IN/0235

Boyzone to play gig in Omagh
By Valerie Robinson

AS one of the last of the Omagh bomb victims left hospital yesterday chart-topping Irish band Boyzone revealed plans to play a concert for the town's appeal fund.
Pauline Green, who suffered serious injuries in the blast, was discharged from the Royal Victoria Hospital.
As the 19-year-old relaxed at home for the first time in three months the mega-stars from Dublin confirmed they would take time out of their recording and touring schedule to play in Omagh on January 2, 1999.
The group's big-hearted gesture is expected to raise thousands of pounds for the fund set up to help the victims of the Omagh bomb attack which killed 29 and injured more than 250.
A spokes person for the band revealed that the concert, which is expected to attract teenyboppers from around Northern Ireland, will take place in Omagh Leisure Centre. The spokes person said: "Like many Others the band feels a great empathy with the people of Omagh and felt that they could contribute something.
"The band will not be taking a performance fee and if after production costs there is any excess it will be donated to the Omagh fund."
Welcoming the announcement by Boyzone, Omagh fund manager Brian Oliphant last night said that "any money which comes into the fund is going for a very worthy cause".
He added that to date the fund has ballooned to £970,000 - and it continues to grow with fundraising events taking place all over the country.
Approximately £450,000 has already been paid to 209 individuals whose lives have been affected by the blast which ripped apart the town centre on August 15.
Mr Oliphant said the fund's success was particularly signicant because the trustees had no part in the fundraising efforts themselves - they simply collected and distributed the money.
"We don't proactively fundraise. We don't ask anybody to fundraise. People do all this themselves.
"We're very grateful to everyone. Everybody has been fantastic."
Tennis games, soccer and GAA matches, boxing bouts, cake sales, sponsored runs and individual donations have all helped boost the Omagh fund.
West Tyrone SDLP assembly member Joe Byrne predicted that the Boyzone concert would be "one of the great boosts of morale for young people in Omagh".
Describing the group as a "very good modern icon" the Omagh politician predicted the concert would be a "fantastic success".
Tickets for the Boyzone concert are 510 each and will only be available from Route 66, Market Street in Omagh.