BERAGH MAN LAUNCHES BOOK DEDICATED TO FAMILY MEMBERS LOST IN OMAGH BOMB
Beragh man launches book dedicated to family members lost in Omagh bomb
by Julie Moore
It was always going to be an emotional night for Mick Grimes, when it came to the launch of the book he penned in memory of the family members he lost on August 15, 1998, but with over 200 people in attendance the event exceeded all expectations.
A capacity crowd packed the venue at Omagh library on Monday night, as the audience and assorted media gathered to peruse the final product, 'Till we meet again'.
Mick Grimes lost three generations of his family in the Omagh bomb atrocity, which claimed the lives of 29 people.
His wife Mary Grimes, daughter Avril Monaghan -who was expecting twins at the time - and granddaughter Maura Monaghan were all killed that horrifying day.
Having grieved silently for so long, Mick's book -filled with poetry and reflections on days gone by - is now dedicated to those family members whom he lost in the 1998 car bomb attack.
Hugh Ward, former principal of the old school in Beragh, welcomed everyone to the event.
"If someone had told me we would have this crowd here tonight I would have told them to go and have treatment!" he quipped.
"When I arrived in Beragh 40 years ago this month, I had my first real connection with Mick Grimes and his family. I knew him from a distance before this though, but 40 years is a long time, and they have been very good years with many ups, and some downs."
The former principal continued: "Mick first mentioned the possibility of doing a book a few years ago. He had a unique ability to write and to say things that are understandable, especially when it comes to dealing with a rural population. We were involved in The Link magazine together, which was going for 25 years. It looked at the history of the parish of Beragh, so we have been colleagues for many years."
MC for the night, Jack Woods, introduced the guest of honour, UTV's Paul Clarke, who expressed his delight at being invited to the momentous launch.
"You will not need me to tell you the significance of this book - the first and the last words in the book are, 'Till we meet again'."
Emphasising his passion for history, and in particular Irish history, Mr Clarke said, "Over the years I have realised that history is about people. They say all politics is local - the same as history - and that is important in our understanding of this book. He writes in the book that Mary, his wife, had often hinted that he should write a book, and it's good that he did, if he hadn't, this history would die with him - their voices would be lost."
The TV personality read out two light-hearted passages from the book, much to the delight of the crowd, but he remarked that although Mick's life has been full of joy and happiness, it has also been, 'tinged with great sadness'.
Speaking directly to Mick Grimes he said: "August says it all, there is nothing I can say to help comprehend the loss of three generations of the same family Mick, but I'm glad that your wife's nagging paid off."
After an instrumental piece from Mick's grand-nieces, Anita, Maria and Laura McSorley, Rev Gerard McAleer addressed the crowd.
Reiterating the sentiments of Mr Clarke, Fr Gerard said, "I'm thinking of the word voice, used to a generation gone and a voice that will live on for future generations.
"There is one memory that I look back on in Irish TV - people have certain moments that they remember but there is one that stands out for me above all. It was one night when Bob Geldoff was giving off about what happened here, and a man from my own parish said, 'Stop - that's what got us where we are today but it will not take us into the future' - That's my memory of Mick Grimes."
His statement met with a rapturous applause, and he concluded, "Thank you Mick for giving your family a voice. It's so important to remember, not just in headstones, but in books like this. It was probably a therapy for you Mick, but also very difficult. So thank you for giving a voice to Mary and showing your leadership at a time when it was most needed."
Eilisha and Aiobheann Monaghan, daughters of Avril Monaghan, performed an Irish dance for the crowd before Lord Bishop Christopher Jones of Sligo began to speak.
He said that when he learned of the book launch, nothing would stand in the way of him being there for the occasion.
"Like Father Gerard, I remember that night when Mick spoke out. The words I remember were, 'We are Christians and to be Christian is to forgive'. They are words that will stay with me."
Mick himself then stood up to read a poem, taken from the book. Reading to an awestruck and hushed audience, the depth of his emotion was unmistakable. His voice cracked at the end of the reading, with the words, ' And great things will be unfurled, When a gentle mother's hand, Is allowed to rule the world.'
The crowd erupted in applause, with many a tear shed at the poignant extract.
But their moods were uplifted with an interval of music, before Mick's son Patrick finally stood up to
speak, thanking everyone for the tremendous turn out.
"I know dad has put in a lot of effort to get it finished. He used the 10th anniversary as a deadline to get ready, and I think the final product is excellent."
As the night came to a close, Jack Woods stood up again to thank everyone for the massive turnout.
He said: "As the evening passes I look forward to the success of 'Till we meet again', and I will be encouraging Mick - as we always did when in school -keep your pencil pointed. I hope that we will leave here thinking above all that the world's not a bad place at all and that even after the darkest night, dawn comes."
A mother's touch
A mother's work is never done
She's busy night and day,
Cooking, cleaning, washing
And drying tears away.
Caring for little children
Can be a constant toil,
Always one in need of help
Or a timid one to spoil.
Days and years pass quickly
Soon it's time for school,
Often not a happy day,
Tearful as a rule.
Even for a little while
It really seems unfair,
To leave your greatest treasure
In another person's care.
Then it's someone's birthday
Or a child has lost a tooth,
And all too quickly you're aware
That your eldest son's a youth,
In this world of pleasure seeking
Young folk are led astray,
With endless love and patience
You must try to shoe the way.
And the task is never easy
There is hardly time to rest,
Sometimes you will feel you have failed
When you've done your very best.
