NEW FILM RECREATES OMAGH ATROCITY
NEW FILM RECREATES OMAGH ATROCITY
By Elaine Keogh
A TELEVISION drama recreating the events surrounding the Omagh bomb has begun filming in the Republic.
The aftermath of the 1998 bombing, which claimed 29 lives and two unborn babies, is being recreated in Navan, Co Meath by production company Tiger Aspect for a feature-length drama portraying the search for those responsible for the atrocity.
The Real IRA were behind the bombing and, although a number of people have been brought to court, the families of the victims believe that more should be done by the authorities on both sides of the border.
Entitled Omagh, the film has been made with the co-operation of the victims' families, and in order to save them from undue upset, the set has been closed to the press.
The family of Aidan Gallagher � who was just 21-years-old when he died in the bomb and whose father, Michael, has frequently spoken on behalf of the families �are key figures in the production.
The film has been written by Guy Hibbert and award-winning filmmaker Paul Greengrass, who was behind the controversial and prize-winning Bloody Sunday film.
Watergate Street in Navan has been closed to traffic for a number of days, and was again yesterday, as it was transformed into the set of the aftermath of the bombing.
The street was picked because of its close physical resemblance to Market Street in Omagh, where the bomb detonated on a busy Saturday afternoon.
The film's director is Peter Travis and the cast includes Gerard McSorley, who played John Gilligan in the recent movie Veronica Guerin. It is financed by the Irish Film Board, RTE and Channel Four and will be screened on RTE in May.
It will also go on general release in cinemas in Ireland.
By Elaine Keogh
A TELEVISION drama recreating the events surrounding the Omagh bomb has begun filming in the Republic.
The aftermath of the 1998 bombing, which claimed 29 lives and two unborn babies, is being recreated in Navan, Co Meath by production company Tiger Aspect for a feature-length drama portraying the search for those responsible for the atrocity.
The Real IRA were behind the bombing and, although a number of people have been brought to court, the families of the victims believe that more should be done by the authorities on both sides of the border.
Entitled Omagh, the film has been made with the co-operation of the victims' families, and in order to save them from undue upset, the set has been closed to the press.
The family of Aidan Gallagher � who was just 21-years-old when he died in the bomb and whose father, Michael, has frequently spoken on behalf of the families �are key figures in the production.
The film has been written by Guy Hibbert and award-winning filmmaker Paul Greengrass, who was behind the controversial and prize-winning Bloody Sunday film.
Watergate Street in Navan has been closed to traffic for a number of days, and was again yesterday, as it was transformed into the set of the aftermath of the bombing.
The street was picked because of its close physical resemblance to Market Street in Omagh, where the bomb detonated on a busy Saturday afternoon.
The film's director is Peter Travis and the cast includes Gerard McSorley, who played John Gilligan in the recent movie Veronica Guerin. It is financed by the Irish Film Board, RTE and Channel Four and will be screened on RTE in May.
It will also go on general release in cinemas in Ireland.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0916
Published Date: 12-Jan-04
Related Images
