THE DAY THE STARS DID THEIR BIT
The day the stars did their bit
By WILLIAM ALLEN
Celtic squad joins battle to lift kids' spirits
A MASSIVE children's party went ahead in Portrush yesterday - but without 250 kids from Omagh.
Some of the children due to take part in the annual Children's Big Day Out organised by Northern Ireland Children's Events (NICE) were caught in last week's blast.
Several are still in hospital but community leaders from the town gave the cross-community event in Portrush their blessing.
More than 1,200 children from all parts of the province converged on Portrush for a day of fun and games and the chance to meet celebrities.
Television personality Patrick Kielty was the star turn, and Glasgow Celtic stars Jackie McNamarra and captain Tom Boyd turned up accompanied by the club's PR manager, Peter McClean.
An even bigger star failed to make it - Chris de Burgh intended to land his helicopter at Portrush golf club but bad weather forced him to ditch his plans at the last minute.
NICE is an organisation set up to alleviate poverty in the most deprived areas of Northern Ireland and to bring children together so they can learn to respect each other's culture.
Its chairman, Brian Mitchel, said the charity thought long and hard about whether to proceed with the seventh Children's Big Day Out after the Omagh bombing.
He said: "But we thought it was important to go ahead and we talked to community leaders in Omagh who felt the same.
"There were to be 250 children from Omagh at the party but obviously they could not be there.
"Some are still in hospital. They were sadly missed.
"But we will make sure they all get the specially designed T-shirts."
Mr Mitchel said the children "thoroughly enjoyed" the day and described Patrick Kielty as "absolutely fantastic."
He went on: "It was a tremendous success all round and the children also loved the Celtic players, who were happily signing autographs.
"Chris De Burgh really wanted to be there, too, but he was flying by helicopter from the southern most tip of Ireland and bad weather conditions stopped him from coming at the last minute.
"His people phoned us to say he couldn't make it, but that he really wanted to be with us."
By WILLIAM ALLEN
Celtic squad joins battle to lift kids' spirits
A MASSIVE children's party went ahead in Portrush yesterday - but without 250 kids from Omagh.
Some of the children due to take part in the annual Children's Big Day Out organised by Northern Ireland Children's Events (NICE) were caught in last week's blast.
Several are still in hospital but community leaders from the town gave the cross-community event in Portrush their blessing.
More than 1,200 children from all parts of the province converged on Portrush for a day of fun and games and the chance to meet celebrities.
Television personality Patrick Kielty was the star turn, and Glasgow Celtic stars Jackie McNamarra and captain Tom Boyd turned up accompanied by the club's PR manager, Peter McClean.
An even bigger star failed to make it - Chris de Burgh intended to land his helicopter at Portrush golf club but bad weather forced him to ditch his plans at the last minute.
NICE is an organisation set up to alleviate poverty in the most deprived areas of Northern Ireland and to bring children together so they can learn to respect each other's culture.
Its chairman, Brian Mitchel, said the charity thought long and hard about whether to proceed with the seventh Children's Big Day Out after the Omagh bombing.
He said: "But we thought it was important to go ahead and we talked to community leaders in Omagh who felt the same.
"There were to be 250 children from Omagh at the party but obviously they could not be there.
"Some are still in hospital. They were sadly missed.
"But we will make sure they all get the specially designed T-shirts."
Mr Mitchel said the children "thoroughly enjoyed" the day and described Patrick Kielty as "absolutely fantastic."
He went on: "It was a tremendous success all round and the children also loved the Celtic players, who were happily signing autographs.
"Chris De Burgh really wanted to be there, too, but he was flying by helicopter from the southern most tip of Ireland and bad weather conditions stopped him from coming at the last minute.
"His people phoned us to say he couldn't make it, but that he really wanted to be with us."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH EXTRA
Ref: BT/0212
Published Date: 22-Aug-98
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