THE STARS SING OUT FOR OMAGH
The stars sing out for Omagh
A NIGHT never to be repeated, was how compere, Pio McCann, described Tuesday night's concert in the Royal Arms Hotel.
The Highland Radio DJ said the event was one of the most touching events he had ever witnessed.
"I have been to many shows in my time in some of the most impressive venues in the world, but this was probably the greatest. It was one of the most touching and emotional nights of my life, and Omagh will never see the like of it again," said the former Omagh showband member, whose daughter, Diane, was badly injured in the Market Street explosion.
A host of local stars performed in front of a capacity crowd in the venue's ballroom, with all the proceeds going to the victims of the Omagh bombing.
Those who pledged their support to the event included St. Eugene's Brass Band, Eden Pipe Band, Dominic Kirwan, Knotty Pine String Band, Brian Coll, Philomena Begley, Tom Sweeney, Frank Chism, Rock Stewart, Speedy Hamilton, Arty McGlynn and Juliet Turner.
A backing band, which comprised Ray Moore, Pal Chesters, Leo Doran, whose premises were damaged in the blast, Seamus McGurgan, Aiden McGuigan and Tony Philips, accompanied many of the artistes on stage.
All the artistes were from the Omagh area and gave their time freely, as did the staff of the Royal Arms Hotel.
Letters were read out from Prime Minister, Tony Blair, who described Omagh as a "community united in its determination", and Irish President, Mary McAleese, who referred to the wealth of local musical talent in Tyrone, Secretary of State, Mo Mowlarn, who expressed the wish that the sentiments reflected at the Omagh concert would be reflected across Northern Ireland in the weeks and months that lay ahead, and top Irish entertainer, Joe Dolan.
The audience joined in the singing of 'Amazing Grace' at the start of the event accompanied by St. Eugene's Brass Band and Eden Pipe Band, and then rose again to sing 'You'll Never Walk Alone' at the end of the concert.
Despite initial reservations, Juliet Turner, sang 'Broken Things', the song she performed at the 'Act of Reflection', a week after the explosion.
The Dromore singer/songwriter had previously said that she would not perform the song again following the 'Act of Reflection', but, following much persuasion from Pio, whose daughter, Alison, went to Omagh Academy with the singer, she performed the moving piece on stage for Tuesday night's audience.
There was a standing ovation for Dominic Kirwan when he sang 'The Town I Love So Well', and an impromptu performance of the song, 'Crazy' by Mo Douglas, a nurse at the Tyrone County Hospital, Omagh.
Describing the evening as a night which would go down in history, Pio said it was the end of an era, not only in light of the sale of the Royal Arms Hotel, but also as regards the artistes who had performed.
"The artists were young and old alike from young 22-year-old Juliet Turner to former members of the showbands in the town. I'd say musicians spanning 35 to 40 years of entertainment in Omagh were represented on stage that night, and we will never see that again. Members of the audience will remember and talk about that night for years to come," he said.
"Everyone was a star in their own right. All the performers were excellent. If was great to be associated with such an event," said Pio.
"The Royal Arms was the top venue for the best names in the world of entertainment. Dai Waterson gave everyone a chance and the hotel was the place where young bands got their big break. It was a breeding ground for new talent in the town, and it will be sadly missed," he said.
A NIGHT never to be repeated, was how compere, Pio McCann, described Tuesday night's concert in the Royal Arms Hotel.
The Highland Radio DJ said the event was one of the most touching events he had ever witnessed.
"I have been to many shows in my time in some of the most impressive venues in the world, but this was probably the greatest. It was one of the most touching and emotional nights of my life, and Omagh will never see the like of it again," said the former Omagh showband member, whose daughter, Diane, was badly injured in the Market Street explosion.
A host of local stars performed in front of a capacity crowd in the venue's ballroom, with all the proceeds going to the victims of the Omagh bombing.
Those who pledged their support to the event included St. Eugene's Brass Band, Eden Pipe Band, Dominic Kirwan, Knotty Pine String Band, Brian Coll, Philomena Begley, Tom Sweeney, Frank Chism, Rock Stewart, Speedy Hamilton, Arty McGlynn and Juliet Turner.
A backing band, which comprised Ray Moore, Pal Chesters, Leo Doran, whose premises were damaged in the blast, Seamus McGurgan, Aiden McGuigan and Tony Philips, accompanied many of the artistes on stage.
All the artistes were from the Omagh area and gave their time freely, as did the staff of the Royal Arms Hotel.
Letters were read out from Prime Minister, Tony Blair, who described Omagh as a "community united in its determination", and Irish President, Mary McAleese, who referred to the wealth of local musical talent in Tyrone, Secretary of State, Mo Mowlarn, who expressed the wish that the sentiments reflected at the Omagh concert would be reflected across Northern Ireland in the weeks and months that lay ahead, and top Irish entertainer, Joe Dolan.
The audience joined in the singing of 'Amazing Grace' at the start of the event accompanied by St. Eugene's Brass Band and Eden Pipe Band, and then rose again to sing 'You'll Never Walk Alone' at the end of the concert.
Despite initial reservations, Juliet Turner, sang 'Broken Things', the song she performed at the 'Act of Reflection', a week after the explosion.
The Dromore singer/songwriter had previously said that she would not perform the song again following the 'Act of Reflection', but, following much persuasion from Pio, whose daughter, Alison, went to Omagh Academy with the singer, she performed the moving piece on stage for Tuesday night's audience.
There was a standing ovation for Dominic Kirwan when he sang 'The Town I Love So Well', and an impromptu performance of the song, 'Crazy' by Mo Douglas, a nurse at the Tyrone County Hospital, Omagh.
Describing the evening as a night which would go down in history, Pio said it was the end of an era, not only in light of the sale of the Royal Arms Hotel, but also as regards the artistes who had performed.
"The artists were young and old alike from young 22-year-old Juliet Turner to former members of the showbands in the town. I'd say musicians spanning 35 to 40 years of entertainment in Omagh were represented on stage that night, and we will never see that again. Members of the audience will remember and talk about that night for years to come," he said.
"Everyone was a star in their own right. All the performers were excellent. If was great to be associated with such an event," said Pio.
"The Royal Arms was the top venue for the best names in the world of entertainment. Dai Waterson gave everyone a chance and the hotel was the place where young bands got their big break. It was a breeding ground for new talent in the town, and it will be sadly missed," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0836
Published Date: 29-Oct-98
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