NL/301

Waterfront fundraiser for Omagh
By EMMA FLYNN

BANGOR housewife Judith Thurley is bringing top names from the Irish music industry together to perform at a fundraising concert for victims of the Omagh bomb blast.
Brian Kennedy, Mary Black and the Ulster Orchestra responded to Judith's pleas to give their services free at the October 4 concert which hopes to raise tens of thousands of pounds.
Other artists who will join in the fundraiser include members of the Sands family, Rosemary Woods, Siobhan Skates and Christy McGuigan as well as a surprise guest.
The concert will be staged in the Waterfront Hall which is being given free of charge for the event.
Judith arranged the concert after being so moved by the events in Omagh and wanted to do something to show victims how the people of Northern Ireland really cared.
"When I heard the news of the bombing I was so overcome I knew I had to do something," said Judith. "I knew this time it wasn't enough to cry alone. I needed to do something which would help remove the darkness and the ugliness of the atrocity," she said.
"I feel that music offers a way of expressing something good. We are such a musical people. I think that we can use music almost as a healing force.
"All the artists have been very generous in donating their services for free and we are hoping to cover other costs through sponsorship," she said.
British Telecom are providing a fund to be allocated for contingency expenses and Wonderland Promotions Limited will handle the production side of the concert.
Tickets for the event will be £14.50 with the entire proceeds going directly to the fund. Tickets will be available from the Waterfront Hall's booking office and all usual outlets.
Two hundred tickets for the event are being given to members of the emergency services and other people who were involved in helping the victims of the bombing.