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Poetry anthology in memory of bomb victims
BY: JOHN McCUSKER

AN anthology of poetry compiled in memory of those who died in the August 15 bombing has just been published.
"Love is Still Among Us" is a collection of verse submitted by young people and adults who wished to pay their own special tribute to those who lost their lives in the atrocity.
The collection was put together by a local woman who felt she had to do "something from the heart" in the wake of the tragedy.
The poems were collected by Joanna Grant (24), who works at the Oxfam shop in High Street where two of the victims Samantha McFarland and Lorraine Wilson also carried out voluntary work.
Contributions came from people throughout the North and further afield, who wanted to pay tribute to those who died and show how much they cared.
Around 50 poems are contained in the book together with numerous messages of hope and understanding from Oxfam volunteers worldwide.
The 60-page booklet, which is beautifully illustrated throughout, was printed free of charge by Plough Publishing House, at Darvell Bruderhof, Robertsbridge, East Sussex.
"A few weeks after the bomb, the Plough sent one of their books of hope and healing to the staff of Oxfam here in Omagh.
"It was so gentle and filled with love, that after reading it I decided to write to them and ask if they might be able to help me do something with the small collection of poetry I'd collected.
"I did not know what I could do as an ordinary and hurting 24-year-old, but I knew I was prepared to give from every part of my heart."
Joanne travelled to the Christian community in early November and was overwhelmed at the support offered towards the people of Omagh.
"There was a time I wondered if I had taken on too much with my own emotional pain, but a member of the Bruderhof wrote back to say that the poems were a remarkable testimony to the power of God's love and mercy" said Joanna.
Priced at £4, a limited first edition of the booklet will be available at Omagh's Oxfam shop, Omagh Community Church and the Carlisle Bookshop.
Proceeds will be divided between Tyrone County Hospital and Oxfam.
An initial run of 500 copies have been printed, but further copies of the anthology will be printed locally if necessary.