LOCAL PEOPLE COULD HOST MADRID BOMB SURVIVORS
Local people could host Madrid bomb survivors
BY NIGEL MCDONAGH
OMAGH District Council is being urged to support a 'goodwill' initiative to bring survivors of the Madrid bombings to Omagh later this year.
The venture, based on a project established with a Dublin inner city community group in the aftermath of the Omagh bomb, has been proposed by local SDLP cllr, Pat McDonnell.
Cllr McDonnell suggests that an invitation should be extended to survivors of the Madrid atrocity for an all expenses paid trip to Omagh district where they will be accommodated and entertained by local people. The proposal is inspired by a project instigated by Dublin businessman, Martin Corbett in the months following the Omagh bomb when 50 survivors were taken on a three-day trip to Dublin.
The Omagh contingent were afforded first-class accommodation and meals, with free bus tours, visits to the Zoo and cinemas. They also received a reception by the Lord Mayor at the Manor House.
The trip was hailed as a resounding success and Cllr McDonnell believes that the people of Omagh would be very willing to extend a similar act of friendship to the survivors of the Madrid bombings.
"This is not something that can be rushed into," said Cllr McDonnell. "I am referring to action which we might take in a few months time and I am basing the idea on a unique initiative which brought solace to many of the Omagh survivors in late 1998.
"In the autumn of that year I was approached by a spokesman for a significant organisation in the north inner city of Dublin. These people were anxious to express solidarity with those who had suffered in the Omagh bomb and their proposal was that a busload of survivor and/or relatives should come for an al expenses paid three day trip to Dublin.
"As it turned out, we took around 50 people who had suffered in the bomb with both sides of the community represented some of whom had never been in Dublin before. The trip was pronounced a great success and the generosity of our Dublin hosts knew no bounds. Many firm friendships were established and I would like to think that the venture has produced some lasting good," he added
Cllr McDonnell hopes that his proposal to extend a similar gesture to the people of Madrid will come to fruition during the summer months.
"Obviously the logistics arc more challenging but the same principle applies have no doubt that the people of Omagh would only be too willing to greet with warm friendship people who have suffered in Madrid. This is an idea which I intend to work on in the coming months." he said.
BY NIGEL MCDONAGH
OMAGH District Council is being urged to support a 'goodwill' initiative to bring survivors of the Madrid bombings to Omagh later this year.
The venture, based on a project established with a Dublin inner city community group in the aftermath of the Omagh bomb, has been proposed by local SDLP cllr, Pat McDonnell.
Cllr McDonnell suggests that an invitation should be extended to survivors of the Madrid atrocity for an all expenses paid trip to Omagh district where they will be accommodated and entertained by local people. The proposal is inspired by a project instigated by Dublin businessman, Martin Corbett in the months following the Omagh bomb when 50 survivors were taken on a three-day trip to Dublin.
The Omagh contingent were afforded first-class accommodation and meals, with free bus tours, visits to the Zoo and cinemas. They also received a reception by the Lord Mayor at the Manor House.
The trip was hailed as a resounding success and Cllr McDonnell believes that the people of Omagh would be very willing to extend a similar act of friendship to the survivors of the Madrid bombings.
"This is not something that can be rushed into," said Cllr McDonnell. "I am referring to action which we might take in a few months time and I am basing the idea on a unique initiative which brought solace to many of the Omagh survivors in late 1998.
"In the autumn of that year I was approached by a spokesman for a significant organisation in the north inner city of Dublin. These people were anxious to express solidarity with those who had suffered in the Omagh bomb and their proposal was that a busload of survivor and/or relatives should come for an al expenses paid three day trip to Dublin.
"As it turned out, we took around 50 people who had suffered in the bomb with both sides of the community represented some of whom had never been in Dublin before. The trip was pronounced a great success and the generosity of our Dublin hosts knew no bounds. Many firm friendships were established and I would like to think that the venture has produced some lasting good," he added
Cllr McDonnell hopes that his proposal to extend a similar gesture to the people of Madrid will come to fruition during the summer months.
"Obviously the logistics arc more challenging but the same principle applies have no doubt that the people of Omagh would only be too willing to greet with warm friendship people who have suffered in Madrid. This is an idea which I intend to work on in the coming months." he said.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1644
Published Date: 18-Mar-04
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