TOWN TO REMEMBER BOMB VICTIMS WITH POIGNANT CEREMONIES
Town to remember bomb victims with poignant ceremonies
ONE year on from the worst single terrorist atrocity in the past three decades of violence, Omagh will come to a standstill as the community gathers on Sunday to remember all those who lost their lives in the August 15 bombing.
Thousands are expected to converge on the town centre for the memorial service to mark the day when 29 men, women and children, and two unborn babies, died as a result of the Market Street atrocity.
And on Saturday afternoon, there will be a short informal 'act of remembrance' at the bomb site itself.
The town will be reaching out to the wider community as well, by also remembering on Sunday all those who have suffered as a result of violence over the years.
Few would dispute that the past year has been the most difficult ever in Omagh's history. But, despite the shock, devastation and overwhelming grief, there have also been moments of inspiration and hope.
With the eyes of the world upon it, the town has witnessed visits by Royalty, Presidents and Prime Ministers, but it has been the undaunting spirit and determination of those bereaved, injured and maimed that has been indelibly imprinted on everyone who has come into contact with the community.
There have been some moments of joy, beacons of hope that the town is slowly getting back on its feet. The marriages of Donna-Marie Keyes and Garry McGillion, and Sandy Smith and Mark Blackwell, are positive images that will be remembered, along with the births of babies to several of the injured.
The town gave a rousing welcome to Premier League football clubs, Manchester United and Chelsea, to raise money for the Omagh Fund.
Building
And, in the past few weeks, the building blocks have been laid on the first premises to be rebuilt in Market Street, with more work due to get underway on other buildings in the next few months.
However, as the weekend approaches, people's thoughts will invariably be with those who were bereaved and injured by the car bomb which tore apart the town centre on a busy Saturday afternoon.
As a mark of respect on Saturday the day many people will associate with the bomb many shops are expected to close for the afternoon. All will be closed for at least an hour between 2.30pm and 3.30pm, during which a short informal ceremony will take place at the bomb site.
Bars in the town will also close between 3pm and 3.20pm on Saturday, and during the main memorial service on Sunday, Omagh Vintners' Association has said.
Saturday's ceremony will essentially be a private act of remembrance for the bereaved and injured. At 3pm church bells will ring, and at 3.10pm the time the bomb exploded leaving death and devastation in its wake there will be a minute's silence.
This will be followed by prayers and laying of wreaths. introduced by the chief executive of Omagh District Council Mr John McKinney. It will include contributions by local clergy, and representatives from Buncrana will also be present.
Omagh Methodist Church will be open from 12pm to 4pm for private prayer, and at 6pm an Anniversary Mass will be held in the Sacred Heart Church, at which the Bishop of Derry, Dr. Seamus Hegarty, and Auxiliary Bishop, Dr. Francis Lagan, will be present.
In addition, from 9pm on Friday, the bottom of Market Street will be closed to through traffic until Monday morning. The town centre, John Street and Georges Street will be closed to traffic from Saturday night, and will be opened again on Sunday evening, following the main memorial service.
Cordoned off
The Market Street area will be cordoned off with flower containers, but will be open to pedestrians. The bereaved, injured and the wider community will have the opportunity to lay flowers or pause for reflection in the temporary garden of remembrance that has been created on the corner of Drumragh Avenue.
Mr. Kevin O'Gara, chief client services officer at the district council, said the garden would allow people the opportunity to pay their respects in quiet surroundings.
"People will be able to go to the garden, sit down, and have a quiet place to reflect, rather than standing in the street," he said.
"A permanent site for a garden of remembrance and the form it will take will be decided after the anniversary, in consultation with the bereaved families."
Any flowers laid in the temporary garden will be removed a week after the anniversary, and mulched. This will then be used to sustain a special rose garden which has been created at the Tyrone County Hospital in memory of the victims of the bomb.
Mr. Roy Allen, chairman of the Omagh Traders' Association, said the association had been in contact with the Trauma Centre and the Self-Help and Support Group, and it had been agreed that businesses would close for at least an hour on Saturday afternoon.
