TC/1379

Fund receives remainder of largest single donation

TRUSTEES of the Omagh Fund have thanked RTE's viewers, listeners and staff, who helped to raise £1,250,000 for the victims of the Market Street bombing.
Mr Sean O'Dwyer, chairman, and Dr Clifford McCord, trustee, travelled to Dublin recently to receive the remainder of the largest single contribution to the fund.
Omagh District Council chairman, Mr Allan Rainey, and chief executive, Mr John McKinney, also attended a lunch hosted by Mr Bob Collins, RTE director general.
A special edition of the Late Late Show in November of last year raised £876,500.
Among the talented artists who performed on the show were U2, The Corrs, Brian Kennedy, Daniel O'Donnell, Paul Brady, Sharon Shannon and the Omagh Community Youth Choir.
Also present was Mr Bertie Ahern, the Irish Prime Minister and Mrs Mary McAleese, the Irish president. The SDLP's Mr Seamus Mallon, and Dr Mo Mowlam, Secretary of State, sent messages of support, via a video link-up.
Speaking at the recent lunch, Mr Collins said: "The loss of 31 lives is a statistic that is hard to comprehend. However, once again out listeners, viewers and staff members have proved that broadcasting can be used successfully to bring the members of our community together and to help show support in times of darkness."
And Mr Allan Rainey, chairman of Omagh District Council, thanked everyone who had contributed in any way to the RTE Omagh Fund and assured then that their generosity would not be forgotten by the people of his home town.
The Omagh Fund closes on August 14 as a mark of respect to those killed and injured in the bombing.