LANDMARK CERMONY HELPS BURY THE PAST
Landmark ceremony helps bury the past
BY ROSETTA DONNELLY
A SPECIAL ceremony took place in Omagh this week marking the official start of building of the new Omagh Community House on the site of the August 15, 1998 bomb.
Victims of the Omagh bombing, representatives of the Omagh District Council and other support organisations came together for the occasion.
The ceremony was marked by the unveiling of a specially inscribed stone at Market Street by Loretta Brennan Glucksman of The Ireland Funds.
The Ireland Funds were invited to perform the ceremony in acknowledgement of their valuable contribution towards the construction of the House. The Funds made a gift of $500,000 to the project.
This contribution, the largest single donation to the project, symbolises The Funds' commitment to peace and reconciliation and community building in Northern Ireland.
The mission of the Funds, a non-profit organisation, is to support programmes promoting reconciliation, education and community development, the arts and culture in Ireland, North and South. Over the last 30 years, The Funds have raised over $150 million for these causes.
The Omagh Community House is being built on the exact site of the bomb as a sign of the town's rebirth and a symbol of its commitment to peace and hope for the future. Personifying this feeling of hope was bomb victims Donna Marie and Garry McGillion and their 8 month old baby Cara whose presence added a poignancy to the proceedings.
The House will provide office space for 12 community groups, all of which provide important services to the entire community, including advice on social welfare, rural generation, pre-school play, mental handicap, women's groups, employment and training, cross-community work, disability and rehabilitation, inter-church work and volunteer groups.
Invited guests for the official ceremony donned hard hats as Mrs Gluckman unveiled the granite stone.
At a reception in the Silverbirches afterwards, Mrs Gluckman said she was 'thrilled' to be in Omagh on such a happy occasion and that the Funds were more than happy to financially support the people of Omagh.
She said the success of the Funds is putting the money in the right place which is often a difficult task. But on this occasion their task was made easy. "We raised $500,000 dollars - this was a very fiscal way to say what we feel in solidarity with the people of Omagh".
"Their courage and dignity reflects that of the people of Northern Ireland in overcoming terrible events and moving to a new society."
New York-born Mrs Gluckman went on "Never did I believe when I had the chance to come to Omagh that I would be reflecting on something that happened in my own country and that none of us are invulnerable to this scourge in our land".
Extending a warm welcome to the Ireland Funds chairman and the invited guests, Barry McElduff, chairman of Omagh Council said that the official ceremony marked an auspicious day for Omagh.
He said the events of August 15,1998 were indelibly imprinted on this community 'with far reaching and long lasting effects'. "Today, three and a half years on, the outline of the new Community House rises like the proverbial Phoenix from the Ashes".
He went on "The construction of the new Community House on the site of so much tragedy and pain represents another step in the healing process. The 'Foyer of Remembrance' will be the centrepiece of the building and will ensure that the events of 1998 will never be forgotten".
Mr McElduff thanked the Ireland Funds for their significant contribution and he also acknowledged the other funders. "They are numerous and generous and without their help and assistance, the Community House would have remained a dream. Now we can see the realisation of that dream before the end of the year" he added.
Conor McGale, of the Omagh Community House project, said he was standing in for John McKinney, who was unable to attend due to illness.
He said Mr McKinney had been chief executive of Omagh Council at the time of the 1998 atrocity and was key to facilitating the establishment of the group. "He saw the Community House as an embodiment of the community as a while, illustrating Omagh as a catalyst to show the way forward. I know that while disappointed at missing this event, he will share with us the enormous pride that all of us will have today".
Mr McGale went on "The siting of the House will always be a landmark for Omagh. For many people, it will mean many things, but for those working within the community it was an opportunity to bring life, light and good feeling back to an area of great sadness and darkness".
"As a community we hope that this building will serve as a shining example of community co-operation despite the most provocative attempt at perpetuating division. It is also a unique amalgamation, in that it illustrates a partnership approach between both the voluntary and business sectors in the town.
Mr McGale concluded by thanking the American Ireland Fund for 'their support and donation to this ambitious project'. He also thanked Dr Maurice Hayes, Chairman of the Advisory Panel of the Ireland Funds. Other funders were thanked - Omagh Council, Community Fund, the Omagh Fund, Omagh District Partnership, the International Fund for Ireland, Erne Rivers and Omagh Heritage Initiative.
Senator Maurice Hayes, speaking after the event said 'the Funds in Ireland were very pleased to recommend supporting The Community House to donors abroad as it marked a milestone on the road to reconciliation'.
