WORK COMMENCES ON OMAGH GARDEN OF LIGHT
Work commences on Omagh's 'Garden of Light'
Work on the development of Omagh's new Memorial Garden - the 'Garden of Light' - is set to begin within the next number of days, following this week's closure of the existing garden.
The new memorial will encompass two sites - as a result of physical constraints - and will include a glass pillar, incorporating a cut glass heart, on the site of the Omagh bomb at Market Street, as well as the the newly developed garden on an expanded site at Drumragh Avenue.
The two locations will be linked by 'a pathway of sunlight', created by 31 mirrors strategically placed in the Memorial Garden, to represent the 31 lives lost as a result of the bomb. This light will only be visible as it gently glitters and sparkles on the glass pillar, which is almost constantly in the shade.
A spokesperson for Omagh District Council noted: "The appearance of the glass monument will change according to the light conditions and will remind us all that, even if the sun isn't evident at the moment, it will come out again."
The Memorial Garden project will be completed in time for the 10th anniversary of the August 15, 1998 Omagh bomb.
The council's statement continued: "The families bereaved by the Omagh bomb were given advance notice of the closure of the existing garden to allow them an opportunity to visit it and to retain any personal items which they may have placed there until the new garden has been completed. The existing memorial stone has now been removed from the site by Omagh District Council, using a specialist contractor, and placed in secure storage for safekeeping.
"The development works will be undertaken by the Lisnaskea company, McGrory Contractors Ltd, on the basis of the design created by the design team led by Desmond Fitzgerald, Architect and Sean Hillen, Artist."
Noting that a separate process is underway to decide on narrative for the new memorial, the statement noted: "Omagh District Council and Omagh Memorial Working Group are keen to ensure that this process is open to all those who have been affected. An Independent Facilitation Team, chaired by the Rev Dr John Dunlop, has been appointed to offer one-to-one confidential meetings to all bereaved families and those injured, traumatised or affected by the bomb to discuss their views on narrative and where it should be located. These meetings have been ongoing since the end of October 2007.
"The Independent Facilitation Team will now prepare and submit a report incorporating a clear, concise recommendation on narrative and its location, to be presented to Omagh District Council for consideration and approval. This report is expected to be available by the end of February 2008.
A decision as to the future of the existing memorial stone will be taken in the context of that report and its recommendations which will have been reached by the independent facilitators in full knowledge of the range of views which exist amongst the victims of the Omagh bomb of 15 August, 1998."
Queries relating to any of the above issues should be directed to Mrs Kim McLaughlin, project officer (Tel: 028 82245321 ext 289).
Work on the development of Omagh's new Memorial Garden - the 'Garden of Light' - is set to begin within the next number of days, following this week's closure of the existing garden.
The new memorial will encompass two sites - as a result of physical constraints - and will include a glass pillar, incorporating a cut glass heart, on the site of the Omagh bomb at Market Street, as well as the the newly developed garden on an expanded site at Drumragh Avenue.
The two locations will be linked by 'a pathway of sunlight', created by 31 mirrors strategically placed in the Memorial Garden, to represent the 31 lives lost as a result of the bomb. This light will only be visible as it gently glitters and sparkles on the glass pillar, which is almost constantly in the shade.
A spokesperson for Omagh District Council noted: "The appearance of the glass monument will change according to the light conditions and will remind us all that, even if the sun isn't evident at the moment, it will come out again."
The Memorial Garden project will be completed in time for the 10th anniversary of the August 15, 1998 Omagh bomb.
The council's statement continued: "The families bereaved by the Omagh bomb were given advance notice of the closure of the existing garden to allow them an opportunity to visit it and to retain any personal items which they may have placed there until the new garden has been completed. The existing memorial stone has now been removed from the site by Omagh District Council, using a specialist contractor, and placed in secure storage for safekeeping.
"The development works will be undertaken by the Lisnaskea company, McGrory Contractors Ltd, on the basis of the design created by the design team led by Desmond Fitzgerald, Architect and Sean Hillen, Artist."
Noting that a separate process is underway to decide on narrative for the new memorial, the statement noted: "Omagh District Council and Omagh Memorial Working Group are keen to ensure that this process is open to all those who have been affected. An Independent Facilitation Team, chaired by the Rev Dr John Dunlop, has been appointed to offer one-to-one confidential meetings to all bereaved families and those injured, traumatised or affected by the bomb to discuss their views on narrative and where it should be located. These meetings have been ongoing since the end of October 2007.
"The Independent Facilitation Team will now prepare and submit a report incorporating a clear, concise recommendation on narrative and its location, to be presented to Omagh District Council for consideration and approval. This report is expected to be available by the end of February 2008.
A decision as to the future of the existing memorial stone will be taken in the context of that report and its recommendations which will have been reached by the independent facilitators in full knowledge of the range of views which exist amongst the victims of the Omagh bomb of 15 August, 1998."
Queries relating to any of the above issues should be directed to Mrs Kim McLaughlin, project officer (Tel: 028 82245321 ext 289).
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1915
Published Date: 07-Feb-08
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