RUGBY CLUB REMEMBERS OMAGH BOMB VICTIMS
Rugby club remembers Omagh bomb victims
THERE was a more subdued mood at Omagh Academicals Rugby Club dinner this year in the wake of the Omagh bomb massacre.
The two main speakers, Noel Murphy, the president of the Irish Rugby football Union, and John Callaghan, the Ulster Branch president of the IRFU, both referred to the tragedy in Omagh on August 15th.
Those attending the function in the Accies clubhouse were left in no doubt that the rugby fraternity throughout Ireland was concerned over what had happened, and keen to help in whatever way possible.
Mr Murphy had visited the Tyrone County Hospital and homes of two club members affected in the tragedy, and he said he had been 'emotionally moved' by what he saw.
There was a large attendance at the dinner with most clubs in Ulster and some in the Republic being represented.
At the outset, Jack Reid, president of Omagh, asked all present to stand for a moment's reflection.
Following the dinner, Dick Hinds, chairman of the Omagh club preformed. MC duties.
Mr. Reid said at the dinner a year ago the club was looking forward to its first season in the fourth division of the All-Ireland League. He said that this year the clubs priorities were very different.
"Four club members have been directly affected by bereavements or serious injury to close relatives. To them we offer sincere sympathy and our support," he said.
He added that all the club's members had been affected by the tragedy imposed on a town which had enjoyed an easy going way of life.
He thanked the Irish Rugby Union, Ulster Branch and all the clubs for the personal messages of sympathy which had been received by the club.
'Support'
"We greatly appreciate the sympathy and support of the rugby family in this club," he added.
Mr. Reid went on to thank the club committee members, bar staff, ground staff and caretaker and also the Royal Arms Hotel and its staff for providing the meal.
He also thanked the main sponsor, Francie O'Neill of Home Decor, and the various other sponsors, for their continued support.
Paying tribute to the Irish rugby president, Mr. Reid said Noel Murphy had been a good friend to Omagh and was most welcome.
John Callaghan, the Ulster Branch president and member of Armagh Rugby Club, said while it was an honour to be at the dinner in Omagh, he was aware of the suffering which had been imposed on the area as a result of the bomb.
He conveyed the sympathy of his home club and also the Ulster Branch to all those who had lost loved ones - and to those who had been injured.
He thanked those involved in the club in Omagh for their work in keeping rugby strong in the area.
Mr. Callaghan also paid tribute to a man who had given 44 years service to the game - Dick Hinds - and wished him a very happy retirement.
Noel Murphy, the Irish rugby president and member of Cork Constitution RFC, said he wanted everyone to know that the IRFU had been and continued to think about the people in the town, following the terrible bombing tragedy.
He said he had been to the Tyrone County Hospital earlier in the day and also visited the homes of two injured people who were attached to the club.
"I do not have the proper words to convey my real feeling to the town on what has happened," he added.
Horror
Mr. Murphy a former Irish international player, said the rugby public in Ireland shared the horror of what happened and he said the IRFU would work with the Omagh club to see what it should do to help.
Mr. Murphy praised Mr. Reid on another term as president, and said he was following in the footsteps of great tradition.
He also paid tribute to the dedicated people in the club, and said it was the people who worked at committee level that made clubs work.
The Irish rugby president then broke with IRFU tradition when he presented an IRFU plaque to the club, normally only presented to rugby unions.
Raymond Crosbie, the Omagh captain, paid tribute to all the guests who had attended, as well as representatives from other sporting clubs in the area.
He also thanked the Press for their continued support.
Following the main speeches, Andy Kennedy from Randlestown RFC, and Bill Nolan, from Irvine Scotland, raised the spirits of the evening with some humorous stories.
And Mr. Nolan, who had been in the Province for the Ulster versus Edinburgh European Cup game at Ravenhill, also said he sympathised with all those affected by the bomb.
A number of presentations were made by the club to Geoffery Beattie and John Lagan for their contributions, and the 1st XV players - player of the year award went to Andy Anderson.
The first woman ever to be present at the dinner also made a presentation to the club.
Fiona Kennealy, the daughter of a past president of Omagh, the late Bunny Kennealy, who was a dentist in the town for around 10 years, presented a Waterford Crystal bowl to the club on behalf of the Kennealy family and the Waterpark RFC, Waterford, where she is a member of the committee.
