REPUBLIC AT STANDSTILL TO SHOW RESPECT
Republic at Standstill to Show Respect
Tens of thousands of people turned out in the Irish Republic in a cross-border show of solidarity with the victims of the Omagh Bombing.
Mopst churches, Roman Catholic and Protestant south of the border held services to mark the moment exactly a week earlier when terrorists blew apart the Co Tyrone town.
Shoppers in the centre of Dublin and scores of other towns, cities and villages stopped and traffic came to a standstill for a minute's silence in an impressive nationwide demonstration of respect.
Proceedings were halted at two major Irish sporting events - the European Golf championships in Co Kildare and an all-Ireland hurling contest replay in Dublin's Croke Park, headquaters of the Gaelic Athletic Association - to permit players and spectators to join in the tribute.
At the hurling match between Co Offaly and Co. Clare, an ecumenical service went ahead on the pitch in front of a 60,000 crowd.
But nowhere in the the south was the period of silence more pointed than in Dundalk. The border town has become inextricably linked with the Omagh bombing through local connections with the Real IRA, the group responsible for last week's mass murder.
More than 10,000 people there joined in a march through the town last night to signal their disgust with the bombing - and to distance themselves from the outrage.
Dundalk has been dragged into the affair because it is home to Michael McKevitt, a leading supporter of the 32 County Sovereignty committee, the political allies of the breakaway hardline Real IRA.
Tens of thousands of people turned out in the Irish Republic in a cross-border show of solidarity with the victims of the Omagh Bombing.
Mopst churches, Roman Catholic and Protestant south of the border held services to mark the moment exactly a week earlier when terrorists blew apart the Co Tyrone town.
Shoppers in the centre of Dublin and scores of other towns, cities and villages stopped and traffic came to a standstill for a minute's silence in an impressive nationwide demonstration of respect.
Proceedings were halted at two major Irish sporting events - the European Golf championships in Co Kildare and an all-Ireland hurling contest replay in Dublin's Croke Park, headquaters of the Gaelic Athletic Association - to permit players and spectators to join in the tribute.
At the hurling match between Co Offaly and Co. Clare, an ecumenical service went ahead on the pitch in front of a 60,000 crowd.
But nowhere in the the south was the period of silence more pointed than in Dundalk. The border town has become inextricably linked with the Omagh bombing through local connections with the Real IRA, the group responsible for last week's mass murder.
More than 10,000 people there joined in a march through the town last night to signal their disgust with the bombing - and to distance themselves from the outrage.
Dundalk has been dragged into the affair because it is home to Michael McKevitt, a leading supporter of the 32 County Sovereignty committee, the political allies of the breakaway hardline Real IRA.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0234
Published Date: 24-Aug-98
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