FIVE-STAR TRIP FOR OMAGH GROUP
Five-star trip for Omagh group
By Steven McCaffery
FIFTY people whose lives were rocked by the Omagh bomb blast are to be the guests of honour at a VIP reception in Dublin's Mansion House later this week.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Dublin Lord Mayor Joe Doyle will be present for the Wednesday morning reception and will welcome the Omagh group -made up of victims of the August 15 bombing and their family and friends.
The group, drawn from both sides of the community, will be treated to a two-night stay in the city, together with a tour of Dail Eireann, trips to the cinema and the wax museum and a guided tour through Dublin city itself.
The two-day trip begins on Tuesday morning and is being funded by Dublin's North inner City Business Association.
Omagh district councillor Pat McDonnell coordinated the project at a local level with Knockmoyle man Gerry O'Doherty.
Last night Mr McDonnell said he hoped the trip would be a "bright light in a dark period".
"I was enormously impressed by the generosity of the Dublin people, impressed and touched," he said.
"They said they were keen to do something as a genuine gesture to the people caught in the bombing and this is exactly the right type of gesture and the right type of north/south contact."
Mr McDonnell said he hoped the trip would provide victims with a refreshing break, while at the same time demonstrate that their plight was still in the forefront of peoples' minds.
By Steven McCaffery
FIFTY people whose lives were rocked by the Omagh bomb blast are to be the guests of honour at a VIP reception in Dublin's Mansion House later this week.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Dublin Lord Mayor Joe Doyle will be present for the Wednesday morning reception and will welcome the Omagh group -made up of victims of the August 15 bombing and their family and friends.
The group, drawn from both sides of the community, will be treated to a two-night stay in the city, together with a tour of Dail Eireann, trips to the cinema and the wax museum and a guided tour through Dublin city itself.
The two-day trip begins on Tuesday morning and is being funded by Dublin's North inner City Business Association.
Omagh district councillor Pat McDonnell coordinated the project at a local level with Knockmoyle man Gerry O'Doherty.
Last night Mr McDonnell said he hoped the trip would be a "bright light in a dark period".
"I was enormously impressed by the generosity of the Dublin people, impressed and touched," he said.
"They said they were keen to do something as a genuine gesture to the people caught in the bombing and this is exactly the right type of gesture and the right type of north/south contact."
Mr McDonnell said he hoped the trip would provide victims with a refreshing break, while at the same time demonstrate that their plight was still in the forefront of peoples' minds.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0463
Published Date: 26-Oct-98
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