WEDDING DAY JOY FOR OMAGH BOMB VICTIM
Wedding day joy for Omagh bomb victim
A SHOWER of confetti and applause greeted newly weds, Kate and Brian Mulcahy, as they posed for photographs outside the Sacred Heart Church in Omagh on Saturday afternoon.
Were it not for the presence of television cameras and photographers, those who did not know the couple would have had little idea that their marriage was another major step forward on Omagh's road to recovery.
Kate's beautiful gold wedding gown hid the truth from onlookers. Beneath her skirting her right leg was supported in a special calliper which allowed her to walk unaided down the aisle on the arm of her father, Martin.
Fourteen months ago the former Miss Kelly and her best friend, Rachel Davis, her chief bridesmaid, lay seriously injured in the rubbled remains of Market Street, following the August 15 bombing which killed 29 people and unborn twins.
She suffered horrific injuries when a piece of metal shrapnel embedded itself in her right leg, severing her sciatic nerve. It has left her with no feeling in her foot, and the former auxiliary nurse has since been told it will never return.
When she came to her senses after the explosion, she discovered she was unable to walk. Just feet away Rachel lay on the ground. She had also suffered devastating injuries to her right leg one of her bones was completely crushed.
It was to be several days before the pair, who had been inseparable friends for many years, were to talk again by phone from their respective hospital beds.
Kate (a Catholic) had called to see Rachel (a Protestant), at her workplace in the Carlton Bakery to discuss the shoes for the wedding. After they left the shop their lives were dramatically altered, and Kate's wedding, which should have been in September last year, had to be put on hold.
Fortunately, the 14-month wait ended like a fairytale, with Rachel in support as Kate took her vows. And the marriage did not go unnoticed, as former Secretary of 5tate, Dr. Mo Mowlam, sent Kate a bouquet of flowers on Saturday morning.
In the immediate aftermath of the bombing the two women became even closer friends as they supported each other's recuperation.
"We've been through so much together. I don't know how I would have coped without Rachel," Kate recalled.
"There's always been a very strong bond between us. The bomb just made our friendship stronger. We can talk to each other about how we feel," she added. Talking about her marriage, Kate said it had been the best day of her life.
"Brian and I have been through an awful lot over the past year. Sometimes I don't know how he put up with me.
"There were times when I thought we'd never make it because the bomb put a strain on our relationship. But if we can come through something like that then nothing will stop us," the plucky 27-year-old said.
She added that the wedding marked a new and positive chapter in her life.
The family has paid tribute to all the medical and nursing staff involved in Kale's treatment and recuperation.
The wedding was described as yet another example of 'good triumphing over evil' by Rev. Neil Farren, who officiated at the ceremony.
Fr. Farren came to Omagh three weeks ago, replacing Rev. John Forbes, who celebrated the marriage of bomb victims Donna Marie and Garry McGillion earlier this year.
It was the clergyman's first wedding in Omagh, and he said that as he stood at the altar he was aware of the huge importance of the day, not only for Kate and Brian, but for the people of Omagh.
"The bride had a long walk in the past year, and I felt her walk up the aisle represented that," he recalled.
"As I was watching her walking, several thoughts came to mind. Her walk up the aisle to me, apart from looking beautiful and radiant, showed she had great spirit, which epitomised the Omagh people -that desire to triumph over evil, to succeed, and to get on with life with love," he said.
"The bride and the bridesmaid came from darker days, and both still have the scars.
"They walked up the aisle together, they are friends, and you would hope that that in itself would be a statement to others walking and working together for a better future in the community," he said. Fr. Farren added: "That's what I thought as I stood there taking a leaf out of their book,"
He said the bridal procession into the church was probably one of the longest walks Kate had made without visible means of support, and said he was aware of the great spirit in her and her determination to get to where she wanted to be.
He said he was happy that Kate had succeeded, and it showed her determination to succeed in her marriage.
"1 was happy she was able to make it, and was glad for her. I felt as if there was that prayer spirit of total community going out to her and helping her," he said.
In addition to Rachel, Kate's other attendants were her cousins, Charmaine McMenamin, bridesmaid, Ryan Corrigan, pageboy and Shauneen Corrigan, flowergirl.
The groom was attended by Mr. Jimmy Fox, bestman, and his brother, Peter, was groomsman.
During the service Kate's brothers, Tony and Eamon, Brian's brothers, David and Paul, and his aunt, Yvonne Rodgers, read, and special presentations were made to two people who were crucial in Kate's recovery.
Unsung hero, Mr. Martin McCrory, who picked Kate up and carried her to an ambulance on the day of the bombing, was given an engraved tankard, while Kate's aunt, Mrs. Mona Cullen, who stayed by Kate's side during her recuperation, was presented with a clock.
The organist and singer was Joanne Garrity, and the couple held their reception in the romantic surroundings of Lustybeg Island, near Kesh.
They are currently enjoying a well earned honeymoon at Gran Canaria, and have made their home in the Lammy area of Omagh.
