SUMMER SCHOOLS TO HELP OMAGH MOVE FORWARD
Summer schools to help Omagh move forward
OMAGH will be taking on an international flavour in the next few weeks, as the town takes a major step forward in its regeneration, hosting two prestigious conferences aimed at focusing on the future of the area.
Not only is Omagh holding its own International Summer School, under the theme of 'Regeneration Renewal and Beyond', but more than 30 architecture and planning students from 20 countries and five continents will be converging on the town, working on projects dealing with all aspects of the local environment.
The Omagh summer school will be a three day conference, running from August 23 to 25. It is aimed at policy makers and their advisers, academics, public and private sector members, and voluntary and community organisations.
The event is one of the responses to the devastation wreaked on the town last August, and is being heralded as an opportunity to contribute to and learn from the regeneration of communities within Omagh and beyond.
More than 30 speakers will be attending, from America, Europe, Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland including US Amabassador, Phillip Lader, who will be one of the keynote speakers.
The promotional video of Omagh, currently being filmed, will also be launched at the opening of the summer school.
During that conference, the town will also host the fifth annual student summer school for the International Federation of Housing and Planning (IFHP), which will run from August 20 to 29. It is the first time the event has been held in the United Kingdom.
Speaking at the launch on Tuesday of the two summer schools, Mr. John McKinney, chief executive, said it was an important day for Omagh.
He said the Omagh summer school was just one of the many projects to come out of the 'Regeneration: Renewal and Beyond' initiative, set up last year after the bomb.
Regeneration
The conference will focus on the regeneration of communities, economic development, and the environment not just in Omagh, but on a wider area throughout the West.
There will also be visits to a number of venues, including Strabane, Derry, Buncrana and Enniskillen.
"Omagh International Summer School is part of the council's vision which we wish to share with others. The calibre of speakers, the quality of the programme and the superb rural location all combine to guarantee a comprehensive, stimulating, yet lively learning experience.
"The warm and friendly environment will facilitate networking with like-minded people, and contribute to the regeneration of communities elsewhere."
Mr. McKinney thanked all those who had given their support to and sponsored the summer school, adding: "This started as a seed, and the seed has grown. Hopefully by the end of the conference, we will have reaped a good harvest."
Commenting on the coinciding International Federation of Housing and Planning Summer School, he said, "This is a great coup for Omagh and the whole of the West."
Mr. Allan Rainey, council chairman, said last August's atrocity had left an indelible mark on the hitherto peaceful rural community.
"Omagh has been, by and large, over the past 30 years a relatively trouble free zone, and this has resulted in the engenderment of a healthy community spirit," he said.
"It was that spirit which sustained us through the dark and difficult days following the bomb, and which instilled in us the determination and vision necessary to ensure the regeneration of our town."
He said it was appropriate that the theme of the summer school should be 'Regeneration Renewal and Beyond'.
"We are confident that all the participants will gain tremendous benefit from the event, in that not only will we in Omagh learn from the experience of others, but we will also be contributing to the regeneration of communities elsewhere," Mr. Rainey said.
He went on to say that he had no doubt Dr. McDowell's expertise would give real added value to what promised to be a truly prestigious event.
Enthusiasm
"A tremendous amount of energy and enthusiasm has been expended in getting the summer school to this stage. Through the endeavours of the organisers, an impressive range of speakers from a wide spectrum of bodies have been retained," he said.
Looking forward to the summer school becoming an annual event, Mr. Rainey added: "It certainly promises to be an enlightening and lively three days, and I congratulate all those involved and commend the conference to you."
Professor Victor Blease, visiting professor at the University of Ulster at Magee, and one of the directors of the IFHP summer school, said the body was persuaded to choose Omagh as this year's venue by the head of the school of environmental planning at Queen's University, Belfast, Mr. Malachy McEldowney.
Last year, Mr. McEldowney was a director at the Helsinki summer school.
"The support of the district council and its chief executive, Mr. John McKinney, was decisive in securing this international event for Omagh," he said.
The IFHP summer school will spend two days in Dublin, followed by 20 days in Omagh, and will conclude with three days in Belfast.
In Omagh, the students will be stationed at the Ulster History Park, and engaged in project work using Omagh College as their work centre.
The people of Omagh, particularly young people, will be encouraged to share their ideas with the students on site, or to visit them at the college.
