MIXED REACTION TO OMAGH BOMB FILM
Mixed reaction to Omagh film
BY JOHN McCUSKER
WITH just over a week's filming left, 'Omagh' has already met with mixed reaction in the town where 31 lives were lost and hundreds were injured.
Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Victims' Self Help Group, is the axis on which the film's storyline revolves. His part is played by Omagh-born actor Gerard McSorley whose credits include the recent films, Bloody Sunday and Veronica Guerin.
Strongly backing the film, Mr Gallagher maintains it should tell the world the story of "evil and wickedness, betrayal and deceit" that happened in his home town.
However, criticism came this week from a Tyrone woman who lost friends in the explosion and who stumbled upon the film-makers shooting the bomb scenes in Navan. The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, was shopping in the Meath town when she came across the film set.
"I just happened to be in Navan and I came across what looked like a movie set," she said. "I recognised Omagh street names and then I saw the car. It all looked too real.
"I'm from Omagh and I can't tell you how angry and upset this made me. I'd heard nothing about this beforehand and couldn't believe it when they told me. I can't see how this drama could help anyone's healing. It's far too early to be doing something like this," she added.
Mr Gallagher, meanwhile, is aware of and understands that there are those for whom the Omagh film holds nothing but anger and grief.
"There are always going to be people who will find a film about Omagh very difficult and that includes those who have campaigned. All of us will find this film very painful to watch. Some may not watch it at all.
"But this film is not being made for the people of Omagh. It is being made to tell the world what happened in our town."
Prior to shooting the film, Gerard McSorley spent days with the Gallagher family, examining minute details of their lives their day to day movements, even down to the work clothes Michael Gallagher wore on the day of the explosion itself.
"It's great to have a Northern Ireland actor playing the part," Mr Gallagher says. "But to have an actor who comes from Omagh will mean a lot to this film. I know that he himself is very dedicated to what he is doing and feels very strongly and passionately about it because it was his town that it happened to."
BY JOHN McCUSKER
WITH just over a week's filming left, 'Omagh' has already met with mixed reaction in the town where 31 lives were lost and hundreds were injured.
Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Victims' Self Help Group, is the axis on which the film's storyline revolves. His part is played by Omagh-born actor Gerard McSorley whose credits include the recent films, Bloody Sunday and Veronica Guerin.
Strongly backing the film, Mr Gallagher maintains it should tell the world the story of "evil and wickedness, betrayal and deceit" that happened in his home town.
However, criticism came this week from a Tyrone woman who lost friends in the explosion and who stumbled upon the film-makers shooting the bomb scenes in Navan. The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, was shopping in the Meath town when she came across the film set.
"I just happened to be in Navan and I came across what looked like a movie set," she said. "I recognised Omagh street names and then I saw the car. It all looked too real.
"I'm from Omagh and I can't tell you how angry and upset this made me. I'd heard nothing about this beforehand and couldn't believe it when they told me. I can't see how this drama could help anyone's healing. It's far too early to be doing something like this," she added.
Mr Gallagher, meanwhile, is aware of and understands that there are those for whom the Omagh film holds nothing but anger and grief.
"There are always going to be people who will find a film about Omagh very difficult and that includes those who have campaigned. All of us will find this film very painful to watch. Some may not watch it at all.
"But this film is not being made for the people of Omagh. It is being made to tell the world what happened in our town."
Prior to shooting the film, Gerard McSorley spent days with the Gallagher family, examining minute details of their lives their day to day movements, even down to the work clothes Michael Gallagher wore on the day of the explosion itself.
"It's great to have a Northern Ireland actor playing the part," Mr Gallagher says. "But to have an actor who comes from Omagh will mean a lot to this film. I know that he himself is very dedicated to what he is doing and feels very strongly and passionately about it because it was his town that it happened to."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1631
Published Date: 15-Jan-04
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