HARROWING STORIES OF OMAGH FAMILIES TOLD IN NO-HOLDS-BARRED BOOK
Harrowing stories of Omagh families told in no-holds-barred book
by Claire Anthony
THE HARROWING experiences of the families of the people who died in the Omagh bomb have been detailed in a powerful new book entitled 'Omagh - Voices of Loss', written by Graham Spencer and just published by Appletree Press.
The loss of a loved one is difficult for any family to bear, but is even harder to comprehend when that loss is as the result of an act of terrorism.
For many of the 15 families who have told their own very personal and deeply moving stories in the book, this was the first time they had spoken about their lives in the aftermath of that August weekend, and the result is an incredible account of survival after loss.'Omagh - Voices of Loss' is the largest collection of interviews from the Omagh families, and, as its author explains, going over those events again was a difficult process for all the interviewees.
He also admits he had reservations that the project would even go ahead. Graham explains: "Five years after the Omagh bombing of 1998 I wrote to the families of those who died, asking if they would like to talk to me about their experience of that dreadful time and since. "Despite my reservations that such a project would happen, I found that many would like to speak with me. Some time after, I made arrangements to interview the families. For me, the interviews were incredibly moving as well as shocking, and they detail how much lives are damaged by terrorist violence."
Stark approach
The book is unique in the stark approach taken by the author; each account is a no-holds-barred story detailing every aspect of those experiences from the awful moment they found out their loved one had died, to the funerals, the grieving process and the first difficult steps towards rebuilding their shattered lives.
For a book that could so easily have considered the political repercussions of the bomb, Graham wanted to let people, who have sometimes been misquoted or had their views misrepresented, tell their stories in their own words. He found that the families spoke freely because it gave them a chance to articulate their experiences through-out the days after the bomb and since.
He continues: "In many ways, it seems objectionable to talk of these people as victims, because their stories reveal a strength of character and spirit which is not synonymous with powerlessness. The changes that were brought to each family were imposed by the effects of Omagh and render each testimony all the more remarkable."
Each story shows that only by resisting as well as accepting the loss can one continue to live. 'Omagh-Voices of Loss' is dedicated to those affected by Omagh and it is first and foremost a testimony to those brave and thoroughly decent people who let me interview them."
'Omagh - Voices of Loss' is available in hardback from all good bookshops and is priced at �12.99.
by Claire Anthony
THE HARROWING experiences of the families of the people who died in the Omagh bomb have been detailed in a powerful new book entitled 'Omagh - Voices of Loss', written by Graham Spencer and just published by Appletree Press.
The loss of a loved one is difficult for any family to bear, but is even harder to comprehend when that loss is as the result of an act of terrorism.
For many of the 15 families who have told their own very personal and deeply moving stories in the book, this was the first time they had spoken about their lives in the aftermath of that August weekend, and the result is an incredible account of survival after loss.'Omagh - Voices of Loss' is the largest collection of interviews from the Omagh families, and, as its author explains, going over those events again was a difficult process for all the interviewees.
He also admits he had reservations that the project would even go ahead. Graham explains: "Five years after the Omagh bombing of 1998 I wrote to the families of those who died, asking if they would like to talk to me about their experience of that dreadful time and since. "Despite my reservations that such a project would happen, I found that many would like to speak with me. Some time after, I made arrangements to interview the families. For me, the interviews were incredibly moving as well as shocking, and they detail how much lives are damaged by terrorist violence."
Stark approach
The book is unique in the stark approach taken by the author; each account is a no-holds-barred story detailing every aspect of those experiences from the awful moment they found out their loved one had died, to the funerals, the grieving process and the first difficult steps towards rebuilding their shattered lives.
For a book that could so easily have considered the political repercussions of the bomb, Graham wanted to let people, who have sometimes been misquoted or had their views misrepresented, tell their stories in their own words. He found that the families spoke freely because it gave them a chance to articulate their experiences through-out the days after the bomb and since.
He continues: "In many ways, it seems objectionable to talk of these people as victims, because their stories reveal a strength of character and spirit which is not synonymous with powerlessness. The changes that were brought to each family were imposed by the effects of Omagh and render each testimony all the more remarkable."
Each story shows that only by resisting as well as accepting the loss can one continue to live. 'Omagh-Voices of Loss' is dedicated to those affected by Omagh and it is first and foremost a testimony to those brave and thoroughly decent people who let me interview them."
'Omagh - Voices of Loss' is available in hardback from all good bookshops and is priced at �12.99.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1823
Published Date: 27-Oct-05
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