THERE was a more subdued mood at Omagh Academicals Rugby Club dinner this year in the wake of the Omagh bomb massacre.
The two main speakers, Noel Murphy, the president of the Irish Rugby football Union, and John Callaghan, the Ulster Branch president of the IRFU, both referred to the tragedy in Omagh on August 15th.
Those attending the function in the Accies clubhouse were left in no doubt that the rugby fraternity throughout Ireland was concerned over what had happened, and keen to help in whatever way possible.
Mr Murphy had visited the Tyrone County Hospital and homes of two club members affected in the tragedy, and he said he had been 'emotionally moved' by what he saw.
There was a large attendance at the dinner with most clubs in Ulster and some in the Republic being represented.
At the outset, Jack Reid, president of Omagh, asked all present to stand for a moment's reflection.
Following the dinner, Dick Hinds, chairman of the Omagh club preformed. MC duties.
Mr. Reid said at the dinner a year ago the club was looking forward to its first season in the fourth division of the All-Ireland League. He said that this year the clubs priorities were very different.
"Four club members have been directly affected by bereavements or serious injury to close relatives. To them we offer sincere sympathy and our support," he said.
He added that all the club's members had been affected by the tragedy imposed on a town which had enjoyed an easy going way of life.
He thanked the Irish Rugby Union, Ulster Branch and all the clubs for the personal messages of sympathy which had been received by the club.
'Support'
"We greatly appreciate the sympathy and support of the rugby family in this club," he added.
Mr. Reid went on to thank the club committee members, bar staff, ground staff and caretaker and also the Royal Arms Hotel and its staff for providing the meal.
He also thanked the main sponsor, Francie O'Neill of Home Decor, and the various other sponsors, for their continued support.
Paying tribute to the Irish rugby president, Mr. Reid said Noel Murphy had been a good friend to Omagh and was most welcome.
John Callaghan, the Ulster Branch president and member of Armagh Rugby Club, said while it was an honour to be at the dinner in Omagh, he was aware of the suffering which had been imposed on the area as a result of the bomb.
He conveyed the sympathy of his home club and also the Ulster Branch to all those who had lost loved ones - and to those who had been injured.
He thanked those involved in the club in Omagh for their work in keeping rugby strong in the area.
Mr. Callaghan also paid tribute to a man who had given 44 years service to the game - Dick Hinds - and wished him a very happy retirement.
Noel Murphy, the Irish rugby president and member of Cork Constitution RFC, said he wanted everyone to know that the IRFU had been and continued to think about the people in the town, following the terrible bombing tragedy.
He said he had been to the Tyrone County Hospital earlier in the day and also visited the homes of two injured people who were attached to the club.
"I do not have the proper words to convey my real feeling to the town on what has happened," he added.
Horror
Mr. Murphy a former Irish international player, said the rugby public in Ireland shared the horror of what happened and he said the IRFU would work with the Omagh club to see what it should do to help.
Mr. Murphy praised Mr. Reid on another term as president, and said he was following in the footsteps of great tradition.
He also paid tribute to the dedicated people in the club, and said it was the people who worked at committee level that made clubs work.
The Irish rugby president then broke with IRFU tradition when he presented an IRFU plaque to the club, normally only presented to rugby unions.
Raymond Crosbie, the Omagh captain, paid tribute to all the guests who had attended, as well as representatives from other sporting clubs in the area.
He also thanked the Press for their continued support.
Following the main speeches, Andy Kennedy from Randlestown RFC, and Bill Nolan, from Irvine Scotland, raised the spirits of the evening with some humorous stories.
And Mr. Nolan, who had been in the Province for the Ulster versus Edinburgh European Cup game at Ravenhill, also said he sympathised with all those affected by the bomb.
A number of presentations were made by the club to Geoffery Beattie and John Lagan for their contributions, and the 1st XV players - player of the year award went to Andy Anderson.
The first woman ever to be present at the dinner also made a presentation to the club.
Fiona Kennealy, the daughter of a past president of Omagh, the late Bunny Kennealy, who was a dentist in the town for around 10 years, presented a Waterford Crystal bowl to the club on behalf of the Kennealy family and the Waterpark RFC, Waterford, where she is a member of the committee.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1235
Published Date: 24-Sep-98
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