OMAGH BOMB ARCHIVE HARBOURS A WEALTH OF MEMORIES - AND HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
Omagh bomb archive harbours a wealth of memories - and hope for the future
by Julie Moore
In the days, weeks and months after August 15, 1998, the people of Omagh, across the province and even stretching to America found worldwide that part of their own grieving process was assisted by putting pen to paper and letting their emotions flow.
Today many of these letters, cards, poems and art pieces are preserved in a room at Omagh library - a room dedicated to remembering what happened that day, and indeed the days after, and the kind thoughts from those who wanted to show they cared about the little county town of Omagh and those whom we had lost.
Evelyn Johns, a staff member at the library, has the responsibility of preserving all the artefacts, and hopes that as the 10th anniversary of the horrific 1998 car bomb attacks dawns, the people of Omagh will come to the archive, and find comfort in the 818 condolences books from across the globe which the room houses, as well as 15,000 emails, 3,000 floral tributes and around 1,000 sympathy cards.
Said Evelyn: "The room has only been up and running from last October. Before all the archives were kept upstairs on shelves."
"But the thing about this archive is that it is a 'spontaneous' archive, from people who just wanted to express their grief and sympathy. The pieces from the children are so lovely, they are so innocent and it really is spontaneous, the pieces that they have sent in. All the stuff was a way of grieving, and I suppose art is one of the best ways of doing that."
One of the biggest condolence books that fills the shelves of one section of the room, is from County Cork - "That's because Mick Grimes' wife Mary, was from County Cork," explained Evelyn.
The librarian explained that although the room was now officially up and running, the preservation and upkeep of the room was still 'an ongoing process'.
"The 52 videos that we have, from documentaries and news articles, are going to be transferred to DVDs. I'm really just doing all of this when I get time, it's done on a part-time basis really."
Looking around the room, Evelyn says that in a way she is glad she has the job.
"In a way it's a nice job because you see how much people care. The cards and letters, everything, it must have been a kind of therapy for them, it's very touching."
"Oxfam have a special book of condolence that they sent round a lot of their shops at the time, because two of the girls that died that day were working in the Omagh shop."
Soon after August 15, the staff in the library made a conscious decision to start collecting newspapers reporting on the harrowing aftermath.
"Everything else was sent to the council offices, but they did not have the resources to preserve it all, so we were naturally the next port of call. I got involved with this when I was doing my postgraduate, and rang a lot of other archives to get ideas of preservation and funding. It was a huge learning curve. You can plan for archives but we certainly didn't plan for this one."
Along with papers and cards, there are many miscellaneous items kept in the room, including one which Evelyn finds to be most moving for her - a copy of the visitors' list to the Ulster American Folk Park on August 15, which is signed by Fernando Blasco Baselga and Rocco Abad Ramos, the two Spanish pupils who lost their lives that tragic day.
A patchwork quilt, made from the pieces of patchwork which were sent from people across the world to the town of Omagh at the time, is kept in the room as well.
Many of these pieces are on display at an exhibition in the Strule Arts Centre, running all week to mark the anniversary.
According to Evelyn, many people have made use of the room, especially academics and researchers, but she hopes that many more people will be encouraged to come and see what the room has to offer. "We want to think that the people of Omagh would want to see this room some day, maybe the families that were affected, but maybe it's too soon for that. But I would like them to see the outpouring of grief and kindness that is kept in this room, I want them to know how much people cared. All anyone has to do is come in and ask."
Evelyn is encouraging anyone who has memorabilia from the day, and would wish to donate them to the Omagh Bomb Archive, to contact her at the library on 028 82244821.
by Julie Moore
In the days, weeks and months after August 15, 1998, the people of Omagh, across the province and even stretching to America found worldwide that part of their own grieving process was assisted by putting pen to paper and letting their emotions flow.
Today many of these letters, cards, poems and art pieces are preserved in a room at Omagh library - a room dedicated to remembering what happened that day, and indeed the days after, and the kind thoughts from those who wanted to show they cared about the little county town of Omagh and those whom we had lost.
Evelyn Johns, a staff member at the library, has the responsibility of preserving all the artefacts, and hopes that as the 10th anniversary of the horrific 1998 car bomb attacks dawns, the people of Omagh will come to the archive, and find comfort in the 818 condolences books from across the globe which the room houses, as well as 15,000 emails, 3,000 floral tributes and around 1,000 sympathy cards.
Said Evelyn: "The room has only been up and running from last October. Before all the archives were kept upstairs on shelves."
"But the thing about this archive is that it is a 'spontaneous' archive, from people who just wanted to express their grief and sympathy. The pieces from the children are so lovely, they are so innocent and it really is spontaneous, the pieces that they have sent in. All the stuff was a way of grieving, and I suppose art is one of the best ways of doing that."
One of the biggest condolence books that fills the shelves of one section of the room, is from County Cork - "That's because Mick Grimes' wife Mary, was from County Cork," explained Evelyn.
The librarian explained that although the room was now officially up and running, the preservation and upkeep of the room was still 'an ongoing process'.
"The 52 videos that we have, from documentaries and news articles, are going to be transferred to DVDs. I'm really just doing all of this when I get time, it's done on a part-time basis really."
Looking around the room, Evelyn says that in a way she is glad she has the job.
"In a way it's a nice job because you see how much people care. The cards and letters, everything, it must have been a kind of therapy for them, it's very touching."
"Oxfam have a special book of condolence that they sent round a lot of their shops at the time, because two of the girls that died that day were working in the Omagh shop."
Soon after August 15, the staff in the library made a conscious decision to start collecting newspapers reporting on the harrowing aftermath.
"Everything else was sent to the council offices, but they did not have the resources to preserve it all, so we were naturally the next port of call. I got involved with this when I was doing my postgraduate, and rang a lot of other archives to get ideas of preservation and funding. It was a huge learning curve. You can plan for archives but we certainly didn't plan for this one."
Along with papers and cards, there are many miscellaneous items kept in the room, including one which Evelyn finds to be most moving for her - a copy of the visitors' list to the Ulster American Folk Park on August 15, which is signed by Fernando Blasco Baselga and Rocco Abad Ramos, the two Spanish pupils who lost their lives that tragic day.
A patchwork quilt, made from the pieces of patchwork which were sent from people across the world to the town of Omagh at the time, is kept in the room as well.
Many of these pieces are on display at an exhibition in the Strule Arts Centre, running all week to mark the anniversary.
According to Evelyn, many people have made use of the room, especially academics and researchers, but she hopes that many more people will be encouraged to come and see what the room has to offer. "We want to think that the people of Omagh would want to see this room some day, maybe the families that were affected, but maybe it's too soon for that. But I would like them to see the outpouring of grief and kindness that is kept in this room, I want them to know how much people cared. All anyone has to do is come in and ask."
Evelyn is encouraging anyone who has memorabilia from the day, and would wish to donate them to the Omagh Bomb Archive, to contact her at the library on 028 82244821.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC10An/13
Published Date: 14-Aug-08
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