SILENCE SPOKE VOLUMES FOR GRIEF OF PROVENCE
Silence that spoke volumes for the grief of a province
By Kathryn Torney
NORTHERN Ireland fell still on Saturday afternoon as thousands paid tribute to the people of Omagh.
At 3.10pm, the exact time of last week's devastating blast in the town, people recalled one of the worst weeks in Northern Ireland's violent history.
The names of the 28 people who died were read out to emotional crowds which included shoppers, families and the elderly.
In town after town and village after village across Northern Ireland, countless thousands of people stood still and prayed.
In Belfast city centre thousands of people paused outside the City Hall to mark the passing of the first week since the bombing.
Around 3,000 people attended a service of remembrance and prayer at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast, which was filled to capacity.
Hundreds more, unable to get in to the cathedral, stood outside on the pavement or in the public park across the road to pay their respects.
Only the sound of children broke the silence as prayers and readings were dedicated to the 28 dead and hundreds injured in the blast.
Heads were bowed and muffled sobs could be heard among the crowd during the reading of the names of the dead - aged between 18 months and 65 years old.
The Bishop of Down and Dromore, Harold Miller, said: "The bomb last Saturday was meant to divide the community more deeply, instead it has united us in sadness, anger against violence and in a firm determination to move forward.
"Our act of remembrance, and in other places throughout the province, will be perhaps one of the most powerful and united moments in our recent history.
The realisation that the bomb could have happened anywhere in Northern Ireland, that the names being read out could be anyone's mother, brother or child, led people to draw then-loved ones close.
Mothers held on to their children, men put arms around their wives and friends stood close to one another.
Joanne Moore from Carrickfergus spoke for many when she said: "The service was very moving but it is sad that it takes something like this to get everybody to come together in prayer."
By Kathryn Torney
NORTHERN Ireland fell still on Saturday afternoon as thousands paid tribute to the people of Omagh.
At 3.10pm, the exact time of last week's devastating blast in the town, people recalled one of the worst weeks in Northern Ireland's violent history.
The names of the 28 people who died were read out to emotional crowds which included shoppers, families and the elderly.
In town after town and village after village across Northern Ireland, countless thousands of people stood still and prayed.
In Belfast city centre thousands of people paused outside the City Hall to mark the passing of the first week since the bombing.
Around 3,000 people attended a service of remembrance and prayer at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast, which was filled to capacity.
Hundreds more, unable to get in to the cathedral, stood outside on the pavement or in the public park across the road to pay their respects.
Only the sound of children broke the silence as prayers and readings were dedicated to the 28 dead and hundreds injured in the blast.
Heads were bowed and muffled sobs could be heard among the crowd during the reading of the names of the dead - aged between 18 months and 65 years old.
The Bishop of Down and Dromore, Harold Miller, said: "The bomb last Saturday was meant to divide the community more deeply, instead it has united us in sadness, anger against violence and in a firm determination to move forward.
"Our act of remembrance, and in other places throughout the province, will be perhaps one of the most powerful and united moments in our recent history.
The realisation that the bomb could have happened anywhere in Northern Ireland, that the names being read out could be anyone's mother, brother or child, led people to draw then-loved ones close.
Mothers held on to their children, men put arms around their wives and friends stood close to one another.
Joanne Moore from Carrickfergus spoke for many when she said: "The service was very moving but it is sad that it takes something like this to get everybody to come together in prayer."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0239
Published Date: 24-Aug-98
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