ONE year on from the worst single terrorist atrocity in the past three decades of violence, Omagh will come to a standstill as the community gathers on Sunday to remember all those who lost their lives in the August 15 bombing.
Thousands are expected to converge on the town centre for the memorial service to mark the day when 29 men, women and children, and two unborn babies, died as a result of the Market Street atrocity.
And on Saturday afternoon, there will be a short informal 'act of remembrance' at the bomb site itself.
The town will be reaching out to the wider community as well, by also remembering on Sunday all those who have suffered as a result of violence over the years.
Few would dispute that the past year has been the most difficult ever in Omagh's history. But, despite the shock, devastation and overwhelming grief, there have also been moments of inspiration and hope.
With the eyes of the world upon it, the town has witnessed visits by Royalty, Presidents and Prime Ministers, but it has been the undaunting spirit and determination of those bereaved, injured and maimed that has been indelibly imprinted on everyone who has come into contact with the community.
There have been some moments of joy, beacons of hope that the town is slowly getting back on its feet. The marriages of Donna-Marie Keyes and Garry McGillion, and Sandy Smith and Mark Blackwell, are positive images that will be remembered, along with the births of babies to several of the injured.
The town gave a rousing welcome to Premier League football clubs, Manchester United and Chelsea, to raise money for the Omagh Fund.
Building
And, in the past few weeks, the building blocks have been laid on the first premises to be rebuilt in Market Street, with more work due to get underway on other buildings in the next few months.
However, as the weekend approaches, people's thoughts will invariably be with those who were bereaved and injured by the car bomb which tore apart the town centre on a busy Saturday afternoon.
As a mark of respect on Saturday the day many people will associate with the bomb many shops are expected to close for the afternoon. All will be closed for at least an hour between 2.30pm and 3.30pm, during which a short informal ceremony will take place at the bomb site.
Bars in the town will also close between 3pm and 3.20pm on Saturday, and during the main memorial service on Sunday, Omagh Vintners' Association has said.
Saturday's ceremony will essentially be a private act of remembrance for the bereaved and injured. At 3pm church bells will ring, and at 3.10pm the time the bomb exploded leaving death and devastation in its wake there will be a minute's silence.
This will be followed by prayers and laying of wreaths. introduced by the chief executive of Omagh District Council Mr John McKinney. It will include contributions by local clergy, and representatives from Buncrana will also be present.
Omagh Methodist Church will be open from 12pm to 4pm for private prayer, and at 6pm an Anniversary Mass will be held in the Sacred Heart Church, at which the Bishop of Derry, Dr. Seamus Hegarty, and Auxiliary Bishop, Dr. Francis Lagan, will be present.
In addition, from 9pm on Friday, the bottom of Market Street will be closed to through traffic until Monday morning. The town centre, John Street and Georges Street will be closed to traffic from Saturday night, and will be opened again on Sunday evening, following the main memorial service.
Cordoned off
The Market Street area will be cordoned off with flower containers, but will be open to pedestrians. The bereaved, injured and the wider community will have the opportunity to lay flowers or pause for reflection in the temporary garden of remembrance that has been created on the corner of Drumragh Avenue.
Mr. Kevin O'Gara, chief client services officer at the district council, said the garden would allow people the opportunity to pay their respects in quiet surroundings.
"People will be able to go to the garden, sit down, and have a quiet place to reflect, rather than standing in the street," he said.
"A permanent site for a garden of remembrance and the form it will take will be decided after the anniversary, in consultation with the bereaved families."
Any flowers laid in the temporary garden will be removed a week after the anniversary, and mulched. This will then be used to sustain a special rose garden which has been created at the Tyrone County Hospital in memory of the victims of the bomb.
Mr. Roy Allen, chairman of the Omagh Traders' Association, said the association had been in contact with the Trauma Centre and the Self-Help and Support Group, and it had been agreed that businesses would close for at least an hour on Saturday afternoon.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0613
Published Date: 12-Aug-99
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