OMAGH'S POIGNANT PROCESSION
Omagh's poignant procession
By Damian McArdle
MORE than 500 people took part in a peace procession through the streets of Omagh yesterday afternoon.
At the head of the procession an 8ft cross was carried as marchers retraced the route taken by those who ferried victims of August's bombing to the Tyrone County Hospital.
Bus and taxi drivers who turned their vehicles into makeshift ambulances on the day of the atrocity were among the first to carry the wooden cross through the town centre.
As the parade reached the seat of the blast at Market Street ambulance staff took over.
Following prayers at the scene, the marchers continued on their way with firefighters, the RUC, Army and workers from the social services all taking turns to bear the cross.
As the procession approached the hospital nurses and doctors who had tended the victims took over. Then it was the turn of relatives of the victims to carry the cross on the last leg of the journey into the hospital grounds.
There they placed 31 red and yellow roses in memory of all those who lost their lives in the bombing.
Meanwhile, teenagers from the Omagh Community Youth Choir are to join a host of world famous Irish acts on a new album in aid of the Omagh Memorial Fund.
The choir yesterday recorded a song written by BA Robertson called "The Bridge of Hope", also the name of the album.
The song will feature alongside music from U2, Van Morrison, Sinead O'Connor, and Boyzone, among others.
The title of the album is taken from a poem written by 12-year-old Buncrana boy Sean McLaughlin shortly before he was killed in the atrocity.
By Damian McArdle
MORE than 500 people took part in a peace procession through the streets of Omagh yesterday afternoon.
At the head of the procession an 8ft cross was carried as marchers retraced the route taken by those who ferried victims of August's bombing to the Tyrone County Hospital.
Bus and taxi drivers who turned their vehicles into makeshift ambulances on the day of the atrocity were among the first to carry the wooden cross through the town centre.
As the parade reached the seat of the blast at Market Street ambulance staff took over.
Following prayers at the scene, the marchers continued on their way with firefighters, the RUC, Army and workers from the social services all taking turns to bear the cross.
As the procession approached the hospital nurses and doctors who had tended the victims took over. Then it was the turn of relatives of the victims to carry the cross on the last leg of the journey into the hospital grounds.
There they placed 31 red and yellow roses in memory of all those who lost their lives in the bombing.
Meanwhile, teenagers from the Omagh Community Youth Choir are to join a host of world famous Irish acts on a new album in aid of the Omagh Memorial Fund.
The choir yesterday recorded a song written by BA Robertson called "The Bridge of Hope", also the name of the album.
The song will feature alongside music from U2, Van Morrison, Sinead O'Connor, and Boyzone, among others.
The title of the album is taken from a poem written by 12-year-old Buncrana boy Sean McLaughlin shortly before he was killed in the atrocity.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0481
Published Date: 02-Nov-98
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