THOUSANDS TURN OUT FOR CANDLE-LIT VIGIL
Thousands turn out for candle-lit vigil
Local singer, Dominic Kirwan, led the singing at the candle-lit vigil at Drumragh carpark on Tuesday night which was attended by over 5,000 people.
The town which has been so quiet and empty for the past few days, became crowded as thousands of people poured in to mourn the 28 dead and injured in Saturday's explosion.
Silent tears fell as the people from all sides of the community took comfort from being together.
With golden sunset casting a warm glow over the town, it was possible to forget for a second the awful atrocity which took place only yards away in Market Street, however the sad, bleak expressions on people's faces said it all.
The 20 minute service began with Dominic Kirwan singing a hymn - 'Abide with me', and later, 'The Lord is my shepherd'. This was followed by a prayer service. The names of the dead were read out and a minutes silence was held.
One of the organisers of the event, Sandra Jones addressed the crowd, but broke down and sobbed sorely unable to contain her grief.
The service came to an end with the laying of two bunches of flowers from both sides of the community in Omagh, on Strule bridge, along with the hundreds of other bouquets which have been left there since the weekend.
Kieran Gallagher, chairman of the cross-community group, Focus, which organised the vigil, condemned the attack and those who perpetrated it.
He said the vigil was a way for the people of Omagh to come together and share their sense of loss.
Dominic Kirwan said he knew the dead would never be forgotten. He added "But the people are strong and I just hope this is the last, and the people will not have died in vain".
Dominic, who was due to start a three-week tour of Britain on Wednesday, said he was doing so with a heavy heart. He didn't want to leave and was worried if he was doing the right thing leaving his grieving townsfolk in their "darkest hour".
He said "The heartache and the suffering this bomb has caused is visible all around you, no matter what street you walk along, and who you meet or talk with.
"Omagh, the town where I was born and bred, and the place I love most, did not deserve this.
"No community should have such a hellish attack inflicted upon it".
Fighting back the tears, Dominic continued "Omagh always had a great community spirit, where people of all classes and creeds lived in close harmony and worked and played together.
"It was a terrific place to grow up in and although I have travelled abroad a lot with my singing, I would never move home from Omagh
"This explosion, with the death and injury of so many good people, has really knocked the heart out of the town and it will take a long time for us to recover.
"The nightmare that has engulfed this community will always be engraved on our memories, but somehow we have got to face the future" he said.
Local singer, Dominic Kirwan, led the singing at the candle-lit vigil at Drumragh carpark on Tuesday night which was attended by over 5,000 people.
The town which has been so quiet and empty for the past few days, became crowded as thousands of people poured in to mourn the 28 dead and injured in Saturday's explosion.
Silent tears fell as the people from all sides of the community took comfort from being together.
With golden sunset casting a warm glow over the town, it was possible to forget for a second the awful atrocity which took place only yards away in Market Street, however the sad, bleak expressions on people's faces said it all.
The 20 minute service began with Dominic Kirwan singing a hymn - 'Abide with me', and later, 'The Lord is my shepherd'. This was followed by a prayer service. The names of the dead were read out and a minutes silence was held.
One of the organisers of the event, Sandra Jones addressed the crowd, but broke down and sobbed sorely unable to contain her grief.
The service came to an end with the laying of two bunches of flowers from both sides of the community in Omagh, on Strule bridge, along with the hundreds of other bouquets which have been left there since the weekend.
Kieran Gallagher, chairman of the cross-community group, Focus, which organised the vigil, condemned the attack and those who perpetrated it.
He said the vigil was a way for the people of Omagh to come together and share their sense of loss.
Dominic Kirwan said he knew the dead would never be forgotten. He added "But the people are strong and I just hope this is the last, and the people will not have died in vain".
Dominic, who was due to start a three-week tour of Britain on Wednesday, said he was doing so with a heavy heart. He didn't want to leave and was worried if he was doing the right thing leaving his grieving townsfolk in their "darkest hour".
He said "The heartache and the suffering this bomb has caused is visible all around you, no matter what street you walk along, and who you meet or talk with.
"Omagh, the town where I was born and bred, and the place I love most, did not deserve this.
"No community should have such a hellish attack inflicted upon it".
Fighting back the tears, Dominic continued "Omagh always had a great community spirit, where people of all classes and creeds lived in close harmony and worked and played together.
"It was a terrific place to grow up in and although I have travelled abroad a lot with my singing, I would never move home from Omagh
"This explosion, with the death and injury of so many good people, has really knocked the heart out of the town and it will take a long time for us to recover.
"The nightmare that has engulfed this community will always be engraved on our memories, but somehow we have got to face the future" he said.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0132
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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