GIVE A DAY TO OMAGH LAUNCHED
Give a day to Omagh launched
BY: MICHELE CANNING
A MAJOR DRIVE is on to attract thousands of visitors to Omagh in the run-up to Christmas, as efforts to continue to rebuild the bomb shattered town.
It is hoped the town will be one of the main stop-off points for Christmas shoppers throughout Ireland in a show of solidarity with the local community.
The "Give A Day to Omagh" campaign-launched on Tuesday - is the first step in helping to put to rest the fear that people have of visiting the town, which was the target of a 500lb car bomb in August.
The concept of the campaign came from an unsuspecting Belfast woman, Roisin Hall, who had contacted Rev Robert Herron a few weeks after the bombing to ask if any help could be offered by the interdenominational friendship group she belongs to.
The Clonard Fitzroy Fellowship - which is led by Fr Gerry Reynolds of Clonard Monastery on the Falls Road and Rev Ken Newell of the Fitzroy
Presbyterian Church - will be the first group to visit Omagh as part of the campaign.
Speaking to the 'Herald' yesterday, Roisin said "After the bombing we were numb and shattered and we felt very helpless and like many people were asking what we could do.
"At one of our meetings about a month after the bombing, the shopping trip was one of the ideas put forward so we decided to contact Rev Herron to help us co-ordinate the trip,"
Roisin said this Saturday was the date chosen as it was near enough to Christmas to make some impact on the town.
She expressed her delight that such a tiny idea could turn into the campaign that has now been launched.
"If it takes off and everyone gives a day to Omagh then it will make a difference in the long term for the town.
"I am hopeful that the campaign will be a great success. There was a saying after the Omagh bomb that from darkness came light and we hope this campaign will be the start of a new dawn for Omagh and its people."
The Clonard Fitzroy Fellowship group will arrive in Omagh on Saturday at 11.30am where they will meet Rev Herron and say a short prayer before the shopping day begins.
Roisin told how the group had deliberately decided not to take a bus to Omagh and that people would be making their way by car.
The Fellowship Group has been meeting for the past few years as friends and attending each others services in an effort to break down barriers and build new bridges through friendship and understanding.
The Campaign to regenerate Omagh-which has being organised by traders and supported by Translink- was launched on Tuesday by UTV's Gerry Kelly.
The television personality set the wheels in motion for the campaign from behind the wheel of one of Translink's luxury Goldliner coaches at Belfast's Europa Buscentre.
As the 'driver' of the Omagh Ulsterbus arriving in Belfast to launch the campaign, Gerry's passengers included local traders, business leaders and representatives from, Omagh.
Since the bombing, thousands of people from all over Ireland have contacted traders, councillors and church leaders in Omagh asking what they can do to help the town.
Now those well wishers are being invited to spend a day in Omagh town centre. People are being urged to visit the town as individuals or as groups and will receive a badge saying "I Gave A Day to Omagh".
Personalities from television, radio and entertainment have offered support and will visit the town before Christmas.
Launching the campaign Gerry Kelly said "This is a fantastic initiative and I would advocate anyone to go along and help the people of
Omagh reclaim their town centre."
Urging support for the initiative, Patrick Bogues of Omagh Traders Association said "The sheer size of the atrocity virtually decimated the commercial heart of Omagh. While still living with the terrible human tragedies, we are now rebuilding and reclaiming the town.
"Visiting Omagh town and its beautiful surroundings for just one day will show solidarity with the people, the traders and the entire community."
Michael Gaine, President of Omagh Chamber of Commerce and Industry said "The rebuilding of Omagh cannot be done by businesses in isolation, the task is simply too great.
"It must be tackled by the entire community, with the leadership of the business organisations and the goodwill of the people".
Mr Gaine said people have been afraid to return to the town and that fear must now be laid to rest.
He added "Give A Day to Omagh is the first step in this process."
Meanwhile the daughter of the late Dr Anthony Pollock, a physician at the Tyrone County Hospital, has organised a fund raising event in London for the Omagh Fund.
Vicky Ford has organised a special event in the Globe Theatre in London tonight (Thurs), which will consist of an evening reception.
The Globe Theatre was opened in June of last year on the site of the original Elizabethan building where Shakespeare's plays were performed. During the reception guests will be given a private tour of the theatre.
And in New York a benefit night is being hosted to raise funds for the Omagh bombing at which author Martin Dillon is to participate.
It is the latest in a series of events in New York, which have raised $40,000 dollars to date.
