OMAGH IS BUOYED BY GOODWILL
Omagh is buoyed by goodwill
By Steven McCaffery
ORDINARY people from across Ireland have been praised for brightening the Christmas season in the beleaguered town of Omagh,
The co-ordinator of the Give a Day to Omagh campaign, which appealed for people to visit Omagh town centre during the Christmas period,
yesterday said it had been an "unparalleled" success.
Omagh retailer Patrick Bogues said the project -aimed at rejuvenating the town centre in the wake of the devastating August bomb blast - had succeeded in drawing the support of wellwishers from across Ireland.
"The campaign has been very successful and it has really helped the town get back to some semblance of normality - though it is difficult to say if it has yet gone completely back to normal," he said.
"The object of the campaign was to give people something practical to do to help Omagh and the response has been incredible.
"We have had coachloads from throughout the north of Ireland and others from Dublin, Malahide, Galway, Ennis, Shannon, Limerick - and those are just the ones I can remember right now.
"There have been many more people who have come along to give expression to their wish to help.
"They have been able to come here, to see the bomb scene, to speak to local people and express their concern and it has been of great benefit to what is a small tight-knit community."
Mr Bogues said the response had been unparalleled and surpassed expectations held out for the town centre in advance of the Christmas season.
He stressed, however, that Christmas would be a difficult time for many in Omagh and for those across Northern Ireland who had lost loved ones.
"We remember that there are many other areas which have suffered in a similar way to Omagh. There will be many homes where people will be looking at an empty chair this Christmas."
The huge level of goodwill directed towards the Omagh community has also been demonstrated by sales of the Across the Bridge of Hope CD.
Sales are said to be brisk, with proceeds from the recording, which includes tracks from U2 and Sinead O'Connor, set to go to the Omagh Fund.
By Steven McCaffery
ORDINARY people from across Ireland have been praised for brightening the Christmas season in the beleaguered town of Omagh,
The co-ordinator of the Give a Day to Omagh campaign, which appealed for people to visit Omagh town centre during the Christmas period,
yesterday said it had been an "unparalleled" success.
Omagh retailer Patrick Bogues said the project -aimed at rejuvenating the town centre in the wake of the devastating August bomb blast - had succeeded in drawing the support of wellwishers from across Ireland.
"The campaign has been very successful and it has really helped the town get back to some semblance of normality - though it is difficult to say if it has yet gone completely back to normal," he said.
"The object of the campaign was to give people something practical to do to help Omagh and the response has been incredible.
"We have had coachloads from throughout the north of Ireland and others from Dublin, Malahide, Galway, Ennis, Shannon, Limerick - and those are just the ones I can remember right now.
"There have been many more people who have come along to give expression to their wish to help.
"They have been able to come here, to see the bomb scene, to speak to local people and express their concern and it has been of great benefit to what is a small tight-knit community."
Mr Bogues said the response had been unparalleled and surpassed expectations held out for the town centre in advance of the Christmas season.
He stressed, however, that Christmas would be a difficult time for many in Omagh and for those across Northern Ireland who had lost loved ones.
"We remember that there are many other areas which have suffered in a similar way to Omagh. There will be many homes where people will be looking at an empty chair this Christmas."
The huge level of goodwill directed towards the Omagh community has also been demonstrated by sales of the Across the Bridge of Hope CD.
Sales are said to be brisk, with proceeds from the recording, which includes tracks from U2 and Sinead O'Connor, set to go to the Omagh Fund.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0260
Published Date: 23-Dec-98
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