BACK TO BUSINESS AT THE SITE OF THE BOMB
Back to business at site of the bomb
BY ROSETTA DONNELLY
BUSINESSES at the site of the Omagh bomb are slowly but surely re-opening and, for the first time in four years, the town centre is beginning to take on a look of normality.
Work on the exterior of the Community House at the corner of Market Street and the Dublin Road is nearing completion, with workmen taking down scaffolding and removing the large crane which has dominated the Omagh skyline for months.
There are new businesses opening in Market Street, one of which is the new local radio station, Q101.2 West.
The first of the existing businesses to reopen was Curran's Opticians.
Kells's shop in the intervening years moved to new premises which it bought at Scarffe's Entry. The business will not be returning to the Market Street.
The coffee shop which formerly operated at Nicholl and Shiels is now back in business with a new modern look and a new name, Coffee@Grinders.
Proprietor Katrine Gault was injured in the bomb and has spent the last few years recovering from her injuries. She is now pleased to be back in business with a bigger workforce.
Mrs Gault said, "The business has enjoyed a slow steady growth since opening in January. People are starting to return to this area of the town."
The Salad Bowl vegetable and fruit shop was very close to the seat of the bomb and was extensively damaged. For a number of years, owner Ian Frew operated out of temporary premises at Market Road before moving back to the Market Street recently.
The new building is slightly larger and Mr Frew is glad to be back in business. He is hoping that people will soon feel comfortable shopping in Market Street again, although he knows some who said they will find it very hard to return.
Hyper was also damaged in the bomb and proprietor Yvonne Elliot had to move to temporary accommodation in Scarffe's Entry.
Her shop is opposite the Community House and she said despite the efforts of workmen to complete the job quickly, it has been very difficult working so close to dust and noise.
Ms Elliot is frustrated as she says Omagh has become like 'one big building site'.
"There is building work going on everywhere what with the Royal Arms development and the individual projects".
Whilst glad to be back in her high street premises, Mrs Elliot is angry that it took four years to reopen Market Street. "What caused these delays and why were shop owners not better informed about everything?".
She added that the people of Omagh have been very good about supporting the local shops for which she is very grateful, but she has noticed that shoppers from out of town places like Enniskillen and further afield are not returning.
BY ROSETTA DONNELLY
BUSINESSES at the site of the Omagh bomb are slowly but surely re-opening and, for the first time in four years, the town centre is beginning to take on a look of normality.
Work on the exterior of the Community House at the corner of Market Street and the Dublin Road is nearing completion, with workmen taking down scaffolding and removing the large crane which has dominated the Omagh skyline for months.
There are new businesses opening in Market Street, one of which is the new local radio station, Q101.2 West.
The first of the existing businesses to reopen was Curran's Opticians.
Kells's shop in the intervening years moved to new premises which it bought at Scarffe's Entry. The business will not be returning to the Market Street.
The coffee shop which formerly operated at Nicholl and Shiels is now back in business with a new modern look and a new name, Coffee@Grinders.
Proprietor Katrine Gault was injured in the bomb and has spent the last few years recovering from her injuries. She is now pleased to be back in business with a bigger workforce.
Mrs Gault said, "The business has enjoyed a slow steady growth since opening in January. People are starting to return to this area of the town."
The Salad Bowl vegetable and fruit shop was very close to the seat of the bomb and was extensively damaged. For a number of years, owner Ian Frew operated out of temporary premises at Market Road before moving back to the Market Street recently.
The new building is slightly larger and Mr Frew is glad to be back in business. He is hoping that people will soon feel comfortable shopping in Market Street again, although he knows some who said they will find it very hard to return.
Hyper was also damaged in the bomb and proprietor Yvonne Elliot had to move to temporary accommodation in Scarffe's Entry.
Her shop is opposite the Community House and she said despite the efforts of workmen to complete the job quickly, it has been very difficult working so close to dust and noise.
Ms Elliot is frustrated as she says Omagh has become like 'one big building site'.
"There is building work going on everywhere what with the Royal Arms development and the individual projects".
Whilst glad to be back in her high street premises, Mrs Elliot is angry that it took four years to reopen Market Street. "What caused these delays and why were shop owners not better informed about everything?".
She added that the people of Omagh have been very good about supporting the local shops for which she is very grateful, but she has noticed that shoppers from out of town places like Enniskillen and further afield are not returning.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1047
Published Date: 15-Aug-02
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.