GAA CIRCLES STUNNED
GAA CIRCLES STUNNED
A DEVASTATING silence fell on GAA pitches around Tyrone as news of the horrific Omagh bombing filtered through the county late Saturday evening and on Sunday.
Players, officials and supporters preparing for a hectic schedule of league and championship games were, like every other organisation, completely stunned by the overwhelming nature of ' what happened.
As the minutes and hours slowly passed it became clear that many people involved with local clubs were on the lists of those who had been killed or injured. On Saturday night all fixtures were cancelled until further notice, including the Senior championship semi-final between Omagh and Donaghmore.
Many of those killed and bereaved have long associations with gaelic games in Tyrone. They include Philomena Skelton, whose husband Kevin is the Hurling Fixtures Secretary on the Tyrone Games Administration Committee and is also a well-known referee. The Skelton family circle has been an integral part of the Drumquin club for many years and includes Aidan, goalkeeper on the Tyrone team which reached the 1986 All-Ireland final.
Avril Grimes, who married into the Monaghan family from Augher, played camogie with the Beragh club. Her nine brothers and one sister have also represented the club at every level and in every area of GAA activity. The Monaghan family, too, have a history of involvement in Augher over the years.
In Eskra, GAA members are struggling to come to terms with the death of Joelene Marlow. She was one of the many young girls in the area who in the past few years developed an enthusiastic interest in Ladies Football. The 17-year-old played with the St. Macartan's club and just one week before her tragic death celebrated their win in this year's Tyrone Senior Ladies final.
Brenda Logue, from Loughmacrory, is another whose interest in gaelic games was being fully expressed through Ladies Football. She played with the local under- 16 team and was also good enough to be picked on the Tyrone team in that grade.
From nearby Carrickmore is Gareth Conway. He was a playing member of the Tattyreagh club and, no doubt, one day dreamed of representing his county at senior level.
Cancelled
Among those injured is Nial McSorley from Omagh. He should have been playing a central role in Omagh's bid to reach the county final when they played Donaghmore on Sunday night. Instead the high scoring forward was thought to have suffered wounds to his legs.
Two daughters of Tyrone Hurling manager and county board official, Brendan Harkin, were also injured. Like so many others, they were simply enjoying the sunshine in Omagh on a busy Saturday afternoon.
For many, the weekend's fixtures would have been an important talking point. There was Clan Na nGael's progress to the Intermediate Final courtesy of a 2-12 to 1-9 win over Strabane on Friday night to discuss. The two goals were scored by Stephen O'Neill and Paddy Ball and climaxed a spirited second half display for Clann Na nGael. Then, of course, there was Sunday night's championship semi-final featuring Omagh and Donaghmore and the inevitable speculation on the likely outcome. All part of the everyday routine shattered in seconds when the town was so tragically targeted.
In Healy Park, several nursing staff on the Tyrone Ladies team that was playing Warwickshire in the quarter-final of the All-Ireland Junior Championship left to give what help they could when they heard the call for medical personnel. For the record Tyrone won by a massive 5-33 to no score.
On Sunday afternoon, GAA President Joe McDonagh led 65,000 spectators at Croke Park for the All-Ireland Hurling Semi-Final in a moment's silence for those dead and injured. Waterford and Kilkenny supporters observed the gesture with the utmost respect. Kilkenny later progressed to this year's All-Ireland Final on a score of 1-10 to 1-9.
The extent of the sorrow and outrage can also be gauged by the fact that throughout the weekend and into this week, officials and players from other counties regularly contacted their friends in Tyrone to pass on their sympathy.
Members of the Tyrone County Board met on Monday night and have visited the homes of many of those killed. Both the County Board and Games Administration Committee expressed their deepest sympathy.
It will be next week before any club fixtures take place. At county level the Tyrone Minors meet Leitrim in the All-Ireland semifinal this Sunday in Croke Park. After cruising to a second consecutive Ulster title, they will be favoured to reach the All-Ireland final.
But the sombre mood among GAA members in Tyrone this week means there is no big buildup or eager anticipation. The thoughts of all are with the families of the 28 killed and over 100 injured. In time, sport can play its part in the healing process. But, for the moment it is irrelevant as the Omagh bombing continues to cast a dark shadow over every aspect of normal life.