BY ROSETTA DONNELLY
A SPECIAL ceremony took place in Omagh this week marking the official start of building of the new Omagh Community House on the site of the August 15, 1998 bomb.
Victims of the Omagh bombing, representatives of the Omagh District Council and other support organisations came together for the occasion.
The ceremony was marked by the unveiling of a specially inscribed stone at Market Street by Loretta Brennan Glucksman of The Ireland Funds.
The Ireland Funds were invited to perform the ceremony in acknowledgement of their valuable contribution towards the construction of the House. The Funds made a gift of $500,000 to the project.
This contribution, the largest single donation to the project, symbolises The Funds' commitment to peace and reconciliation and community building in Northern Ireland.
The mission of the Funds, a non-profit organisation, is to support programmes promoting reconciliation, education and community development, the arts and culture in Ireland, North and South. Over the last 30 years, The Funds have raised over $150 million for these causes.
The Omagh Community House is being built on the exact site of the bomb as a sign of the town's rebirth and a symbol of its commitment to peace and hope for the future. Personifying this feeling of hope was bomb victims Donna Marie and Garry McGillion and their 8 month old baby Cara whose presence added a poignancy to the proceedings.
The House will provide office space for 12 community groups, all of which provide important services to the entire community, including advice on social welfare, rural generation, pre-school play, mental handicap, women's groups, employment and training, cross-community work, disability and rehabilitation, inter-church work and volunteer groups.
Invited guests for the official ceremony donned hard hats as Mrs Gluckman unveiled the granite stone.
At a reception in the Silverbirches afterwards, Mrs Gluckman said she was 'thrilled' to be in Omagh on such a happy occasion and that the Funds were more than happy to financially support the people of Omagh.
She said the success of the Funds is putting the money in the right place which is often a difficult task. But on this occasion their task was made easy. "We raised $500,000 dollars - this was a very fiscal way to say what we feel in solidarity with the people of Omagh".
"Their courage and dignity reflects that of the people of Northern Ireland in overcoming terrible events and moving to a new society."
New York-born Mrs Gluckman went on "Never did I believe when I had the chance to come to Omagh that I would be reflecting on something that happened in my own country and that none of us are invulnerable to this scourge in our land".
Extending a warm welcome to the Ireland Funds chairman and the invited guests, Barry McElduff, chairman of Omagh Council said that the official ceremony marked an auspicious day for Omagh.
He said the events of August 15,1998 were indelibly imprinted on this community 'with far reaching and long lasting effects'. "Today, three and a half years on, the outline of the new Community House rises like the proverbial Phoenix from the Ashes".
He went on "The construction of the new Community House on the site of so much tragedy and pain represents another step in the healing process. The 'Foyer of Remembrance' will be the centrepiece of the building and will ensure that the events of 1998 will never be forgotten".
Mr McElduff thanked the Ireland Funds for their significant contribution and he also acknowledged the other funders. "They are numerous and generous and without their help and assistance, the Community House would have remained a dream. Now we can see the realisation of that dream before the end of the year" he added.
Conor McGale, of the Omagh Community House project, said he was standing in for John McKinney, who was unable to attend due to illness.
He said Mr McKinney had been chief executive of Omagh Council at the time of the 1998 atrocity and was key to facilitating the establishment of the group. "He saw the Community House as an embodiment of the community as a while, illustrating Omagh as a catalyst to show the way forward. I know that while disappointed at missing this event, he will share with us the enormous pride that all of us will have today".
Mr McGale went on "The siting of the House will always be a landmark for Omagh. For many people, it will mean many things, but for those working within the community it was an opportunity to bring life, light and good feeling back to an area of great sadness and darkness".
"As a community we hope that this building will serve as a shining example of community co-operation despite the most provocative attempt at perpetuating division. It is also a unique amalgamation, in that it illustrates a partnership approach between both the voluntary and business sectors in the town.
Mr McGale concluded by thanking the American Ireland Fund for 'their support and donation to this ambitious project'. He also thanked Dr Maurice Hayes, Chairman of the Advisory Panel of the Ireland Funds. Other funders were thanked - Omagh Council, Community Fund, the Omagh Fund, Omagh District Partnership, the International Fund for Ireland, Erne Rivers and Omagh Heritage Initiative.
Senator Maurice Hayes, speaking after the event said 'the Funds in Ireland were very pleased to recommend supporting The Community House to donors abroad as it marked a milestone on the road to reconciliation'.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1004
Published Date: 25-Apr-02
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