A SHOWER of confetti and applause greeted newly weds, Kate and Brian Mulcahy, as they posed for photographs outside the Sacred Heart Church in Omagh on Saturday afternoon.
Were it not for the presence of television cameras and photographers, those who did not know the couple would have had little idea that their marriage was another major step forward on Omagh's road to recovery.
Kate's beautiful gold wedding gown hid the truth from onlookers. Beneath her skirting her right leg was supported in a special calliper which allowed her to walk unaided down the aisle on the arm of her father, Martin.
Fourteen months ago the former Miss Kelly and her best friend, Rachel Davis, her chief bridesmaid, lay seriously injured in the rubbled remains of Market Street, following the August 15 bombing which killed 29 people and unborn twins.
She suffered horrific injuries when a piece of metal shrapnel embedded itself in her right leg, severing her sciatic nerve. It has left her with no feeling in her foot, and the former auxiliary nurse has since been told it will never return.
When she came to her senses after the explosion, she discovered she was unable to walk. Just feet away Rachel lay on the ground. She had also suffered devastating injuries to her right leg one of her bones was completely crushed.
It was to be several days before the pair, who had been inseparable friends for many years, were to talk again by phone from their respective hospital beds.
Kate (a Catholic) had called to see Rachel (a Protestant), at her workplace in the Carlton Bakery to discuss the shoes for the wedding. After they left the shop their lives were dramatically altered, and Kate's wedding, which should have been in September last year, had to be put on hold.
Fortunately, the 14-month wait ended like a fairytale, with Rachel in support as Kate took her vows. And the marriage did not go unnoticed, as former Secretary of 5tate, Dr. Mo Mowlam, sent Kate a bouquet of flowers on Saturday morning.
In the immediate aftermath of the bombing the two women became even closer friends as they supported each other's recuperation.
"We've been through so much together. I don't know how I would have coped without Rachel," Kate recalled.
"There's always been a very strong bond between us. The bomb just made our friendship stronger. We can talk to each other about how we feel," she added. Talking about her marriage, Kate said it had been the best day of her life.
"Brian and I have been through an awful lot over the past year. Sometimes I don't know how he put up with me.
"There were times when I thought we'd never make it because the bomb put a strain on our relationship. But if we can come through something like that then nothing will stop us," the plucky 27-year-old said.
She added that the wedding marked a new and positive chapter in her life.
The family has paid tribute to all the medical and nursing staff involved in Kale's treatment and recuperation.
The wedding was described as yet another example of 'good triumphing over evil' by Rev. Neil Farren, who officiated at the ceremony.
Fr. Farren came to Omagh three weeks ago, replacing Rev. John Forbes, who celebrated the marriage of bomb victims Donna Marie and Garry McGillion earlier this year.
It was the clergyman's first wedding in Omagh, and he said that as he stood at the altar he was aware of the huge importance of the day, not only for Kate and Brian, but for the people of Omagh.
"The bride had a long walk in the past year, and I felt her walk up the aisle represented that," he recalled.
"As I was watching her walking, several thoughts came to mind. Her walk up the aisle to me, apart from looking beautiful and radiant, showed she had great spirit, which epitomised the Omagh people -that desire to triumph over evil, to succeed, and to get on with life with love," he said.
"The bride and the bridesmaid came from darker days, and both still have the scars.
"They walked up the aisle together, they are friends, and you would hope that that in itself would be a statement to others walking and working together for a better future in the community," he said. Fr. Farren added: "That's what I thought as I stood there taking a leaf out of their book,"
He said the bridal procession into the church was probably one of the longest walks Kate had made without visible means of support, and said he was aware of the great spirit in her and her determination to get to where she wanted to be.
He said he was happy that Kate had succeeded, and it showed her determination to succeed in her marriage.
"1 was happy she was able to make it, and was glad for her. I felt as if there was that prayer spirit of total community going out to her and helping her," he said.
In addition to Rachel, Kate's other attendants were her cousins, Charmaine McMenamin, bridesmaid, Ryan Corrigan, pageboy and Shauneen Corrigan, flowergirl.
The groom was attended by Mr. Jimmy Fox, bestman, and his brother, Peter, was groomsman.
During the service Kate's brothers, Tony and Eamon, Brian's brothers, David and Paul, and his aunt, Yvonne Rodgers, read, and special presentations were made to two people who were crucial in Kate's recovery.
Unsung hero, Mr. Martin McCrory, who picked Kate up and carried her to an ambulance on the day of the bombing, was given an engraved tankard, while Kate's aunt, Mrs. Mona Cullen, who stayed by Kate's side during her recuperation, was presented with a clock.
The organist and singer was Joanne Garrity, and the couple held their reception in the romantic surroundings of Lustybeg Island, near Kesh.
They are currently enjoying a well earned honeymoon at Gran Canaria, and have made their home in the Lammy area of Omagh.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1404
Published Date: 14-Oct-99
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