A DEVASTATING silence fell on GAA pitches around Tyrone as news of the horrific Omagh bombing filtered through the county late Saturday evening and on Sunday.
Players, officials and supporters preparing for a hectic schedule of league and championship games were, like every other organisation, completely stunned by the overwhelming nature of ' what happened.
As the minutes and hours slowly passed it became clear that many people involved with local clubs were on the lists of those who had been killed or injured. On Saturday night all fixtures were cancelled until further notice, including the Senior championship semi-final between Omagh and Donaghmore.
Many of those killed and bereaved have long associations with gaelic games in Tyrone. They include Philomena Skelton, whose husband Kevin is the Hurling Fixtures Secretary on the Tyrone Games Administration Committee and is also a well-known referee. The Skelton family circle has been an integral part of the Drumquin club for many years and includes Aidan, goalkeeper on the Tyrone team which reached the 1986 All-Ireland final.
Avril Grimes, who married into the Monaghan family from Augher, played camogie with the Beragh club. Her nine brothers and one sister have also represented the club at every level and in every area of GAA activity. The Monaghan family, too, have a history of involvement in Augher over the years.
In Eskra, GAA members are struggling to come to terms with the death of Joelene Marlow. She was one of the many young girls in the area who in the past few years developed an enthusiastic interest in Ladies Football. The 17-year-old played with the St. Macartan's club and just one week before her tragic death celebrated their win in this year's Tyrone Senior Ladies final.
Brenda Logue, from Loughmacrory, is another whose interest in gaelic games was being fully expressed through Ladies Football. She played with the local under- 16 team and was also good enough to be picked on the Tyrone team in that grade.
From nearby Carrickmore is Gareth Conway. He was a playing member of the Tattyreagh club and, no doubt, one day dreamed of representing his county at senior level.
Cancelled
Among those injured is Nial McSorley from Omagh. He should have been playing a central role in Omagh's bid to reach the county final when they played Donaghmore on Sunday night. Instead the high scoring forward was thought to have suffered wounds to his legs.
Two daughters of Tyrone Hurling manager and county board official, Brendan Harkin, were also injured. Like so many others, they were simply enjoying the sunshine in Omagh on a busy Saturday afternoon.
For many, the weekend's fixtures would have been an important talking point. There was Clan Na nGael's progress to the Intermediate Final courtesy of a 2-12 to 1-9 win over Strabane on Friday night to discuss. The two goals were scored by Stephen O'Neill and Paddy Ball and climaxed a spirited second half display for Clann Na nGael. Then, of course, there was Sunday night's championship semi-final featuring Omagh and Donaghmore and the inevitable speculation on the likely outcome. All part of the everyday routine shattered in seconds when the town was so tragically targeted.
In Healy Park, several nursing staff on the Tyrone Ladies team that was playing Warwickshire in the quarter-final of the All-Ireland Junior Championship left to give what help they could when they heard the call for medical personnel. For the record Tyrone won by a massive 5-33 to no score.
On Sunday afternoon, GAA President Joe McDonagh led 65,000 spectators at Croke Park for the All-Ireland Hurling Semi-Final in a moment's silence for those dead and injured. Waterford and Kilkenny supporters observed the gesture with the utmost respect. Kilkenny later progressed to this year's All-Ireland Final on a score of 1-10 to 1-9.
The extent of the sorrow and outrage can also be gauged by the fact that throughout the weekend and into this week, officials and players from other counties regularly contacted their friends in Tyrone to pass on their sympathy.
Members of the Tyrone County Board met on Monday night and have visited the homes of many of those killed. Both the County Board and Games Administration Committee expressed their deepest sympathy.
It will be next week before any club fixtures take place. At county level the Tyrone Minors meet Leitrim in the All-Ireland semifinal this Sunday in Croke Park. After cruising to a second consecutive Ulster title, they will be favoured to reach the All-Ireland final.
But the sombre mood among GAA members in Tyrone this week means there is no big buildup or eager anticipation. The thoughts of all are with the families of the 28 killed and over 100 injured. In time, sport can play its part in the healing process. But, for the moment it is irrelevant as the Omagh bombing continues to cast a dark shadow over every aspect of normal life.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0252
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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