OMAGH LIGHT OF PEACE REPLACING DARKNESS
Omagh light of peace replacing darkness
THE Prince of Darkness has been replaced by the Prince of Peace, businessmen and community leaders discovered in Omagh this week.
Introducing his Millennium Message at a lunch in the Silverbirch Hotel, Omagh, the Secretary of State Peter Mandelson, said he was overwhelmed by the warmth of his welcome, and hoped to come among the people as the Prince of Peace rather than the Prince of Darkness.
Mr Mandelson said nowhere , better represented the journey of Northern Ireland out of its dark and isolated past and into a better future than Omagh.
But he warned that the price of political failure was nowhere more apparent than in the town.
And he said all of the Good Friday Agreement - including decommissioning - must be implemented if all sections of the community were to continue to support it.
He said: "Like the decision to trigger devolution, decommissioning is a voluntary act. But it is an obligation under the Good Friday Agreement.
"All the institutions of that Agreement are now in place. Security levels are returning to normal. Human rights and equality bodies are in place. Reform of policing and criminal justice is in train.
"But all of the Agreement must be implemented. including decommissioning if all sections of the community are to continue to support it.
"1 do not need to tell you what is at stake. Because what Northern Ireland stands to gain from peace is nowhere more apparent than in Omagh," he said.
Tragedy
The Secretary of State said Omagh had demonstrated a tremendous ability to bounce back after the tragedy of August 15. 1998. with an integrated programme of renewal designed to make the town a key player in Northern Ireland's economic revival.
He said: "You have put together a programme that combines vision and planning, drawing businesses and the community* together in partnership to manage a commercial development and investment responsibly and effectively.
"You have demonstrated your strengths - your support for Omagh College will exploit a rich seam of talent.
"Investment in e-commerce will be handsomely rewarded. And where there are weaknesses, like in infrastructure, you are working hard to improve.
"What I have seen today convinces me that your efforts will realise your ambition: to make Omagh a key service and administrative centre, the commercial hub of the region."
Mr Mandelson was speaking after visits to Omagh District Council offices and the RUC station, and a stop-off at the Memorial Garden in Market Street where he briefly paid his respects.
The Silverbirch Hotel was the scene of a lunch hosted by Omagh Chamber of Commerce and the delivery of the Secretary of State's Millennium Message.
Guests included MP for West Tyrone. Mr William Thompson, chairman of Omagh District Council. Mr Allan Rainey, chief executive, Mr John McKinney, chairman of the Omagh Fund. Mr Sean O'Dwyer, and the Duke of Abercorn who had spearheaded economic development in Co Tyrone.
Cornerstone
Mr Mandelson then visited Station House. Dromore Road, where he laid the cornerstone in a state-of-the-art facility that will house Omagh Boys and Girls Club.
President of Omagh Chamber of Commerce, Mr Patrick Bogues, welcomed the Secretary of State to the business lunch by reviewing events at the start of the last millennium.
He said: "The secretary, at that time, writing in Latin, reports poor prices for cattle, bad conditions, and danger along the roadways, problems of disease and premature death, and the threat from marauding Northern Europeans, the Vikings who were raping and pillaging throughout the country.
"In addition he reports great fear amongst the community at the expected end of the world with the arrival of the Prince of Darkness.
"The Prince of Darkness has finally arrived even though 1000 years later than expected. And may 1 commend you not for the end that was predicted, but for the new beginning that you have heralded."
Mr Mandelson responded: "Wherever 1 have been in Omagh, even when I visited the RUC. the strength and warmth have overwhelmed me.
"I come amongst you not so much as the Prince of Darkness but as the Prince of Peace."
The Secretary of State told his hosts that his abiding memory of Omagh was of the enormous courage shown by ordinary people after the heart had been torn from the town.
He commended emergency services and hospital staff, whose heroism prevented greater loss of life.
Mr Mandelson also paid tribute to the RUC officers he had met earlier, who had demonstrated "bravery and sensitivity" - qualities which had earned the force the George Cross.
'He said: "That day - and in the days that followed - no one asked what anyone's religion or political persuasion was before they offered to help.
"They simply got on with the job, first on the day, and since, in working together to rebuild their town."
Mr Mandelson said such tragedies would not hold Northern Ireland back, given the progress which had already taken place;
"For the first time in a generation Northern Ireland has a locally elected government, committed to serving all the people, whatever their political or religious convictions, Ministers with local knowledge, local constituents, local accents.
"Who could have imagined even a year ago that they would one day hear Martin McGuinness, as Minister for Education, answering an interviewer with the words, 'I have to consult my officials'?"
The Secretary of State said Northern Ireland was becoming what Omagh had long been - a tolerant, forward-looking society. He said : ''With greater stability comes greater confidence. With confidence comes investment.
"And with investment comes the chance for local people to realise their hopes and ambitions where they grew up, where their families live."
Mr Mandelson said the people of Omagh had been inspired by young people who want to take the chances that peace offers "by the scruff of the neck".
"They are at last represented by politicians who know and understand Northern Ireland's pain, because they have, lived through it, and are led by businessmen and women who have worked tirelessly to restore confidence in this town and rebuild the economy.
"At the beginning of this new Millennium I can confidently say to Northern Ireland and to the people of Omagh in particular: your time has come," Mr Mandelson said.
