UH/1291

RTE Omagh Fund raises £1.25 million

RTE marked the closure of its Omagh Fund with a lunch hosted by Director-General, Bob Collins and attended by representatives from the Omagh Fund and Omagh District Council.
RTE's combined Radio and TV Omagh Fund is the single biggest contribution to the Omagh Fund with £1,250,000. The Omagh Fund, which was set up in response to public demand immediately after the tragedy, has received over a quarter of its monies from the RTE Television and Radio Funds.
The RTE Radio Fund, which already stood at £248,405, was further enhanced by a special edition of The Late Late Show in November, 1998, dedicated to the victims of the Omagh bombing, featuring The Corrs, U2, Paul Brady and Daniel O'Donnell, which raised a further £876,500.
Speaking on behalf of all those who have donated their time and money to the RTE Fund, Director-General, Bob Collins, said: "The loss of 31 lives is a statistic that is hard to comprehend. However, once again our listeners, viewers and staff members have proved that broadcasting can be used successfully to bring the members of our community together, and to help show support in times of darkness."
Replying, Councillor Allan Rainey, Chairman of Omagh District Council, thanked everyone who had contributed in any way to the RTE Omagh Fund, and assured everyone present that "the generosity shown by RTE's listeners and viewers would not be forgotten by the people of Omagh."