Just try and keep on praying
And great things will be unfurled,
When a gentle mother's hand
Is allowed to rule the world.
by Julie Moore
It was always going to be an emotional night for Mick Grimes, when it came to the launch of the book he penned in memory of the family members he lost on August 15, 1998, but with over 200 people in attendance the event exceeded all expectations.
A capacity crowd packed the venue at Omagh library on Monday night, as the audience and assorted media gathered to peruse the final product, 'Till we meet again'.
Mick Grimes lost three generations of his family in the Omagh bomb atrocity, which claimed the lives of 29 people.
His wife Mary Grimes, daughter Avril Monaghan -who was expecting twins at the time - and granddaughter Maura Monaghan were all killed that horrifying day.
Having grieved silently for so long, Mick's book -filled with poetry and reflections on days gone by - is now dedicated to those family members whom he lost in the 1998 car bomb attack.
Hugh Ward, former principal of the old school in Beragh, welcomed everyone to the event.
"If someone had told me we would have this crowd here tonight I would have told them to go and have treatment!" he quipped.
"When I arrived in Beragh 40 years ago this month, I had my first real connection with Mick Grimes and his family. I knew him from a distance before this though, but 40 years is a long time, and they have been very good years with many ups, and some downs."
The former principal continued: "Mick first mentioned the possibility of doing a book a few years ago. He had a unique ability to write and to say things that are understandable, especially when it comes to dealing with a rural population. We were involved in The Link magazine together, which was going for 25 years. It looked at the history of the parish of Beragh, so we have been colleagues for many years."
MC for the night, Jack Woods, introduced the guest of honour, UTV's Paul Clarke, who expressed his delight at being invited to the momentous launch.
"You will not need me to tell you the significance of this book - the first and the last words in the book are, 'Till we meet again'."
Emphasising his passion for history, and in particular Irish history, Mr Clarke said, "Over the years I have realised that history is about people. They say all politics is local - the same as history - and that is important in our understanding of this book. He writes in the book that Mary, his wife, had often hinted that he should write a book, and it's good that he did, if he hadn't, this history would die with him - their voices would be lost."
The TV personality read out two light-hearted passages from the book, much to the delight of the crowd, but he remarked that although Mick's life has been full of joy and happiness, it has also been, 'tinged with great sadness'.
Speaking directly to Mick Grimes he said: "August says it all, there is nothing I can say to help comprehend the loss of three generations of the same family Mick, but I'm glad that your wife's nagging paid off."
After an instrumental piece from Mick's grand-nieces, Anita, Maria and Laura McSorley, Rev Gerard McAleer addressed the crowd.
Reiterating the sentiments of Mr Clarke, Fr Gerard said, "I'm thinking of the word voice, used to a generation gone and a voice that will live on for future generations.
"There is one memory that I look back on in Irish TV - people have certain moments that they remember but there is one that stands out for me above all. It was one night when Bob Geldoff was giving off about what happened here, and a man from my own parish said, 'Stop - that's what got us where we are today but it will not take us into the future' - That's my memory of Mick Grimes."
His statement met with a rapturous applause, and he concluded, "Thank you Mick for giving your family a voice. It's so important to remember, not just in headstones, but in books like this. It was probably a therapy for you Mick, but also very difficult. So thank you for giving a voice to Mary and showing your leadership at a time when it was most needed."
Eilisha and Aiobheann Monaghan, daughters of Avril Monaghan, performed an Irish dance for the crowd before Lord Bishop Christopher Jones of Sligo began to speak.
He said that when he learned of the book launch, nothing would stand in the way of him being there for the occasion.
"Like Father Gerard, I remember that night when Mick spoke out. The words I remember were, 'We are Christians and to be Christian is to forgive'. They are words that will stay with me."
Mick himself then stood up to read a poem, taken from the book. Reading to an awestruck and hushed audience, the depth of his emotion was unmistakable. His voice cracked at the end of the reading, with the words, ' And great things will be unfurled, When a gentle mother's hand, Is allowed to rule the world.'
The crowd erupted in applause, with many a tear shed at the poignant extract.
But their moods were uplifted with an interval of music, before Mick's son Patrick finally stood up to
speak, thanking everyone for the tremendous turn out.
"I know dad has put in a lot of effort to get it finished. He used the 10th anniversary as a deadline to get ready, and I think the final product is excellent."
As the night came to a close, Jack Woods stood up again to thank everyone for the massive turnout.
He said: "As the evening passes I look forward to the success of 'Till we meet again', and I will be encouraging Mick - as we always did when in school -keep your pencil pointed. I hope that we will leave here thinking above all that the world's not a bad place at all and that even after the darkest night, dawn comes."
A mother's touch
A mother's work is never done
She's busy night and day,
Cooking, cleaning, washing
And drying tears away.
Caring for little children
Can be a constant toil,
Always one in need of help
Or a timid one to spoil.
Days and years pass quickly
Soon it's time for school,
Often not a happy day,
Tearful as a rule.
Even for a little while
It really seems unfair,
To leave your greatest treasure
In another person's care.
Then it's someone's birthday
Or a child has lost a tooth,
And all too quickly you're aware
That your eldest son's a youth,
In this world of pleasure seeking
Young folk are led astray,
With endless love and patience
You must try to shoe the way.
And the task is never easy
There is hardly time to rest,
Sometimes you will feel you have failed
When you've done your very best.
Just try and keep on praying
And great things will be unfurled,
When a gentle mother's hand
Is allowed to rule the world.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC10An/03
Published Date: 07-Aug-08
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