Events of January 1999
Heather Mills
Top model Heather Mills who lost a leg in a road traffic accident, brought hope to some of the Omagh bomb victims at the Tyrone County Hospital's rehabilitation unit on Saturday 23rd January. Wearing a short skirt and knee length boots Heather proved to be an inspiration to many of those who had lost limbs in the Market Street bomb of August 15, particularly the young female victims. Heather spent over five hours with the victims and their families and answered any questions they had about their artificial limbs. Meeting Heather provided an opportunity for those affected by the bomb to speak to someone who had been through a similar devastating experience.
New York fundraising
Committee members from the Omagh Relief Fund of New York handed over a cheque for $129,000 to members of Omagh District Council, having organised numerous fundraising events in the city. The fund was formed after natives of Tyrone, living in the city, organised a meeting in the Queens district of New York after the atrocity last August to form a fundraising group. Services to remember the dead and injured were held in Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx and within a few weeks preparations were underway to raise funds with events at Towerview in Queens and Gaelic Park in the Bronx where most of the Irish American population lives.
Boyzone
Pop heart throbs Boyzone met victims of the Omagh bomb on the 2nd January when they played two emotional tribute concerts in the town. They were supported by another popular Dublin boy band. Ronan Keating explained his reasons for coming. "We just want to bring a little bit of happiness back to the town". Praise for Boyzone came from Mr Sean Clarke chairman of Omagh District Council. He said "Boyzone have brought much-needed New Year cheer to the Omagh district and to our young people and have started 1999 for us all, in the best possible style".