BY: MICHELE CANNING
A MAJOR DRIVE is on to attract thousands of visitors to Omagh in the run-up to Christmas, as efforts to continue to rebuild the bomb shattered town.
It is hoped the town will be one of the main stop-off points for Christmas shoppers throughout Ireland in a show of solidarity with the local community.
The "Give A Day to Omagh" campaign-launched on Tuesday - is the first step in helping to put to rest the fear that people have of visiting the town, which was the target of a 500lb car bomb in August.
The concept of the campaign came from an unsuspecting Belfast woman, Roisin Hall, who had contacted Rev Robert Herron a few weeks after the bombing to ask if any help could be offered by the interdenominational friendship group she belongs to.
The Clonard Fitzroy Fellowship - which is led by Fr Gerry Reynolds of Clonard Monastery on the Falls Road and Rev Ken Newell of the Fitzroy
Presbyterian Church - will be the first group to visit Omagh as part of the campaign.
Speaking to the 'Herald' yesterday, Roisin said "After the bombing we were numb and shattered and we felt very helpless and like many people were asking what we could do.
"At one of our meetings about a month after the bombing, the shopping trip was one of the ideas put forward so we decided to contact Rev Herron to help us co-ordinate the trip,"
Roisin said this Saturday was the date chosen as it was near enough to Christmas to make some impact on the town.
She expressed her delight that such a tiny idea could turn into the campaign that has now been launched.
"If it takes off and everyone gives a day to Omagh then it will make a difference in the long term for the town.
"I am hopeful that the campaign will be a great success. There was a saying after the Omagh bomb that from darkness came light and we hope this campaign will be the start of a new dawn for Omagh and its people."
The Clonard Fitzroy Fellowship group will arrive in Omagh on Saturday at 11.30am where they will meet Rev Herron and say a short prayer before the shopping day begins.
Roisin told how the group had deliberately decided not to take a bus to Omagh and that people would be making their way by car.
The Fellowship Group has been meeting for the past few years as friends and attending each others services in an effort to break down barriers and build new bridges through friendship and understanding.
The Campaign to regenerate Omagh-which has being organised by traders and supported by Translink- was launched on Tuesday by UTV's Gerry Kelly.
The television personality set the wheels in motion for the campaign from behind the wheel of one of Translink's luxury Goldliner coaches at Belfast's Europa Buscentre.
As the 'driver' of the Omagh Ulsterbus arriving in Belfast to launch the campaign, Gerry's passengers included local traders, business leaders and representatives from, Omagh.
Since the bombing, thousands of people from all over Ireland have contacted traders, councillors and church leaders in Omagh asking what they can do to help the town.
Now those well wishers are being invited to spend a day in Omagh town centre. People are being urged to visit the town as individuals or as groups and will receive a badge saying "I Gave A Day to Omagh".
Personalities from television, radio and entertainment have offered support and will visit the town before Christmas.
Launching the campaign Gerry Kelly said "This is a fantastic initiative and I would advocate anyone to go along and help the people of
Omagh reclaim their town centre."
Urging support for the initiative, Patrick Bogues of Omagh Traders Association said "The sheer size of the atrocity virtually decimated the commercial heart of Omagh. While still living with the terrible human tragedies, we are now rebuilding and reclaiming the town.
"Visiting Omagh town and its beautiful surroundings for just one day will show solidarity with the people, the traders and the entire community."
Michael Gaine, President of Omagh Chamber of Commerce and Industry said "The rebuilding of Omagh cannot be done by businesses in isolation, the task is simply too great.
"It must be tackled by the entire community, with the leadership of the business organisations and the goodwill of the people".
Mr Gaine said people have been afraid to return to the town and that fear must now be laid to rest.
He added "Give A Day to Omagh is the first step in this process."
Meanwhile the daughter of the late Dr Anthony Pollock, a physician at the Tyrone County Hospital, has organised a fund raising event in London for the Omagh Fund.
Vicky Ford has organised a special event in the Globe Theatre in London tonight (Thurs), which will consist of an evening reception.
The Globe Theatre was opened in June of last year on the site of the original Elizabethan building where Shakespeare's plays were performed. During the reception guests will be given a private tour of the theatre.
And in New York a benefit night is being hosted to raise funds for the Omagh bombing at which author Martin Dillon is to participate.
It is the latest in a series of events in New York, which have raised $40,000 dollars to date.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0669
Published Date: 12-Nov-98
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