�500,000 GRANT FOR OMAGH COMMUNITY HOUSE
�500,000 grant for Omagh community house
By Olga Bradshaw
THE American Ireland Fund has made a record donation of �500,000 towards the cost of building a community house at the site of the Market Street bomb, which devastated the centre of Omagh almost two years ago.
The project, once completed, will have a phenomenal impact on those who serve the town in a voluntary and cross-community, as it will draw many community based and focused groups together under one roof.
A main feature of the building will be a 'Foyer of Reflection' where townspeople as well as visitors can go to contemplate not only the past and what was inflicted on Omagh, but also be inspired by the manner in which the townspeople pulled together to overcome its adversities.
Bomb survivor, Mrs. Donna-Marie McGillion, who was given the last rites as she lay in a coma in a Belfast hospital, received the donation on behalf of the townsfolk at a special reception at the district council offices.
The House will provide a central 'one-stop-shop' for local community groups and help groups which currently operate in separate buildings in the town.
In addition, many local community services will be based in the building, thereby centralising and strengthening the already strong support network that exists within Omagh.
At the presentation ceremony, Mrs. McGillion, who suffered serious injuries in the blast, spoke of the importance of the Community House, which, she said, would bring community organisations, cross-community groups and other local community-focused bodies together.
"The core of this building will bring together those who are the very heart of our community and can carry forth the mantle of Omagh as a community rebuilding and starting anew," she said.
Also in attendance was Mr. Connor McGale, secretary of Omagh Community House, who said his organisation was "absolutely delighted" with the huge donation from the Ireland Fund for the building of the house and "Foyer of Reflection', which will form the centrepiece of the new development.
"This donation is surely a massive boost to the town and all the local people. The project has been fully supported by the local council, the business sector, by voluntary and community organisations in the town, and I feel the donation itself reflects how much work has been put into achieving this tremendous figure," he said.
The chief executive of Omagh District Council, Mr. John McKinney, has congratulated everyone involved.
Vision
In his address he said the vision of a Community House in Omagh would now be fully achieved thanks to the substantial donation by the American Ireland Funds and the hard work of everyone who had worked tirelessly on the project to date.
"This substantial figure is a shining example of the results which can be achieved when people work together to bring to fruition a fantastic, positive and worthwhile project, which will benefit everyone in the district and beyond.
"The donation by the Ireland Funds, its largest ever single donation to one project, itself reflects the huge effort made," Mr. McKinney said.
He continued: "The long-term benefit of the Community House building to the town, the local community, voluntary and support groups will be phenomenal.
"The building will bring many local community services under one roof, uniting community organisations, cross-community groups, and other local community-focused bodies. The core of this building will bring together those who are the very heart of our community and can carry forth the mantle of Omagh as a community rebuilding and starting anew," he said.
The president of the American Ireland Funds, Loretta Brennan Glucksman, heralded the Community House as a unique project, and said it was a perfect example of co-operation between all services and community organisations which reflects the very essence of the Ireland Funds and of people who worked together to achieve one goal for the benefit of all.
"The Community House will be an integrated development and will form a major focal point for the town of Omagh," she said.
"We at the Ireland Funds are especially proud to be associated with a project that will help to restore a community and one which most importantly remembers the past and Omagh's role in shaping the future of this island," she added.
Among the groups which will find a new home in the Community House will be FOCUS (Focus in Omagh for Community Understanding and Support - dealing with victims), Omagh Independent Advice Services, NIPPA, Omagh Women's Area Network , Mencap, Omagh Forum for Rural Associations, Omagh Volunteer Bureau, West Tyrone Youth Council, Omagh Ethnic Community Support and Northern Ireland Phillipino Community, Omagh Churches Forum, and Letts Go West Ltd.
By Olga Bradshaw
THE American Ireland Fund has made a record donation of �500,000 towards the cost of building a community house at the site of the Market Street bomb, which devastated the centre of Omagh almost two years ago.
The project, once completed, will have a phenomenal impact on those who serve the town in a voluntary and cross-community, as it will draw many community based and focused groups together under one roof.
A main feature of the building will be a 'Foyer of Reflection' where townspeople as well as visitors can go to contemplate not only the past and what was inflicted on Omagh, but also be inspired by the manner in which the townspeople pulled together to overcome its adversities.
Bomb survivor, Mrs. Donna-Marie McGillion, who was given the last rites as she lay in a coma in a Belfast hospital, received the donation on behalf of the townsfolk at a special reception at the district council offices.
The House will provide a central 'one-stop-shop' for local community groups and help groups which currently operate in separate buildings in the town.
In addition, many local community services will be based in the building, thereby centralising and strengthening the already strong support network that exists within Omagh.
At the presentation ceremony, Mrs. McGillion, who suffered serious injuries in the blast, spoke of the importance of the Community House, which, she said, would bring community organisations, cross-community groups and other local community-focused bodies together.
"The core of this building will bring together those who are the very heart of our community and can carry forth the mantle of Omagh as a community rebuilding and starting anew," she said.
Also in attendance was Mr. Connor McGale, secretary of Omagh Community House, who said his organisation was "absolutely delighted" with the huge donation from the Ireland Fund for the building of the house and "Foyer of Reflection', which will form the centrepiece of the new development.
"This donation is surely a massive boost to the town and all the local people. The project has been fully supported by the local council, the business sector, by voluntary and community organisations in the town, and I feel the donation itself reflects how much work has been put into achieving this tremendous figure," he said.
The chief executive of Omagh District Council, Mr. John McKinney, has congratulated everyone involved.
Vision
In his address he said the vision of a Community House in Omagh would now be fully achieved thanks to the substantial donation by the American Ireland Funds and the hard work of everyone who had worked tirelessly on the project to date.
"This substantial figure is a shining example of the results which can be achieved when people work together to bring to fruition a fantastic, positive and worthwhile project, which will benefit everyone in the district and beyond.
"The donation by the Ireland Funds, its largest ever single donation to one project, itself reflects the huge effort made," Mr. McKinney said.
He continued: "The long-term benefit of the Community House building to the town, the local community, voluntary and support groups will be phenomenal.
"The building will bring many local community services under one roof, uniting community organisations, cross-community groups, and other local community-focused bodies. The core of this building will bring together those who are the very heart of our community and can carry forth the mantle of Omagh as a community rebuilding and starting anew," he said.
The president of the American Ireland Funds, Loretta Brennan Glucksman, heralded the Community House as a unique project, and said it was a perfect example of co-operation between all services and community organisations which reflects the very essence of the Ireland Funds and of people who worked together to achieve one goal for the benefit of all.
"The Community House will be an integrated development and will form a major focal point for the town of Omagh," she said.
"We at the Ireland Funds are especially proud to be associated with a project that will help to restore a community and one which most importantly remembers the past and Omagh's role in shaping the future of this island," she added.
Among the groups which will find a new home in the Community House will be FOCUS (Focus in Omagh for Community Understanding and Support - dealing with victims), Omagh Independent Advice Services, NIPPA, Omagh Women's Area Network , Mencap, Omagh Forum for Rural Associations, Omagh Volunteer Bureau, West Tyrone Youth Council, Omagh Ethnic Community Support and Northern Ireland Phillipino Community, Omagh Churches Forum, and Letts Go West Ltd.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1454
Published Date: 06-Jul-00
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.