations in the province.
In addition, no buses or trains will depart during the minute's silence.
In the Republic a number of commemoration services are also planned.
In Dublin, there will be a service at St Anne's Church of Ireland 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.
A special Ecumenical Memorial Service will also be held in St Patrick's Cathedral at 3.15pm, attended by The President Mary McAleese and Archbishop of Dublin.
Local clergy in Cork will also conduct services at the Guildhall at 3pm, and at Ballydehob. There will also be services at Dun Laoghaire and outside Monaghan court house.
At 5pm, residents of the Co Louth town of Dundalk are to hold a mass rally to demonstrate opposition to those responsible for the bombing.
The move comes amid reports that townspeople are shunning the republican elements in the area being blamed for the bombing.
The Community Relations Council has urged as many people as possible to support the minute's silence.
A spokesman said: "We owe it to the people of Omagh, to those who are the victims of previous acts of violence and to ourselves.
"We need time to think, to ensure that the hope which came with the ceasefires, the Agreement, the referendum and the elections is not also a victim.
"We must continue to have hope - hope for a new day, a new way and an alternative to terror, hate and death - an undiminished hope that is an essential part of the recovery process from this and other tragedies."
Acts of Remembrance also planned for London and New York.
St Martin's-ln-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 in Camden.
In New York, ex-patriots and local people will gather for mass at St Theresa's in Woodside.
SPORT PAYS ITS RESPECTS
THE sporting world will also observe the minute's silence.
Omagh town's home soccer against Newry town postponed until September 15.
The Irish Football League has decided to delay kick-off all matches until 3.15pm instead of the normal 3pm.
The minute's silence will be observed at all matches.
Omagh Rugby Club's match against Collegians has been cancelled.
Ulster's inter-provincial rugby match against Connaught in Galway will also kick off 15 minutes late, to allow players and spectators to observe the minute's silence.
The GAA will mark the event by holding a multi-denominational service at Croke Park in Dublin at 3pm, prior to the All-Ireland hurling semi-final replay between Clare and Offaly.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH EXTRA
Ref: BT/0211
Published Date: 22-Aug-98
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