{"id":28381,"date":"2023-08-17T10:42:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-17T14:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=28381"},"modified":"2023-08-24T10:46:02","modified_gmt":"2023-08-24T14:46:02","slug":"omagh-remembers-twenty-five-years-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=28381","title":{"rendered":"Omagh Remembers – Twenty-Five Years On"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Survivors Thank Irish-America For Support<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Omagh survivors Stanley McCombe and Michael Gallagher with British Minister Lord Caine (middle)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

EXCLUSIVE BY PETER KELLY IN OMAGH, County Tyrone<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hundreds of supporters joined families of those bereaved by the Omagh bomb as they gathered in the town to mark the 25th anniversary of the attack. It was the single worst atrocity of the Northern Ireland Troubles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a prayerful and reflective service at Omagh\u2019s Memorial Garden, the names of the 31 men, women, children and 2 unborn twins killed on 15 August 1998 were read out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hymns were sung and prayers devoted to the memories of those who perished, with the \u2018Our Father\u2019 read in English, Irish and Spanish, reflecting the three nationalities of those who were killed. In addition to the large international media presence, government dignitaries including British NI Minister Lord Jonathan Caine and Irish Minister for European Affairs and Defense, Peter Burke were in attendance. Former Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman Baroness Nuala O\u2019Loan, a long term advocate for victims\u2019 families, also joined from the House of Lords in London.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a statement dispatched to mark the 25th anniversary of the bombing, current T\u00e1naiste and former Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin said: \u201cWe will never forget the people who lost their lives, those who were injured, and the families whose suffering continues today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy thoughts are first and foremost with all those impacted by this attack, carried out with disregard for democracy, and for people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have been honored to meet with, and listen to, the families of the Omagh bomb victims over many years, most recently in June. Their search for the full truth of what happened has not been an easy or swift process.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michael Gallagher, who lost his 21 year old son Aiden in the attack was the keynote speaker at the commemoration and told the Irish Examiner USA at the event that the Omagh community remained unified and resilient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe huge turnout today is testament to Omagh\u2019s spirit of strength and cohesion, 25 years after our small town was ripped apart,\u201d he said. \u201cThey talk about this as being the worst atrocity of the Troubles, in fact, it was the first atrocity of peace time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Gallagher\u2019s Omagh Support and Self Help Group have secured the breakthrough of an Independent Public Enquiry into the 1998 attack, announced earlier this year by the Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Chris Heaton-Harris. The gravity of the announcement was reflected in the Irish Examiner USA front page cover story in our February 8th issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Omagh has been previously referred to as \u2018Ireland\u2019s September 11th\u2019 by the families\u2019 campaigner and Irish musician Bob Geldof, and Mr Gallagher thanked the support that survivors have received from Irish America over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have close connections with the United States through our links with the September 11th families in New York, and those bereaved in other attacks around the world,\u201d he said. The Omagh father is an advisor to the Manhattan-based \u2018Strength to Strength Global\u2019 organization which assists worldwide victims of terror. Mr Gallagher has also helped fellow survivor groups in South America including Colombia where he participated in its complex peace process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

American support to Omagh has also taken the form of a former US Marine, California based Lt. Colonel Mike Hudson who previously ran the Belfast Marathon to raise funds for the families\u2019 efforts for justice. Maryland\u2019s Salisbury University Professor Brian Polkinghorn heads its United Nations Regional Center of Expertise and has hosted the Omagh campaigner on campus twice where the Tyrone father inspired hundreds of conflict resolution students as he gave the annual \u201cOne Person Can Make A Difference\u201d lecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Gallagher followed in the footsteps of previous speakers at the Maryland university, from Nobel Laureates and former Presidents including F.W. De Klerk of South Africa to Lech Walesa of Poland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The US Chairman of the Good Friday Agreement negotiations, Senator George Mitchell famously named his new-born daughter \u2018Claire\u2019 after an Omagh survivor, Claire Gallagher, who was blinded in the rural market town blast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michael Gallagher said, \u201cThrough the Irish Examiner USA, I want to thank the support that Irish-America has given to our campaign across the years. It has been uplifting and important, and we have made many alliances and friends that have helped us through the many challenging times.\u201d <\/p>\n

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