GRIEF STRICKEN FAMILY BURIES ITS THIRD VICTIM OF BLAST
Grief stricken family buries its third victim of blast
By EUGENE MOLONEY in Beragh
IT WAS the last loaf of bread that Mary Grimes loving mother, wife and grandmother had cooked.
Yesterday, along with the heartfelt grief of an entire community, it was part of the Offertory gifts proffered in her memory during a moving and emotion charged funeral service.
The funeral came just 24 hours after many of those present had buried two other members of the same family, all three victims of the Omagh bombing.
Killed along with Mrs Grimes last Saturday, on a day which was also her 66th birthday, was her pregnant daughter Avril (30) one of her eleven children, and Avril's youngest daughter Maura, just 18-months-old.
In the county town village of Beragh, population around 3,000, grief was everywhere.
Grown men were unable to hold back tears at the graveside as the Grimes and their extended families gathered for the second time to bury one of their number. It was her brother-in-law Fr James Grimes who told the congregation how she had gone shopping in Omagh on her birthday with her daughter and grand-daughter.
Fr Grimes told how, before her birthday, her husband Michael had written a poem for her which he had had put to music.
He told the congregation its heartfelt words gave an insight into "the great love that existed between Mick and Mary and their family''.
Mrs Grimes brought up her family in Beragh, but came initially from Kanturk in Co Cork.
Among the many mourners attending yesterday's funeral were well over a hundred from her native parish who had travelled by coach and car to say their farewells.
The family received dozens of wreaths and flowers but one had a note written with a very special tenderness. It said: "Put your arms around Granny, kiss her smiling face for she was someone special and will never be replaced.''
No one in this packed church who read the card could have mistaken the heartfelt sorrow with which it must have been written.
It was signed "Michael, Aoibheann, Elisha and Patrick'', the Monaghan family who the previous day had stood at another graveside as the two coffins of Avril and little Maura were lowered down.
Catholics and Protestants in this mixed rural community came together for yesterday's funeral. In addition to family, relatives, neighbours and friends were Ulster Unionist MP Ken Magennis, Fianna Fail Parliamentary Party chairman Rory O'Hanlon and concert promoter Jim Aiken.
Mourners who could not get inside the church listened as the service was relayed via a loudspeaker.
Fr Grimes spoke movingly of the woman who they all knew. He told them that he couldn't begin to speak of her virtues.
He said it was significant that support for the Grimes and Monaghan family had come not just from Ireland but also from abroad. He also recalled her lovely Cork accent.
He said he nearly "broke down'' when he had heard the poem written by Mick some time ago and which had been put to music for her 66th birthday.
In addition to the seven priests on the altar for yesterday's funeral a further 23 were in attendance in the church. The families of her ten remaining children, Cornelius, Aodhan, Niall, twins Declan and Fearghal, Martin, Finbarr, Mary, Timothy and Patrick were among those present and took part in both the Offertory procession and the Prayers of the Faithful.
Catholic Primate Archbishop Sean Brady presided along with Fr Grimes who was the principal concelebrant.
Archbishop Brady said if the triple tragedy of the deaths of Mary, her daughter Avril and grandaughter Maura had been due to natural causes or an accident it would be immensely sad.
"But this is the work of fellow human beings and our hearts are filled, not only with sadness but with anger and outrage. That it was carried out under the pretext of patriotism, adds shame to that outrage and sorrow,'' said the archbishop.
By EUGENE MOLONEY in Beragh
IT WAS the last loaf of bread that Mary Grimes loving mother, wife and grandmother had cooked.
Yesterday, along with the heartfelt grief of an entire community, it was part of the Offertory gifts proffered in her memory during a moving and emotion charged funeral service.
The funeral came just 24 hours after many of those present had buried two other members of the same family, all three victims of the Omagh bombing.
Killed along with Mrs Grimes last Saturday, on a day which was also her 66th birthday, was her pregnant daughter Avril (30) one of her eleven children, and Avril's youngest daughter Maura, just 18-months-old.
In the county town village of Beragh, population around 3,000, grief was everywhere.
Grown men were unable to hold back tears at the graveside as the Grimes and their extended families gathered for the second time to bury one of their number. It was her brother-in-law Fr James Grimes who told the congregation how she had gone shopping in Omagh on her birthday with her daughter and grand-daughter.
Fr Grimes told how, before her birthday, her husband Michael had written a poem for her which he had had put to music.
He told the congregation its heartfelt words gave an insight into "the great love that existed between Mick and Mary and their family''.
Mrs Grimes brought up her family in Beragh, but came initially from Kanturk in Co Cork.
Among the many mourners attending yesterday's funeral were well over a hundred from her native parish who had travelled by coach and car to say their farewells.
The family received dozens of wreaths and flowers but one had a note written with a very special tenderness. It said: "Put your arms around Granny, kiss her smiling face for she was someone special and will never be replaced.''
No one in this packed church who read the card could have mistaken the heartfelt sorrow with which it must have been written.
It was signed "Michael, Aoibheann, Elisha and Patrick'', the Monaghan family who the previous day had stood at another graveside as the two coffins of Avril and little Maura were lowered down.
Catholics and Protestants in this mixed rural community came together for yesterday's funeral. In addition to family, relatives, neighbours and friends were Ulster Unionist MP Ken Magennis, Fianna Fail Parliamentary Party chairman Rory O'Hanlon and concert promoter Jim Aiken.
Mourners who could not get inside the church listened as the service was relayed via a loudspeaker.
Fr Grimes spoke movingly of the woman who they all knew. He told them that he couldn't begin to speak of her virtues.
He said it was significant that support for the Grimes and Monaghan family had come not just from Ireland but also from abroad. He also recalled her lovely Cork accent.
He said he nearly "broke down'' when he had heard the poem written by Mick some time ago and which had been put to music for her 66th birthday.
In addition to the seven priests on the altar for yesterday's funeral a further 23 were in attendance in the church. The families of her ten remaining children, Cornelius, Aodhan, Niall, twins Declan and Fearghal, Martin, Finbarr, Mary, Timothy and Patrick were among those present and took part in both the Offertory procession and the Prayers of the Faithful.
Catholic Primate Archbishop Sean Brady presided along with Fr Grimes who was the principal concelebrant.
Archbishop Brady said if the triple tragedy of the deaths of Mary, her daughter Avril and grandaughter Maura had been due to natural causes or an accident it would be immensely sad.
"But this is the work of fellow human beings and our hearts are filled, not only with sadness but with anger and outrage. That it was carried out under the pretext of patriotism, adds shame to that outrage and sorrow,'' said the archbishop.
Further Information
Publisher: IRISH INDEPENDENT
Ref: II/070
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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