TOWN SNUBS CHARITY CONCERT
Town snubs charity concert
BALLYMONEY was a town in shame last night after organisers of a charity concert in aid of the murdered Quinn children and victims of the Omagh bomb were forced to cancel the event. Only a dozen people turned up.
The concert, in the Town Hall, had been organised at the request of the local council by local promoter Sammy Smyth who described the lack of support as a "slur" on the memories of all those who died.
Mr Smyth said he had advertised the event, starring a host of well-known entertainers, in local newspapers and on several radio stations and had printed more than 400 posters in an attempt to promote it.
But only 12 people, including a disabled man in a wheelchair, took the trouble to make their way to the venue.
"It just breaks you," said Mr Smyth last night. "Some of the 12 people who did turn up were so upset they were crying and the artists, who were giving their time and talent free, were deeply upset."
Referring to the deaths of the three brothers, burned to death following a petrol bomb attack on their home in July, Mr Smyth said: "It could have been your child, my child, anybody's child. Those three wee children didn't know anything about the problems we have here."
Mr Smyth had been given a number of items from local businesses which he had hoped to raffle. He has now been forced to return them and said he just could not understand why the public had decided to snub the event.
"I would like to find out what the people of Ballymoney have got against Omagh and the Quinn family," he said.
The posters for the event, which Mr Smyth says were put up in towns and villages throughout the area, advertised a "grand concert in aid of the Quinn family and the Omagh tragedy appeal funds" and tickets were available at a wide range of outlets, including the town's Tourist Information Office.
BALLYMONEY was a town in shame last night after organisers of a charity concert in aid of the murdered Quinn children and victims of the Omagh bomb were forced to cancel the event. Only a dozen people turned up.
The concert, in the Town Hall, had been organised at the request of the local council by local promoter Sammy Smyth who described the lack of support as a "slur" on the memories of all those who died.
Mr Smyth said he had advertised the event, starring a host of well-known entertainers, in local newspapers and on several radio stations and had printed more than 400 posters in an attempt to promote it.
But only 12 people, including a disabled man in a wheelchair, took the trouble to make their way to the venue.
"It just breaks you," said Mr Smyth last night. "Some of the 12 people who did turn up were so upset they were crying and the artists, who were giving their time and talent free, were deeply upset."
Referring to the deaths of the three brothers, burned to death following a petrol bomb attack on their home in July, Mr Smyth said: "It could have been your child, my child, anybody's child. Those three wee children didn't know anything about the problems we have here."
Mr Smyth had been given a number of items from local businesses which he had hoped to raffle. He has now been forced to return them and said he just could not understand why the public had decided to snub the event.
"I would like to find out what the people of Ballymoney have got against Omagh and the Quinn family," he said.
The posters for the event, which Mr Smyth says were put up in towns and villages throughout the area, advertised a "grand concert in aid of the Quinn family and the Omagh tragedy appeal funds" and tickets were available at a wide range of outlets, including the town's Tourist Information Office.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/365
Published Date: 11-Nov-98
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