OMAGH will be taking on an international flavour in the next few weeks, as the town takes a major step forward in its regeneration, hosting two prestigious conferences aimed at focusing on the future of the area.
Not only is Omagh holding its own International Summer School, under the theme of 'Regeneration Renewal and Beyond', but more than 30 architecture and planning students from 20 countries and five continents will be converging on the town, working on projects dealing with all aspects of the local environment.
The Omagh summer school will be a three day conference, running from August 23 to 25. It is aimed at policy makers and their advisers, academics, public and private sector members, and voluntary and community organisations.
The event is one of the responses to the devastation wreaked on the town last August, and is being heralded as an opportunity to contribute to and learn from the regeneration of communities within Omagh and beyond.
More than 30 speakers will be attending, from America, Europe, Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland including US Amabassador, Phillip Lader, who will be one of the keynote speakers.
The promotional video of Omagh, currently being filmed, will also be launched at the opening of the summer school.
During that conference, the town will also host the fifth annual student summer school for the International Federation of Housing and Planning (IFHP), which will run from August 20 to 29. It is the first time the event has been held in the United Kingdom.
Speaking at the launch on Tuesday of the two summer schools, Mr. John McKinney, chief executive, said it was an important day for Omagh.
He said the Omagh summer school was just one of the many projects to come out of the 'Regeneration: Renewal and Beyond' initiative, set up last year after the bomb.
Regeneration
The conference will focus on the regeneration of communities, economic development, and the environment not just in Omagh, but on a wider area throughout the West.
There will also be visits to a number of venues, including Strabane, Derry, Buncrana and Enniskillen.
"Omagh International Summer School is part of the council's vision which we wish to share with others. The calibre of speakers, the quality of the programme and the superb rural location all combine to guarantee a comprehensive, stimulating, yet lively learning experience.
"The warm and friendly environment will facilitate networking with like-minded people, and contribute to the regeneration of communities elsewhere."
Mr. McKinney thanked all those who had given their support to and sponsored the summer school, adding: "This started as a seed, and the seed has grown. Hopefully by the end of the conference, we will have reaped a good harvest."
Commenting on the coinciding International Federation of Housing and Planning Summer School, he said, "This is a great coup for Omagh and the whole of the West."
Mr. Allan Rainey, council chairman, said last August's atrocity had left an indelible mark on the hitherto peaceful rural community.
"Omagh has been, by and large, over the past 30 years a relatively trouble free zone, and this has resulted in the engenderment of a healthy community spirit," he said.
"It was that spirit which sustained us through the dark and difficult days following the bomb, and which instilled in us the determination and vision necessary to ensure the regeneration of our town."
He said it was appropriate that the theme of the summer school should be 'Regeneration Renewal and Beyond'.
"We are confident that all the participants will gain tremendous benefit from the event, in that not only will we in Omagh learn from the experience of others, but we will also be contributing to the regeneration of communities elsewhere," Mr. Rainey said.
He went on to say that he had no doubt Dr. McDowell's expertise would give real added value to what promised to be a truly prestigious event.
Enthusiasm
"A tremendous amount of energy and enthusiasm has been expended in getting the summer school to this stage. Through the endeavours of the organisers, an impressive range of speakers from a wide spectrum of bodies have been retained," he said.
Looking forward to the summer school becoming an annual event, Mr. Rainey added: "It certainly promises to be an enlightening and lively three days, and I congratulate all those involved and commend the conference to you."
Professor Victor Blease, visiting professor at the University of Ulster at Magee, and one of the directors of the IFHP summer school, said the body was persuaded to choose Omagh as this year's venue by the head of the school of environmental planning at Queen's University, Belfast, Mr. Malachy McEldowney.
Last year, Mr. McEldowney was a director at the Helsinki summer school.
"The support of the district council and its chief executive, Mr. John McKinney, was decisive in securing this international event for Omagh," he said.
The IFHP summer school will spend two days in Dublin, followed by 20 days in Omagh, and will conclude with three days in Belfast.
In Omagh, the students will be stationed at the Ulster History Park, and engaged in project work using Omagh College as their work centre.
The people of Omagh, particularly young people, will be encouraged to share their ideas with the students on site, or to visit them at the college.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1376
Published Date: 29-Jul-99
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