OMAGH'S ANNIVERSARY OF SORROW
Omagh's anniversary of sorrow
As Omagh prepares to face a profoundly emotional weekend, the true extent of the suffering and grief may become more apparent than has been the case in recent days.
We have heard at various times throughout the year of the town's gradual return to 'normality'. That perception must be qualified.
Commercially, and publicly the town may well have undergone something of a resurgence. However, for the hundreds of people caught up in the events of August 15th last year there may never be a return to normality. What instead they must put up with is a painful, often empty and lonely present, abnormal in every way.
For those who lost loved ones there can be no hope or expectation of normality, and yet, even in the darkest days for the families of the bereaved and injured, life must go on. Reasons must be found to keep going, and with every passing day there may be an imperceptible amount of healing.
Painful though this weekend will be for those maimed and bereaved in the Omagh bomb, it is an important milestone in the healing process.
In the town, there has been something of a restoration; work has begun to redevelop buildings wrecked by the bomb, designs have been conceived to reconstruct the site, and there has been a healthy flow of shoppers and holiday makers through the town, especially in the past three months. In these terms the town has made important strides towards recovery. However, Omagh will never be the place it was before August 15th, 1998.
The tragedy of Omagh shocked the world and should have been enough to make those still intent on the promotion of conflict desist. As we have seen, with attacks, murders, threats of further murders, and the inability of politicians to agree to rule this segment of the island in a manner just and reasonable, that has not been the case.
From all over the world, media groups will descend on the town, and the commemoration of a tragic chapter in this town's history will again be headline news, but it must be remembered that this is the anniversary of a tragedy and the occasion must be dignified appropriate.
The people of Omagh and surrounding towns and villages will once again stand shoulder to shoulder in dignified silence this weekend in remembrance of all those who died last year and pray for the many hundreds who have been severely injured.
The outside world has been remarkably good to Omagh for the past 12 months and such kindness will never be forgotten, but the time has now come for the town to be left in peace to build a better future away from the glare of publicity which has been a near permanent feature of the past year.
As Omagh prepares to face a profoundly emotional weekend, the true extent of the suffering and grief may become more apparent than has been the case in recent days.
We have heard at various times throughout the year of the town's gradual return to 'normality'. That perception must be qualified.
Commercially, and publicly the town may well have undergone something of a resurgence. However, for the hundreds of people caught up in the events of August 15th last year there may never be a return to normality. What instead they must put up with is a painful, often empty and lonely present, abnormal in every way.
For those who lost loved ones there can be no hope or expectation of normality, and yet, even in the darkest days for the families of the bereaved and injured, life must go on. Reasons must be found to keep going, and with every passing day there may be an imperceptible amount of healing.
Painful though this weekend will be for those maimed and bereaved in the Omagh bomb, it is an important milestone in the healing process.
In the town, there has been something of a restoration; work has begun to redevelop buildings wrecked by the bomb, designs have been conceived to reconstruct the site, and there has been a healthy flow of shoppers and holiday makers through the town, especially in the past three months. In these terms the town has made important strides towards recovery. However, Omagh will never be the place it was before August 15th, 1998.
The tragedy of Omagh shocked the world and should have been enough to make those still intent on the promotion of conflict desist. As we have seen, with attacks, murders, threats of further murders, and the inability of politicians to agree to rule this segment of the island in a manner just and reasonable, that has not been the case.
From all over the world, media groups will descend on the town, and the commemoration of a tragic chapter in this town's history will again be headline news, but it must be remembered that this is the anniversary of a tragedy and the occasion must be dignified appropriate.
The people of Omagh and surrounding towns and villages will once again stand shoulder to shoulder in dignified silence this weekend in remembrance of all those who died last year and pray for the many hundreds who have been severely injured.
The outside world has been remarkably good to Omagh for the past 12 months and such kindness will never be forgotten, but the time has now come for the town to be left in peace to build a better future away from the glare of publicity which has been a near permanent feature of the past year.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0479
Published Date: 12-Aug-99
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