Events of July 1999
Governor Owens
A United States politician yesterday offered hope to two grief-stricken communities when he visited Omagh and met victims of last August's Real IRA bomb. Governor of Colorado Bill Owens presented the Omagh fund with £31,250 from the Worldwide Ireland Fund. Governor Owens met victims of the 15th August bombing at Lismallard House where he planted a tree as a sign of unity between Omagh and Colorado. In April the governor experienced grief first-hand when 12 students and their teacher were massacred in his home state of Littleton.
William Keown Trust
Brave Tyrone people, many of whom were disabled by the Omagh bombing were honoured at the William Keown Trust awards in Belfast recently. Shauna Skelton was presented with the Cyril E. Stevenson and Sons Cup in the 'Children of Courage' category in recognition of her selflessness in the aftermath of the Market Street atrocity which claimed the life of her mother Philomena. Nikki Marlow, was presented with a certificate of merit in the adult category from the William Keown Trust. She suffered serious injuries as a result of the Omagh bombing in which her sister, Jolene, died.
Chelsea plays in Omagh
Nearly 7,000 football fans packed into Omagh Town's small St Julian's Road stadium to see the local boys take on the might of Premiership side Chelsea. Before the match got underway players and fans alike bowed their heads in a solemn minute's silence for the victims of the atrocity. All proceeds from the match, were donated to the Omagh Fund. Chelsea players expressed optimism that their trip to the town would help strengthen the spirit of the people of Omagh in overcoming the events of the past year.