MO JOINS THE STARS IN MESSAGE OF HOPE
Mo joins the stars in message of hope
POLITICS and pop rubbed shoulders last night as Mo Mowlam joined Omagh community leaders at the London launch of a fundraising album, Across the Bridge of Hope, which features U2, the Corrs and Boyzone.
The album is dedicated to helping rebuild Omagh's shattered community.
Speaking at the launch, the Secretary of State told of her revulsion when she heard about the bombing.
She said: "I don't think I will ever forget the sickness that slowly grew in my stomach as that Saturday afternoon progressed and it became clear the extent of the pain, the mayhem, the murder that had taken place. And I don't think the shock of that will ever go."
Paying tribute to the community's spirit, she said: "The determination and the guts of the people of Omagh not to let a few men of violence ruin their town or their lives was amazing."
The album is to be released on Monday and features actor Liam Neeson reading a short poem by Shaun McLaughlin, 12, one of the bomb victims.
The Prime Minister also joined victims of the bomb in Dublin last night. Tony Blair and wife Cherie were greeted by Eire President Mary McAleese at her official residence where 200 people, bereaved and injured in the Omagh and Ballymoney killings, gathered.
They listened to the Vienna Boys' Choir perform Danny Boy before mingling with the guests, who included Chrissie Quinn, mother of the three boys murdered in Ballymoney.
Mr Blair appeared relaxed as he met guests, pausing to chat and posing for photographs before retiring to President McAleese's study for private discussions.
Later, Mr Blair was installed as a bencher of the King's Inn, the governing body of Eire's law institutions.
He was the first British head of government to be conferred with the honour and received it jointly with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
At a dinner in Dublin Castle in honour of the Prime Minister and Cherie. Mr Ahern said: "I think it is fair for me to say that Tony Blair's efforts have been second to none in seeing that we get over the hurdles and obstacles that have bedevilled us for centuries."
He hailed the Prime Minister's "huge commitment, extraordinary amount of time, enormous ability and energy" that he had put into the peace process.
Mr Ahern spoke of strengthening the ties and bonds of friendship between Britain and Ireland.
"Northern Ireland, once a barrier to understanding, represents now in terms of the Good Friday agreement a shared determination to succeed."
Mr Blair spoke of the deep yearning for peace.
"I don't doubt that we will face a lot of difficulties. indeed do face difficulties in clearing the remaining obstacles to peace, but if politics means anything it means at its best expressing the will of the people and that will is palpable there.
"You can understand both the frustration and their insistence that we, the political leaders, respond to their wishes and give them the peace and the future which they deserve."
POLITICS and pop rubbed shoulders last night as Mo Mowlam joined Omagh community leaders at the London launch of a fundraising album, Across the Bridge of Hope, which features U2, the Corrs and Boyzone.
The album is dedicated to helping rebuild Omagh's shattered community.
Speaking at the launch, the Secretary of State told of her revulsion when she heard about the bombing.
She said: "I don't think I will ever forget the sickness that slowly grew in my stomach as that Saturday afternoon progressed and it became clear the extent of the pain, the mayhem, the murder that had taken place. And I don't think the shock of that will ever go."
Paying tribute to the community's spirit, she said: "The determination and the guts of the people of Omagh not to let a few men of violence ruin their town or their lives was amazing."
The album is to be released on Monday and features actor Liam Neeson reading a short poem by Shaun McLaughlin, 12, one of the bomb victims.
The Prime Minister also joined victims of the bomb in Dublin last night. Tony Blair and wife Cherie were greeted by Eire President Mary McAleese at her official residence where 200 people, bereaved and injured in the Omagh and Ballymoney killings, gathered.
They listened to the Vienna Boys' Choir perform Danny Boy before mingling with the guests, who included Chrissie Quinn, mother of the three boys murdered in Ballymoney.
Mr Blair appeared relaxed as he met guests, pausing to chat and posing for photographs before retiring to President McAleese's study for private discussions.
Later, Mr Blair was installed as a bencher of the King's Inn, the governing body of Eire's law institutions.
He was the first British head of government to be conferred with the honour and received it jointly with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
At a dinner in Dublin Castle in honour of the Prime Minister and Cherie. Mr Ahern said: "I think it is fair for me to say that Tony Blair's efforts have been second to none in seeing that we get over the hurdles and obstacles that have bedevilled us for centuries."
He hailed the Prime Minister's "huge commitment, extraordinary amount of time, enormous ability and energy" that he had put into the peace process.
Mr Ahern spoke of strengthening the ties and bonds of friendship between Britain and Ireland.
"Northern Ireland, once a barrier to understanding, represents now in terms of the Good Friday agreement a shared determination to succeed."
Mr Blair spoke of the deep yearning for peace.
"I don't doubt that we will face a lot of difficulties. indeed do face difficulties in clearing the remaining obstacles to peace, but if politics means anything it means at its best expressing the will of the people and that will is palpable there.
"You can understand both the frustration and their insistence that we, the political leaders, respond to their wishes and give them the peace and the future which they deserve."
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/377
Published Date: 26-Nov-98
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