TEARS FROM HEAVEN FALL AS OMAGH PAYS TRIBUTE TO BOMB VICTIMS
Tears from heaven' fall as Omagh pays tribute to bomb victims
BY MARK McKELVEY
DESCRIBED as "tears from heaven" by bereaved mother Bernie Doherty, the incessant rain reflected the sombre mood of Friday's remembrance ceremony as families, friends and dignitaries gathered to remember those that were killed and injured in the Omagh bombing.
"I felt when the rain was pouring down that they were crying in heaven. I felt they were crying for us, crying for the families," said Mrs Doherty, whose young son Oran died in the blast.
Certainly, in contrast to the sunshine of that fateful day a decade ago, the heavens opened above Omagh, but this was not to deter from the moving occasion as the local community once again displayed the solidarity and strength of spirit that has been so evident during the years since the afternoon of August 15,1998.
At 3.10pm the clocks stopped and Omagh fell silent to mark the exact time of the Real IRA car bomb which devastated so many lives. The only noise was the rain bouncing of umbrellas whilst the distant chimes of the Sacred Heart Church bells resonated across the town.
The Duchess of Abercorn then read out the names of the 31 victims including, for the first time, the names of Avril Monaghan's unborn twins, Evelyn and Eimear.
The grief and suffering caused by the Omagh Bomb, the single worst atrocity of 'The Troubles', extended far afield and that was recognised at Friday's commemoration as families from Buncrana and Spain joined in the memorial ceremony.
In a poignant image, young children, who would have been barely born when the atrocity occurred,, scattered rose petals at the scene where the blood of the innocents was spilt ten years earlier in Market Street.
Demonstrating the coming together of the communities affected by the explosion, the children from Omagh were joined by children from Buncrana and Spain as they made their way to the new garden of light whilst a lone piper played in the distance. Following a dedication to peace by local church leaders, the memorial garden and heliostat monument in Market Street were officially opened. Computer controlled mirrors will track the sun and reflect light from the 31 smaller mirrors - one for each of the victims - reflecting a beam of light from the garden to illuminate a glass obelisk containing a Tyrone crystal heart at the bomb site in Market Street.
Although the grey skies hindered any such display on Friday, it is intended that it will bring a shining light to Omagh for generations to come.
Speaking after the ceremony, guest speaker Terry Waite, who has worked to bring peace and reconciliation to war-torn countries across the world, described the human spirit displayed in Omagh as "remarkable."
Mr Waite said, "It was an extremely moving ceremony. I sat on the platform and looked around and thought it was most poignant, particularly at 3.10pm when we had the silence. I am sure most people there were focused on the terrible tragedy that hit this town.
He continued, "I am so glad that I was here today. Not that this necessary marks a closure for everybody as you have to give the wounds time to heal, but it was an important occasion when we remember and pledge ourselves that violence is no way to resolve some of the difficult problems.
"Human spirit is remarkably resilient. I always try and put myself in the shoes of someone else, but I do know that in the majority of cases, suffering need not destroy, it can be turned around and something creative can come from it.
"That is what I think Omagh is saying today. We are not going to be defeated by this, but something creative is going to emerge and is emerging already."
BY MARK McKELVEY
DESCRIBED as "tears from heaven" by bereaved mother Bernie Doherty, the incessant rain reflected the sombre mood of Friday's remembrance ceremony as families, friends and dignitaries gathered to remember those that were killed and injured in the Omagh bombing.
"I felt when the rain was pouring down that they were crying in heaven. I felt they were crying for us, crying for the families," said Mrs Doherty, whose young son Oran died in the blast.
Certainly, in contrast to the sunshine of that fateful day a decade ago, the heavens opened above Omagh, but this was not to deter from the moving occasion as the local community once again displayed the solidarity and strength of spirit that has been so evident during the years since the afternoon of August 15,1998.
At 3.10pm the clocks stopped and Omagh fell silent to mark the exact time of the Real IRA car bomb which devastated so many lives. The only noise was the rain bouncing of umbrellas whilst the distant chimes of the Sacred Heart Church bells resonated across the town.
The Duchess of Abercorn then read out the names of the 31 victims including, for the first time, the names of Avril Monaghan's unborn twins, Evelyn and Eimear.
The grief and suffering caused by the Omagh Bomb, the single worst atrocity of 'The Troubles', extended far afield and that was recognised at Friday's commemoration as families from Buncrana and Spain joined in the memorial ceremony.
In a poignant image, young children, who would have been barely born when the atrocity occurred,, scattered rose petals at the scene where the blood of the innocents was spilt ten years earlier in Market Street.
Demonstrating the coming together of the communities affected by the explosion, the children from Omagh were joined by children from Buncrana and Spain as they made their way to the new garden of light whilst a lone piper played in the distance. Following a dedication to peace by local church leaders, the memorial garden and heliostat monument in Market Street were officially opened. Computer controlled mirrors will track the sun and reflect light from the 31 smaller mirrors - one for each of the victims - reflecting a beam of light from the garden to illuminate a glass obelisk containing a Tyrone crystal heart at the bomb site in Market Street.
Although the grey skies hindered any such display on Friday, it is intended that it will bring a shining light to Omagh for generations to come.
Speaking after the ceremony, guest speaker Terry Waite, who has worked to bring peace and reconciliation to war-torn countries across the world, described the human spirit displayed in Omagh as "remarkable."
Mr Waite said, "It was an extremely moving ceremony. I sat on the platform and looked around and thought it was most poignant, particularly at 3.10pm when we had the silence. I am sure most people there were focused on the terrible tragedy that hit this town.
He continued, "I am so glad that I was here today. Not that this necessary marks a closure for everybody as you have to give the wounds time to heal, but it was an important occasion when we remember and pledge ourselves that violence is no way to resolve some of the difficult problems.
"Human spirit is remarkably resilient. I always try and put myself in the shoes of someone else, but I do know that in the majority of cases, suffering need not destroy, it can be turned around and something creative can come from it.
"That is what I think Omagh is saying today. We are not going to be defeated by this, but something creative is going to emerge and is emerging already."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE HERALD
Ref: TYH10An/07
Published Date: 18-Aug-08
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