THE Prince of Darkness has been replaced by the Prince of Peace, businessmen and community leaders discovered in Omagh this week.
Introducing his Millennium Message at a lunch in the Silverbirch Hotel, Omagh, the Secretary of State Peter Mandelson, said he was overwhelmed by the warmth of his welcome, and hoped to come among the people as the Prince of Peace rather than the Prince of Darkness.
Mr Mandelson said nowhere , better represented the journey of Northern Ireland out of its dark and isolated past and into a better future than Omagh.
But he warned that the price of political failure was nowhere more apparent than in the town.
And he said all of the Good Friday Agreement - including decommissioning - must be implemented if all sections of the community were to continue to support it.
He said: "Like the decision to trigger devolution, decommissioning is a voluntary act. But it is an obligation under the Good Friday Agreement.
"All the institutions of that Agreement are now in place. Security levels are returning to normal. Human rights and equality bodies are in place. Reform of policing and criminal justice is in train.
"But all of the Agreement must be implemented. including decommissioning if all sections of the community are to continue to support it.
"1 do not need to tell you what is at stake. Because what Northern Ireland stands to gain from peace is nowhere more apparent than in Omagh," he said.
Tragedy
The Secretary of State said Omagh had demonstrated a tremendous ability to bounce back after the tragedy of August 15. 1998. with an integrated programme of renewal designed to make the town a key player in Northern Ireland's economic revival.
He said: "You have put together a programme that combines vision and planning, drawing businesses and the community* together in partnership to manage a commercial development and investment responsibly and effectively.
"You have demonstrated your strengths - your support for Omagh College will exploit a rich seam of talent.
"Investment in e-commerce will be handsomely rewarded. And where there are weaknesses, like in infrastructure, you are working hard to improve.
"What I have seen today convinces me that your efforts will realise your ambition: to make Omagh a key service and administrative centre, the commercial hub of the region."
Mr Mandelson was speaking after visits to Omagh District Council offices and the RUC station, and a stop-off at the Memorial Garden in Market Street where he briefly paid his respects.
The Silverbirch Hotel was the scene of a lunch hosted by Omagh Chamber of Commerce and the delivery of the Secretary of State's Millennium Message.
Guests included MP for West Tyrone. Mr William Thompson, chairman of Omagh District Council. Mr Allan Rainey, chief executive, Mr John McKinney, chairman of the Omagh Fund. Mr Sean O'Dwyer, and the Duke of Abercorn who had spearheaded economic development in Co Tyrone.
Cornerstone
Mr Mandelson then visited Station House. Dromore Road, where he laid the cornerstone in a state-of-the-art facility that will house Omagh Boys and Girls Club.
President of Omagh Chamber of Commerce, Mr Patrick Bogues, welcomed the Secretary of State to the business lunch by reviewing events at the start of the last millennium.
He said: "The secretary, at that time, writing in Latin, reports poor prices for cattle, bad conditions, and danger along the roadways, problems of disease and premature death, and the threat from marauding Northern Europeans, the Vikings who were raping and pillaging throughout the country.
"In addition he reports great fear amongst the community at the expected end of the world with the arrival of the Prince of Darkness.
"The Prince of Darkness has finally arrived even though 1000 years later than expected. And may 1 commend you not for the end that was predicted, but for the new beginning that you have heralded."
Mr Mandelson responded: "Wherever 1 have been in Omagh, even when I visited the RUC. the strength and warmth have overwhelmed me.
"I come amongst you not so much as the Prince of Darkness but as the Prince of Peace."
The Secretary of State told his hosts that his abiding memory of Omagh was of the enormous courage shown by ordinary people after the heart had been torn from the town.
He commended emergency services and hospital staff, whose heroism prevented greater loss of life.
Mr Mandelson also paid tribute to the RUC officers he had met earlier, who had demonstrated "bravery and sensitivity" - qualities which had earned the force the George Cross.
'He said: "That day - and in the days that followed - no one asked what anyone's religion or political persuasion was before they offered to help.
"They simply got on with the job, first on the day, and since, in working together to rebuild their town."
Mr Mandelson said such tragedies would not hold Northern Ireland back, given the progress which had already taken place;
"For the first time in a generation Northern Ireland has a locally elected government, committed to serving all the people, whatever their political or religious convictions, Ministers with local knowledge, local constituents, local accents.
"Who could have imagined even a year ago that they would one day hear Martin McGuinness, as Minister for Education, answering an interviewer with the words, 'I have to consult my officials'?"
The Secretary of State said Northern Ireland was becoming what Omagh had long been - a tolerant, forward-looking society. He said : ''With greater stability comes greater confidence. With confidence comes investment.
"And with investment comes the chance for local people to realise their hopes and ambitions where they grew up, where their families live."
Mr Mandelson said the people of Omagh had been inspired by young people who want to take the chances that peace offers "by the scruff of the neck".
"They are at last represented by politicians who know and understand Northern Ireland's pain, because they have, lived through it, and are led by businessmen and women who have worked tirelessly to restore confidence in this town and rebuild the economy.
"At the beginning of this new Millennium I can confidently say to Northern Ireland and to the people of Omagh in particular: your time has come," Mr Mandelson said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1429
Published Date: 20-Jan-00
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