MOOD OF OPTIMISM AND HOPE GREET US PRESIDENT
Mood of optimism and hope greeted US President
BY: JOHN McCUSKER
THE mood among the thousands who waited in Omagh town centre to greet President Bill Clinton and the First Lady was one of optimism and hope, tinged with sorrowful memories of the atrocity which occurred just yards from where they stood.
Around 1,500 specially invited guests lined the pavement from Scarffe's Entry to Bridge Street corner.
As many again thronged the incline of High Street as they waited for up to four hours in blazing sunshine, hoping to greet the visiting entourage.
Politicians and members of the emergency services mingled with children from local schools as they strained to catch a glimpse of the VIPs as they made their way from the bomb site towards the town centre.
Council Chairman, Sean Clarke - together with vice-chairman Allan Rainey -had earlier welcomed the visitors to Omagh.
Speaking just after the entourage had left High Street, Cllr Clarke said both President Clinton and Prime Minister Tony Blair had personally passed on their condolences to the people of the town.
And the US President told the chairman he was sorry to have to come to the town in "such tragic circumstances."
"He told me he hoped to return in better times" added Cllr Clarke.
Earlier in the day, Assemblyman Derek Hussey met with the President and Prime Minister at Stormont.
He felt the group's face-to-face meeting with the bereaved relatives and those injured in the bombing had, in some way, brought Mr Clinton closer to the "cold face" of what those in the North had suffered for years.
Assemblyman Hussey said he himself had urged the President to do all in his power to stem the flow of cash from the US to organisations "who are prepared to carry out the sort of action we have seen in Omagh."
" But if the visit raises the hearts of the people of the town, then it has got to be welcomed" he added.
Publican, John McGirr and his wife Oonagh were among those representing the business community of the town.
Both felt it important that world leaders had travelled to Omagh to offer their condolences to those bereaved and injured by the bombing.
"It was a clear indication that these people were thinking about us and will think about us in the future.
"Hopefully, the contacts which have been made will be used to the good in the years ahead when we will need them" added Mr McGirr.
Jackie Kearns, proprietor of the Carlton Bakery, was also among those who greeted the visitors.
He was particularly impressed by the fact the Prime Minister had taken time to inquire how bakery workers injured in the blast had recovered from their ordeal.
"Tony Blair put his hands on my shoulders and told me to wish all the workers well. I thought it very nice of him to take the time and patience to listen to us" he added.
Eleven pupils from Omagh Academy were among the dozens of students from local school who turned out to greet the visitors.
Two of those killed in the explosion were past pupils and a number of other pupils at the school were among those injured in the blast.
College principal, James McBain thought the US President had been "very generous with his time," as he stopped to talk with the grouping.
"Many, many pupils at the school were affected, either through the loss of friends or family.
"Mo Mowlam was the first to speak to us. President Clinton then took the time to stop and talk with the pupils, as did all the other visitors as well.
"I think the visit must be viewed positively, not only for those directly affected by the bombing but by everyone from the area" added Mr McBain.
"A day of great significance and something pupils would be able to tell their grandchildren about" was how the principal of St Mary's Primary School in Killyclogher viewed last Thursday's visit.
Mary Devine had accompanied four P7 pupils - Teresa McKenna, Darragh Owens and twins Ciara and Clare Bowes - to meet the Presidential guests.
And she believed the visit was "possibly a greater and more significant" one than most people present realised.
"As you stood there today and looked around and saw Bill and Hillary Clinton walking down the streets of our little town, it was almost unreal.
"But it was also such a wonderful occasion and hopefully out of it will come good and the people will feel a sense of hope" she added.
As an excited Teresa McKenna explained how names had been placed in a box and picked at random to represent the school, overhead the Presidential helicopter, Marine One, whisked the visitors off to a further round of engagements at a peace gathering in Armagh City.
BY: JOHN McCUSKER
THE mood among the thousands who waited in Omagh town centre to greet President Bill Clinton and the First Lady was one of optimism and hope, tinged with sorrowful memories of the atrocity which occurred just yards from where they stood.
Around 1,500 specially invited guests lined the pavement from Scarffe's Entry to Bridge Street corner.
As many again thronged the incline of High Street as they waited for up to four hours in blazing sunshine, hoping to greet the visiting entourage.
Politicians and members of the emergency services mingled with children from local schools as they strained to catch a glimpse of the VIPs as they made their way from the bomb site towards the town centre.
Council Chairman, Sean Clarke - together with vice-chairman Allan Rainey -had earlier welcomed the visitors to Omagh.
Speaking just after the entourage had left High Street, Cllr Clarke said both President Clinton and Prime Minister Tony Blair had personally passed on their condolences to the people of the town.
And the US President told the chairman he was sorry to have to come to the town in "such tragic circumstances."
"He told me he hoped to return in better times" added Cllr Clarke.
Earlier in the day, Assemblyman Derek Hussey met with the President and Prime Minister at Stormont.
He felt the group's face-to-face meeting with the bereaved relatives and those injured in the bombing had, in some way, brought Mr Clinton closer to the "cold face" of what those in the North had suffered for years.
Assemblyman Hussey said he himself had urged the President to do all in his power to stem the flow of cash from the US to organisations "who are prepared to carry out the sort of action we have seen in Omagh."
" But if the visit raises the hearts of the people of the town, then it has got to be welcomed" he added.
Publican, John McGirr and his wife Oonagh were among those representing the business community of the town.
Both felt it important that world leaders had travelled to Omagh to offer their condolences to those bereaved and injured by the bombing.
"It was a clear indication that these people were thinking about us and will think about us in the future.
"Hopefully, the contacts which have been made will be used to the good in the years ahead when we will need them" added Mr McGirr.
Jackie Kearns, proprietor of the Carlton Bakery, was also among those who greeted the visitors.
He was particularly impressed by the fact the Prime Minister had taken time to inquire how bakery workers injured in the blast had recovered from their ordeal.
"Tony Blair put his hands on my shoulders and told me to wish all the workers well. I thought it very nice of him to take the time and patience to listen to us" he added.
Eleven pupils from Omagh Academy were among the dozens of students from local school who turned out to greet the visitors.
Two of those killed in the explosion were past pupils and a number of other pupils at the school were among those injured in the blast.
College principal, James McBain thought the US President had been "very generous with his time," as he stopped to talk with the grouping.
"Many, many pupils at the school were affected, either through the loss of friends or family.
"Mo Mowlam was the first to speak to us. President Clinton then took the time to stop and talk with the pupils, as did all the other visitors as well.
"I think the visit must be viewed positively, not only for those directly affected by the bombing but by everyone from the area" added Mr McBain.
"A day of great significance and something pupils would be able to tell their grandchildren about" was how the principal of St Mary's Primary School in Killyclogher viewed last Thursday's visit.
Mary Devine had accompanied four P7 pupils - Teresa McKenna, Darragh Owens and twins Ciara and Clare Bowes - to meet the Presidential guests.
And she believed the visit was "possibly a greater and more significant" one than most people present realised.
"As you stood there today and looked around and saw Bill and Hillary Clinton walking down the streets of our little town, it was almost unreal.
"But it was also such a wonderful occasion and hopefully out of it will come good and the people will feel a sense of hope" she added.
As an excited Teresa McKenna explained how names had been placed in a box and picked at random to represent the school, overhead the Presidential helicopter, Marine One, whisked the visitors off to a further round of engagements at a peace gathering in Armagh City.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0374
Published Date: 10-Sep-98
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