THE SUN MAY NEVER SHINE ON COSTLY OMAGH BOMB MEMORIAL
The sun may never shine on costly Omagh bomb memorial
Another anniversary of the Omagh bomb has come and gone. Yet the costly Pillar of Light glass obelisk erected at the site of the atrocity three years ago has never lit up even on the sunniest of day's in the town. I would agree with the father of one of the victims that, "The thing never worked and never would."
The 31 tall mirrors in the Garden of Light are all computer controlled and designed, I understand, to direct beams of light into the heart-shaped feature inside the glass pillar. It does seem strange to a mere mortal like myself that such an elaborate design requiring so much sunlight to function properly was accepted in the first place, especially in a town believed by the designer to get the least amount of sun anywhere in Ireland. After the lapse of three years, I am at a loss to know why there are still some minor technical difficulties to be straightened out. There is still too much grease in the mechanism we are told for one of the helioslats to work properly. Several adjustments have already been made, but there is still no light shining out from the centre of the tall obilisk.
Why. I wonder has no council member or the Chief Executive tried to explain what those who were responsible intend to do about getting this rather unattractive 'white elephant' to light up? I feel it's about time they took Michael Gallagher's suggestion to re-examine the design which probably looked good on paper but practically hasn't worked and may never do so.
The Omagh families, not forgetting those who were badly injured or severely traumatised have had many setbacks to live with over the past 13 years. Bad enough that no-one was ever convicted for the bombing and the only person charged was found not guilty after a lengthy trial. Most of the families were happy enough with the original garden of remembrance which contained a simple memorial stone suitably inscribed with wording chosen by themselves. All this was later replaced by a very expensive Garden of Light memorial described recently by the father of one of the victims as, "Visually dissatisfying and too clinical."
There is only a very small plaque on a wall close to the bomb site to remind visitors that a bomb actually exploded there on August 15 1998. Sadly the organisation responsible for planting it was never identified on the plaque, although it admitted its involvement. Some families were upset as they felt marginlised at the time.
Personally. I feel that the tall obelisk which never lights up could be symbolic of those many dark days those grieving folk have experienced over 13 long years.
And they rightly must be asking themselves just how many more disappointments they are expected to take before they get the justice they seek through the independent public inquiry they have demanded, but haven't as yet been granted by the Secretary of State.
Omagh resident. (Name and address supplied)
Another anniversary of the Omagh bomb has come and gone. Yet the costly Pillar of Light glass obelisk erected at the site of the atrocity three years ago has never lit up even on the sunniest of day's in the town. I would agree with the father of one of the victims that, "The thing never worked and never would."
The 31 tall mirrors in the Garden of Light are all computer controlled and designed, I understand, to direct beams of light into the heart-shaped feature inside the glass pillar. It does seem strange to a mere mortal like myself that such an elaborate design requiring so much sunlight to function properly was accepted in the first place, especially in a town believed by the designer to get the least amount of sun anywhere in Ireland. After the lapse of three years, I am at a loss to know why there are still some minor technical difficulties to be straightened out. There is still too much grease in the mechanism we are told for one of the helioslats to work properly. Several adjustments have already been made, but there is still no light shining out from the centre of the tall obilisk.
Why. I wonder has no council member or the Chief Executive tried to explain what those who were responsible intend to do about getting this rather unattractive 'white elephant' to light up? I feel it's about time they took Michael Gallagher's suggestion to re-examine the design which probably looked good on paper but practically hasn't worked and may never do so.
The Omagh families, not forgetting those who were badly injured or severely traumatised have had many setbacks to live with over the past 13 years. Bad enough that no-one was ever convicted for the bombing and the only person charged was found not guilty after a lengthy trial. Most of the families were happy enough with the original garden of remembrance which contained a simple memorial stone suitably inscribed with wording chosen by themselves. All this was later replaced by a very expensive Garden of Light memorial described recently by the father of one of the victims as, "Visually dissatisfying and too clinical."
There is only a very small plaque on a wall close to the bomb site to remind visitors that a bomb actually exploded there on August 15 1998. Sadly the organisation responsible for planting it was never identified on the plaque, although it admitted its involvement. Some families were upset as they felt marginlised at the time.
Personally. I feel that the tall obelisk which never lights up could be symbolic of those many dark days those grieving folk have experienced over 13 long years.
And they rightly must be asking themselves just how many more disappointments they are expected to take before they get the justice they seek through the independent public inquiry they have demanded, but haven't as yet been granted by the Secretary of State.
Omagh resident. (Name and address supplied)
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/2034
Published Date: 25-Aug-11
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