BT/0680

Omagh tribute touches chord
By Ciaran McGuigan

THE Omagh tribute CD, Across the Bridge of Hope, has surged to the top of the charts only days after it was released, it emerged today.
The album, featuring leading names in Irish music, was only released on Monday.
But in less than 48 hours it has blitzed the sales figures for all other artists.
Albums from some of the music industry's biggest stars, including new releases from U2, REM and George Michael, have been left in the shade by the trailblazing benefit CD.
The news came as Dublin mega-band Boyzone announced they would play a one-off benefit concert for the Omagh Fund in the town early in the new year.
The band is set to play in Omagh Leisure Centre - the building used as coordination centre on the day of the bomb - on January 2.
Tickets for the concert, which is certain to be an immediate sell-out, will go on sale this Saturday at 9am from only one outlet - Route 66 in Omagh - priced £10.
Boyzone will not be taking a fee for the concert. A spokesman for the band said that any excess money after production costs "will be donated to the Omagh Fund".
Meanwhile, Virgin Megastore's assistant manager Damien Adair said demand for the Omagh album has been so great they had to re-write their charts at the last minute.
"Our chart is usually based on the previous week's sales and there's rarely any change come Monday," he said.
But the demand for Across the Bridge of Hope was so great that it eclipsed last week's sales figures in only one day.
"Some big names have their albums out for Christmas but their sales pale in comparison to the Omagh CD."
Official sales figures are 'confidential' but, according to Mr Adair, "hundreds of people have been queuing up to help the fund."
And in Omagh shops selling the CD have revealed that they have already had to re-order large quantities.
Robert Clarke, proprietor of Route 66, said: "There has been a phenomenal demand. One Belfast wholesaler was completely sold out this week. Hopefully, sales are going as well nationwide."
Monica Baxter, proprietor of the Mews Record Shop, said some of the people seriously hurt in the blast were among the first customers to buy the album.
"A few just stood and cried while the music played," added Ms Baxter.
Across the Bridge of Hope takes its name from a poem written by 12-year-old Shaun McLaughlin shortly before his life was taken by the bomb.
It features tracks from a host of stars including U2, The Corrs and Daniel O'Donnell.
It also includes a spoken track by Hollywood heartthrob Liam Neeson
The 14-track album is available from all good music outlets and costs £12.99, with proceeds going towards the Omagh Fund.