EX-PATS RAISE $120,000 FOR OMAGH FUND
Ex-pats raise $120,000 for Omagh Fund
A GROUP of Tyrone and Omagh expatriates in New York along with a number of Irish Americans have raised a colossal $120,000 for the Omagh Relief Fund. The money was raised during a number of functions in Manhattan and the Bronx.
On November the 6th, some 1,500 people attended a function in Towerview in Queens. On that occasion $25,000, was raised most of which was in the form of individual donations.
One month later, a function in Gaelic Park in the Bronx raised almost $50,000, on that occasion, Bagatelle along with four Irish bands from New York, gave their services free. The event attracted a large number of emigrants from Omagh and Tyrone, the total audience being upwards of 2,000. Many of those involved in the N.Y. activities had family or friends killed or injured in the August 15th blast.
Gallagher's Steakhouse in 52 Street, Manhattan was the venue for another function at which $28,000 dollars was raised. Representatives from the White House, including Under Secretary, Ray Kelly, were in attendance. Also present were Brian O'Dwyer, actress Roma Downey from Derry, and Belfast author, Martin Dillon, who read excerpts from his recent book. The evening was compered by US radio celebrity, Adrian Flannery.
At all of the functions the crowds observed a one minute silence Commenting on the successof the fundraising, Chairman of the Committee, Sean Rice said, "It was a credit to the Irish in New York to come together in this way to express their thoughts for the people of Omagh." Mr Rice praised the efforts of the various Committees and especially the work of Anne Donnelly, formerly of the Tamlaght Road Omagh. Anne is an emigration officer, and said Mr Rice, played a central role in getting events off the ground.
It is thought that the money will be presented to the Omagh Fund some time in December when a group of the ex-pats led by former Cannondale man, Sean will visit Omagh.
The New York group's concern for Omagh does not only extend to the raising of money for the victims, but also campaigns for the future of the Tyrone County Hospital. Indeed, so important is the hospital issue to the group, that they have acquired 2,500 postcards from Omagh, all of which call on the Secretary of State, the Prime Minister, and the President, to do all in their power to save the hospital. At the function in Gallagher's, the Undersecretary and the British Ambassador where both presented with the postcards from Omagh.
A GROUP of Tyrone and Omagh expatriates in New York along with a number of Irish Americans have raised a colossal $120,000 for the Omagh Relief Fund. The money was raised during a number of functions in Manhattan and the Bronx.
On November the 6th, some 1,500 people attended a function in Towerview in Queens. On that occasion $25,000, was raised most of which was in the form of individual donations.
One month later, a function in Gaelic Park in the Bronx raised almost $50,000, on that occasion, Bagatelle along with four Irish bands from New York, gave their services free. The event attracted a large number of emigrants from Omagh and Tyrone, the total audience being upwards of 2,000. Many of those involved in the N.Y. activities had family or friends killed or injured in the August 15th blast.
Gallagher's Steakhouse in 52 Street, Manhattan was the venue for another function at which $28,000 dollars was raised. Representatives from the White House, including Under Secretary, Ray Kelly, were in attendance. Also present were Brian O'Dwyer, actress Roma Downey from Derry, and Belfast author, Martin Dillon, who read excerpts from his recent book. The evening was compered by US radio celebrity, Adrian Flannery.
At all of the functions the crowds observed a one minute silence Commenting on the successof the fundraising, Chairman of the Committee, Sean Rice said, "It was a credit to the Irish in New York to come together in this way to express their thoughts for the people of Omagh." Mr Rice praised the efforts of the various Committees and especially the work of Anne Donnelly, formerly of the Tamlaght Road Omagh. Anne is an emigration officer, and said Mr Rice, played a central role in getting events off the ground.
It is thought that the money will be presented to the Omagh Fund some time in December when a group of the ex-pats led by former Cannondale man, Sean will visit Omagh.
The New York group's concern for Omagh does not only extend to the raising of money for the victims, but also campaigns for the future of the Tyrone County Hospital. Indeed, so important is the hospital issue to the group, that they have acquired 2,500 postcards from Omagh, all of which call on the Secretary of State, the Prime Minister, and the President, to do all in their power to save the hospital. At the function in Gallagher's, the Undersecretary and the British Ambassador where both presented with the postcards from Omagh.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0627
Published Date: 19-Nov-98
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