QUEEN RECEIVES ROUSING WELCOME
Queen receives rousing welcome
By Karen McPhilemy
THOUSANDS of well-wishers gathered to greet the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh when they arrived in Omagh on Tuesday as part of their Golden Jubilee tour of Northern Ireland.
While no advance notice had been publicly given about the visit to Omagh, the word had spread, and in the hours before the visit people began to gather close to Omagh Library and the roads leading to it.
The Royal couple flew into the Province on Monday night, and after a function in Belfast, visited Ballinamallard on Tuesday morning.
They then travelled on to Omagh where invited guests had gathered in the library.
And while the visit had been carefully planned long in advance, the Queen deviated from that planning when, after leaving the library, she stopped at the site of the 1998 bomb atrocity to pay her respects.
Later, after a private lunch in Omagh, the Queen and Prince Philip travelled to Cookstown for a garden party at Loughry College.
There they met people from a wide background and from all parts of Tyrone and Fermanagh. Among them were survivors and members of families left bereaved by the Omagh bombing.
'Danny Boy'
Earlier, as the Royal couple arrived at the Omagh Library on Irishtown Road they were warmly greeted by the sound of "O Danny Boy" performed by the Omagh Cross-Community Youth Choir.
Involving young people from differing religious, cultural and social backgrounds, the choir was set up in 1998 in the aftermath of the Omagh bomb.
And during the visit the 40-strong choir performed an array of songs including 'What's so funny about Peace, Love and Understanding?'
'From a Distance' and 'O Happy Days'.
Although the weather on the day was not what had been hoped for, the Queen's mood appeared to be little dampened by it, as she joked to those welcoming her: "I must have brought the rain with me"
In the library the Queen met people involved in a wide range of community and educational work. She also saw displays of that work, and observed electronic exchanges with other libraries.
Among the many people eagerly hoping to meet the Royal couple were the Rev. Robert Clarke, of Edenderry Parish, and Wilma Armstrong, executive officer of the library.
Speaking after his brief chat with the Queen, the delighted Mr Clarke said: "She asked if I worked here and I replied to her by saying: 'I work in a parish outside of Omagh.' I then welcomed her to the town and said how nice it was to see her in person.
"This has always been a great wish of mine and having finally met the Queen here today has enabled a life-long passion of mine to be realised. Good things come to those who wait patiently," he said.
Stroke
Clearly overwhelmed with having spoken with the Queen, Wilma Armstrong told of how just 12 weeks ago she had fallen ill with a stroke, and that she was there especially to meet the Royal couple.
Speaking on the Queen's comments to her, she said: "She asked me if I was back at work already and I said that I was here just for this occasion. The Queen then replied by saying: 'you appear to be making a speedy recovery and you are looking very well'".
By Karen McPhilemy
THOUSANDS of well-wishers gathered to greet the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh when they arrived in Omagh on Tuesday as part of their Golden Jubilee tour of Northern Ireland.
While no advance notice had been publicly given about the visit to Omagh, the word had spread, and in the hours before the visit people began to gather close to Omagh Library and the roads leading to it.
The Royal couple flew into the Province on Monday night, and after a function in Belfast, visited Ballinamallard on Tuesday morning.
They then travelled on to Omagh where invited guests had gathered in the library.
And while the visit had been carefully planned long in advance, the Queen deviated from that planning when, after leaving the library, she stopped at the site of the 1998 bomb atrocity to pay her respects.
Later, after a private lunch in Omagh, the Queen and Prince Philip travelled to Cookstown for a garden party at Loughry College.
There they met people from a wide background and from all parts of Tyrone and Fermanagh. Among them were survivors and members of families left bereaved by the Omagh bombing.
'Danny Boy'
Earlier, as the Royal couple arrived at the Omagh Library on Irishtown Road they were warmly greeted by the sound of "O Danny Boy" performed by the Omagh Cross-Community Youth Choir.
Involving young people from differing religious, cultural and social backgrounds, the choir was set up in 1998 in the aftermath of the Omagh bomb.
And during the visit the 40-strong choir performed an array of songs including 'What's so funny about Peace, Love and Understanding?'
'From a Distance' and 'O Happy Days'.
Although the weather on the day was not what had been hoped for, the Queen's mood appeared to be little dampened by it, as she joked to those welcoming her: "I must have brought the rain with me"
In the library the Queen met people involved in a wide range of community and educational work. She also saw displays of that work, and observed electronic exchanges with other libraries.
Among the many people eagerly hoping to meet the Royal couple were the Rev. Robert Clarke, of Edenderry Parish, and Wilma Armstrong, executive officer of the library.
Speaking after his brief chat with the Queen, the delighted Mr Clarke said: "She asked if I worked here and I replied to her by saying: 'I work in a parish outside of Omagh.' I then welcomed her to the town and said how nice it was to see her in person.
"This has always been a great wish of mine and having finally met the Queen here today has enabled a life-long passion of mine to be realised. Good things come to those who wait patiently," he said.
Stroke
Clearly overwhelmed with having spoken with the Queen, Wilma Armstrong told of how just 12 weeks ago she had fallen ill with a stroke, and that she was there especially to meet the Royal couple.
Speaking on the Queen's comments to her, she said: "She asked me if I was back at work already and I said that I was here just for this occasion. The Queen then replied by saying: 'you appear to be making a speedy recovery and you are looking very well'".
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1048
Published Date: 16-May-02
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