TOWN RECALLS HORROR OF ITS DARKEST HOUR
Town recalls horror of its darkest hour
By Darwin Templeton,
Chief Reporter
A SINGLE handwritten note pinned to one of the floral tributes carpeting the memorial garden spoke for the thousands who gathered yesterday to remember Omagh's dead.
It read: "Sorry is not enough - Peace, Maybe."
That printed plea was echoed time and again in spoken word, silent prayer and heartfelt song as a town recalled the horror of its darkest day and dared to look to a brighter future.
With quiet dignity, they came to honour those who lost their lives, while clinging to the hope that the pain of those left behind might be eased if they thought such carnage would never happen again.
At the head of the vast gathering which thronged the town centre were the people whose lives were thrown into turmoil on August 15, 1998, when the Real IRA bomb exploded.
The bravery of some of them had attracted the media spotlight, like Claire Gallagher and Donna Marie McGillion.
By their sides were others who have borne their burden of grief far from the public gaze.
Children mourning grandparents, pensioners mourning grandchildren, young couples and the widowed, all united by a common bond of sorrow visited upon them a year ago to the day. Some clasped each other for comfort, some wept quietly as the ceremony began at 2.55pm with the tolling of church bells, each doleful note answered from another corner of the town.
Then, at 3.10pm, a hush fell over the crowd as they stood in silence to mark the instant the Real IRA bomb claimed 29 lives.
The quiet was broken by messages of condolence from the people of Buncrana and Madrid, spoken in different tongues, but inspired by the same heartbreak.
Augustin Gervas, who counselled the Spanish victims, said: "People of Omagh and its villages, on this day and on this date, the hearts of the people of Madrid are with you. "
One by one, the community leaders and clergymen who have worked tirelessly to help heal the wounds paid moving tributes to the dead - and voiced the town's determination to rebuild.
Again, emotions welled to the surfaced during a haunting duet, "The Servant Song", sung by soprano Maureen Murphy and schoolboy Ciaran Kelly. The words of one verse in particular resonated: "I will weep when you are weeping, when you laugh, I'll laugh with you, I will share your joy and sorrow till we've seen this journey through."
Also paying their respects were Secretary of State Mo Mowlam, NIO minister Adam Ingram, Irish minister Liz O'Donnell, former Secretary of State Sir Patrick Mayhew and Assemblymen John Hume, Oliver Gibson, Pat Doherty, Barry McElduff and MP Willie Thompson. A passage read by Father Kevin Mullan poignantly recalled how the tragedy of Omagh crossed national boundaries.
He said: "But the graves are elsewhere. The earth of Augher, of Beragh and Aghabrack, of Mountjoy and Madrid, of Seskinore and Sixmilecross, of Killyclogher and Knockmoyle, of Lislimnaghan and Loughmacrory, of Cockhill and Greenhill, of Eskra and Cappagh and Drumquin and Drumragh, of the burial land along the Dublin Road, and the graves farther still in the city of Belfast - that earth lies quiet today upon what remains in this world of our dearest who have died and receives the visits who those who come to pray and weep."
Relatives of those killed in other incidents in the Troubles - including Margaret McKinney, mother of Brian, who was one of the Disappeared and Rita Restorick, whose son was the last soldier killed - then took part in a symbollic pouring of water, signifying the tears that have flowed for 30 years.
Acknowledging the sorrow of the last 12 months, Methodist minister the Rev Peter Good voiced the hope that a brighter future might still emerge from the despair of bombing.
He said: "In an August month, we should be beginning to gather some of the harvest of the land.
"But so much of our seed this year has been sown in tears.
"Here in this street and in our homes and at our graves may seeds of new life be sown in hope and nursed with love and nurtured with all the help which we continue to be given - that we will come back some day, assured of the victory of goodness over evil and in such peaceful expectation of eternity together with all whom we love."
By Darwin Templeton,
Chief Reporter
A SINGLE handwritten note pinned to one of the floral tributes carpeting the memorial garden spoke for the thousands who gathered yesterday to remember Omagh's dead.
It read: "Sorry is not enough - Peace, Maybe."
That printed plea was echoed time and again in spoken word, silent prayer and heartfelt song as a town recalled the horror of its darkest day and dared to look to a brighter future.
With quiet dignity, they came to honour those who lost their lives, while clinging to the hope that the pain of those left behind might be eased if they thought such carnage would never happen again.
At the head of the vast gathering which thronged the town centre were the people whose lives were thrown into turmoil on August 15, 1998, when the Real IRA bomb exploded.
The bravery of some of them had attracted the media spotlight, like Claire Gallagher and Donna Marie McGillion.
By their sides were others who have borne their burden of grief far from the public gaze.
Children mourning grandparents, pensioners mourning grandchildren, young couples and the widowed, all united by a common bond of sorrow visited upon them a year ago to the day. Some clasped each other for comfort, some wept quietly as the ceremony began at 2.55pm with the tolling of church bells, each doleful note answered from another corner of the town.
Then, at 3.10pm, a hush fell over the crowd as they stood in silence to mark the instant the Real IRA bomb claimed 29 lives.
The quiet was broken by messages of condolence from the people of Buncrana and Madrid, spoken in different tongues, but inspired by the same heartbreak.
Augustin Gervas, who counselled the Spanish victims, said: "People of Omagh and its villages, on this day and on this date, the hearts of the people of Madrid are with you. "
One by one, the community leaders and clergymen who have worked tirelessly to help heal the wounds paid moving tributes to the dead - and voiced the town's determination to rebuild.
Again, emotions welled to the surfaced during a haunting duet, "The Servant Song", sung by soprano Maureen Murphy and schoolboy Ciaran Kelly. The words of one verse in particular resonated: "I will weep when you are weeping, when you laugh, I'll laugh with you, I will share your joy and sorrow till we've seen this journey through."
Also paying their respects were Secretary of State Mo Mowlam, NIO minister Adam Ingram, Irish minister Liz O'Donnell, former Secretary of State Sir Patrick Mayhew and Assemblymen John Hume, Oliver Gibson, Pat Doherty, Barry McElduff and MP Willie Thompson. A passage read by Father Kevin Mullan poignantly recalled how the tragedy of Omagh crossed national boundaries.
He said: "But the graves are elsewhere. The earth of Augher, of Beragh and Aghabrack, of Mountjoy and Madrid, of Seskinore and Sixmilecross, of Killyclogher and Knockmoyle, of Lislimnaghan and Loughmacrory, of Cockhill and Greenhill, of Eskra and Cappagh and Drumquin and Drumragh, of the burial land along the Dublin Road, and the graves farther still in the city of Belfast - that earth lies quiet today upon what remains in this world of our dearest who have died and receives the visits who those who come to pray and weep."
Relatives of those killed in other incidents in the Troubles - including Margaret McKinney, mother of Brian, who was one of the Disappeared and Rita Restorick, whose son was the last soldier killed - then took part in a symbollic pouring of water, signifying the tears that have flowed for 30 years.
Acknowledging the sorrow of the last 12 months, Methodist minister the Rev Peter Good voiced the hope that a brighter future might still emerge from the despair of bombing.
He said: "In an August month, we should be beginning to gather some of the harvest of the land.
"But so much of our seed this year has been sown in tears.
"Here in this street and in our homes and at our graves may seeds of new life be sown in hope and nursed with love and nurtured with all the help which we continue to be given - that we will come back some day, assured of the victory of goodness over evil and in such peaceful expectation of eternity together with all whom we love."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0598
Published Date: 16-Aug-99
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