POIGNANT SCENES AS LOCAL TRIBUTES PAID
Poignant scenes as local tributes paid
BY NIGEL MCDONAGH
OMAGH District Council Chairman Allan Rainey laid flowers at Atocha Station in Madrid yesterday (Wednesday) in memory of the 201 people killed and 1,600 people injured in last week's terrorist attack on the Spanish capital.
Cllr Rainey was on a pre-arranged visit to Spain and he also met with Senora Esperanza Aguirre, President of the Autonomous Community of Madrid (the Madrid Regional Government).
On Friday last, Cllr Rainey travelled to Dublin where he signed the Book of Condolence at the Spanish Embassy. He also spoke of the strong link between the people of Omagh and the people of Spain, forged tragically with the loss of two young Spanish visitors in the Omagh bomb.
That link was further strengthened when Omagh hosted the Spanish Special Olympics team last summer.
The people of Omagh have been quick to respond to last Thursday's atrocity.
The Omagh-based Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma and Transformation has offered its assistance to the people of Madrid.
Relatives of the Omagh bomb victims held the first of two memorial services in the town on Sunday to show solidarity with the families of those killed and injured in the Madrid blasts.
It was followed by a reflection service at the Station Centre where the Omagh Community Youth Choir performed for a large crowd, including visiting exchange students from Asturias in northern Spain.
Messages of condolences and sympathy to the people of Madrid were extended by Omagh District Council at a special meeting on Monday night. Books of condolences have also been opened throughout the district until the end of the month. Meanwhile, local SDLP Cllr Pat McDonnell has suggested that an invitation should be extended to survivors of the Madrid atrocity for an all-expenses paid trip to Omagh district later this year.
BY NIGEL MCDONAGH
OMAGH District Council Chairman Allan Rainey laid flowers at Atocha Station in Madrid yesterday (Wednesday) in memory of the 201 people killed and 1,600 people injured in last week's terrorist attack on the Spanish capital.
Cllr Rainey was on a pre-arranged visit to Spain and he also met with Senora Esperanza Aguirre, President of the Autonomous Community of Madrid (the Madrid Regional Government).
On Friday last, Cllr Rainey travelled to Dublin where he signed the Book of Condolence at the Spanish Embassy. He also spoke of the strong link between the people of Omagh and the people of Spain, forged tragically with the loss of two young Spanish visitors in the Omagh bomb.
That link was further strengthened when Omagh hosted the Spanish Special Olympics team last summer.
The people of Omagh have been quick to respond to last Thursday's atrocity.
The Omagh-based Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma and Transformation has offered its assistance to the people of Madrid.
Relatives of the Omagh bomb victims held the first of two memorial services in the town on Sunday to show solidarity with the families of those killed and injured in the Madrid blasts.
It was followed by a reflection service at the Station Centre where the Omagh Community Youth Choir performed for a large crowd, including visiting exchange students from Asturias in northern Spain.
Messages of condolences and sympathy to the people of Madrid were extended by Omagh District Council at a special meeting on Monday night. Books of condolences have also been opened throughout the district until the end of the month. Meanwhile, local SDLP Cllr Pat McDonnell has suggested that an invitation should be extended to survivors of the Madrid atrocity for an all-expenses paid trip to Omagh district later this year.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1643
Published Date: 18-Mar-04
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