MADRID STAINED GLASS WINDOW WILL REMEMBER VICTIMS OF BOMB
Madrid stained glass window will remember victims of bomb
BY JOHN McCUSKER
j.mccusker@ulsterherald.com
A STAINED glass window in memory of two Spaniards killed in the Omagh bombing will be unveiled in Madrid to-day (Thursday).
The 'Window of Hope' is the fourth in a series of memorials to those killed in the explosion of August 15, 1998, with identical windows already having been placed in Omagh, Buncrana and Claudy.
Michael Gallagher, of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, whose son Aidan was among those killed, will travel to Madrid for today's ceremony. He will be accompanied by Graham Warks, representing the Shared City grouping from Derry.
The ceremony will also be attended by representatives from the Irish and British embassies and the Spanish Home Affairs Department.
The stained glass window will be unveiled in San Pablo CEU University in Madrid where two of those killed in Omagh came from. Rocio Abad Ramos, 23, had almost finished a degree in biology in Spain and had been involved in exchange trips between Spanish and Irish school children.
And Fernando Blasco Baselga, 12, was taking part in an exchange trip with children from Donegal, and had gone on the day-trip to Omagh when he was caught up in the explosion.
"This is the last of the four stained glass windows to be unveiled," Mr Gallagher said. "The window will remember the two Spanish victims and the 11 other injured young people who were airlifted home by the Spanish Air Force." The unveiling - which takes place at 1pm today - is the last in a two-year project which has seen identical stained glass windows placed in Omagh Library, Scoil Isoagain in Buncrana and Claudy Community Centre.
"The window was made by Joe Coyle from Derry and shipped out to Spain a month ago", Mr Gallagher continued. "Each of the four windows are exactly the same with symbols on them which include a candle for life, flowers, a girl kneeling in one corner, a symbol of Madrid and a clock showing the hands at 3.10pm, the time the bomb exploded. The word 'Remembrance' is displayed across the top.
"These memorials are all placed to be respected and people do respect stained glass windows."
Meanwhile, Mr Gallagher will accompany members of Oran Doherty's family to New York this weekend to take part in a programme for young people affected by conflict. Oran, aged 8, from Buncana, died along with his friends, Sean McLaughlin and James Barker, when the car bomb exploded in Market Street.
BY JOHN McCUSKER
j.mccusker@ulsterherald.com
A STAINED glass window in memory of two Spaniards killed in the Omagh bombing will be unveiled in Madrid to-day (Thursday).
The 'Window of Hope' is the fourth in a series of memorials to those killed in the explosion of August 15, 1998, with identical windows already having been placed in Omagh, Buncrana and Claudy.
Michael Gallagher, of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, whose son Aidan was among those killed, will travel to Madrid for today's ceremony. He will be accompanied by Graham Warks, representing the Shared City grouping from Derry.
The ceremony will also be attended by representatives from the Irish and British embassies and the Spanish Home Affairs Department.
The stained glass window will be unveiled in San Pablo CEU University in Madrid where two of those killed in Omagh came from. Rocio Abad Ramos, 23, had almost finished a degree in biology in Spain and had been involved in exchange trips between Spanish and Irish school children.
And Fernando Blasco Baselga, 12, was taking part in an exchange trip with children from Donegal, and had gone on the day-trip to Omagh when he was caught up in the explosion.
"This is the last of the four stained glass windows to be unveiled," Mr Gallagher said. "The window will remember the two Spanish victims and the 11 other injured young people who were airlifted home by the Spanish Air Force." The unveiling - which takes place at 1pm today - is the last in a two-year project which has seen identical stained glass windows placed in Omagh Library, Scoil Isoagain in Buncrana and Claudy Community Centre.
"The window was made by Joe Coyle from Derry and shipped out to Spain a month ago", Mr Gallagher continued. "Each of the four windows are exactly the same with symbols on them which include a candle for life, flowers, a girl kneeling in one corner, a symbol of Madrid and a clock showing the hands at 3.10pm, the time the bomb exploded. The word 'Remembrance' is displayed across the top.
"These memorials are all placed to be respected and people do respect stained glass windows."
Meanwhile, Mr Gallagher will accompany members of Oran Doherty's family to New York this weekend to take part in a programme for young people affected by conflict. Oran, aged 8, from Buncana, died along with his friends, Sean McLaughlin and James Barker, when the car bomb exploded in Market Street.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/2044
Published Date: 22-Mar-12
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