OMAGH CHOIR'S SPECIAL MOMENT
Omagh choir's special moment
Group set up after bomb perform for the Queen
By Ciaran O'Neill
A CROSS-community choir set up in the wake of the Omagh bomb today entertained the Queen during her visit to the Tyrone town.
The Omagh Community Youth Choir, established after the 1998 bomb to bring together young people from different religions and cultures and to raise money for the victims' fund, performed for the Queen and Prince Philip during their Northern Ireland tour to mark the Golden Jubilee.
While in Omagh, the Royal couple met representatives of a large number of community groups and took part in a short walkabout but were not due to meet survivors of the Real IRA bomb or relatives of the deceased until a Garden Party at Loughry College in Cookstown this afternoon.
A Northern Ireland Office spokeswoman said the Queen would not be visiting the site of the bomb, which killed 29 people and unborn twins, during her visit to Omagh, as a peace centre is currently being constructed at the site.
The Queen arrived at Omagh Library shortly before noon where she was introduced to staff and also spoke with community workers from throughout Tyrone and Derry. Among the people she was introduced to were members of Strabane Outreach Project, Cookstown and Western Shores Area Network and Magherafelt Women's Group.
She also met representatives of the Omagh 2010 Task-force, an organisation spearheading regeneration efforts in the town.
Father Kevin Mullan, chairman of the Omagh Community Youth Choir, which performed for the Queen during her visit to the library, said its young members were delighted to be part of such a memorable occasion. "It is a real honour for the choir to perform for the Queen," said Fr Mullan. "They sang at the Royal Variety Concert a few years ago but today is a very special event and members of the choir have been looking forward to it since they found out they were to perform."
After taking part in a short walkabout outside the library, the Queen left for a private lunch with the Duke of Abercorn before travelling to Cookstown for the Garden Party at Loughry College.
Group set up after bomb perform for the Queen
By Ciaran O'Neill
A CROSS-community choir set up in the wake of the Omagh bomb today entertained the Queen during her visit to the Tyrone town.
The Omagh Community Youth Choir, established after the 1998 bomb to bring together young people from different religions and cultures and to raise money for the victims' fund, performed for the Queen and Prince Philip during their Northern Ireland tour to mark the Golden Jubilee.
While in Omagh, the Royal couple met representatives of a large number of community groups and took part in a short walkabout but were not due to meet survivors of the Real IRA bomb or relatives of the deceased until a Garden Party at Loughry College in Cookstown this afternoon.
A Northern Ireland Office spokeswoman said the Queen would not be visiting the site of the bomb, which killed 29 people and unborn twins, during her visit to Omagh, as a peace centre is currently being constructed at the site.
The Queen arrived at Omagh Library shortly before noon where she was introduced to staff and also spoke with community workers from throughout Tyrone and Derry. Among the people she was introduced to were members of Strabane Outreach Project, Cookstown and Western Shores Area Network and Magherafelt Women's Group.
She also met representatives of the Omagh 2010 Task-force, an organisation spearheading regeneration efforts in the town.
Father Kevin Mullan, chairman of the Omagh Community Youth Choir, which performed for the Queen during her visit to the library, said its young members were delighted to be part of such a memorable occasion. "It is a real honour for the choir to perform for the Queen," said Fr Mullan. "They sang at the Royal Variety Concert a few years ago but today is a very special event and members of the choir have been looking forward to it since they found out they were to perform."
After taking part in a short walkabout outside the library, the Queen left for a private lunch with the Duke of Abercorn before travelling to Cookstown for the Garden Party at Loughry College.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0854
Published Date: 14-May-02
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