Diocesan News
Omagh bomb commemoration services held in Omagh and Buncrana
Hundreds of people attended separate services in Tyrone and Donegal on Wednesday which were held to mark the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bombing in which 29 people and two unborn babies lost their lives. The Real IRA attack, on August 15th, 2018, was the single bloodiest atrocity of the Northern Ireland Troubles.
The bigger of the two commemoration services took place at Market Street, in Omagh town centre, at the exact spot where a car bomb exploded 20 years earlier. The service was arranged by the Churches’ Forum in Omagh, whose co–chairmen are the Rector of Drumragh with Mountfield, the Rev Ian Linton, and the Parish Priest of Omagh, Fr Eugene Hasson.
The two churchmen were joined by the Minister of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Omagh, the Rev Robert Herron OBE, the Minister of Omagh Methodist Church, the Rev Eleanor Hayden, and the Parish Priest of Drumquin, Fr Kevin Mullan.
Politicians mingled with victims’ relatives, survivors, members of the emergency services, townspeople and people from elsewhere who had travelled to Omagh for the occasion. During the service, a bell was knelled – in 32 single tolls – one for each victim of the atrocity and one for all victims of violence. As the gathering dispersed, those who attended were invited to take white rose petals and scatter them in the nearby River Strule or the adjoining Memorial Garden.
Six hours later, and almost 50 miles away, hundreds gathered in Buncrana for a cross–community, open–air service which remembered the three local boys and two young Spanish visitors to Buncrana who died in the Omagh bombing. The Buncrana victims had been on a day trip to the Ulster American Folk Park – and then Omagh – when they were caught in the blast.
The Buncrana service was held just yards from the homes of 12–year old Shaun McLaughlin and 8–year old Oran Doherty, who died along with 12–year old James Barker, 12–year old Fernando Blasco Baselga and 24–year old Rocio Abad Ramos. Fernando, who came from Madrid, had been on an exchange programme in Donegal and 24 year old Rocio was one of the group leaders.
The service was led by the Parish Priest of Buncrana, Fr Francis Bradley, the Priest–in–Charge of Fahan Upper and Fahan Lower Church of Ireland, the Rev Judi McGaffin, and Buncrana priest Fr John Walsh. Also taking part were Drumquin Parish Priest Fr Kevin Mullan – who had participated in the commemorative service in Omagh earlier the same afternoon – and Mr Dominic Pinto, one of the consultant surgeons who treated casualties of the atrocity (he also attended both services).
As darkness fell on Buncrana, candles were lit for the victims of the bombing. Among the prayers said was one in Spanish recited by Paula Mahon, a Spanish woman who had helped organise the exchange programme and who now lives in Buncrana. The victims of this week’s bridge–collapse in Genoa were also remembered.
The large gathering included two men who had lost close relatives in the Omagh bombing. Michael Gallagher (whose son Aidan was killed) and Stanley McComb (who lost his wife Ann) had travelled from Tyrone to show solidarity with the Buncrana families.
For further information please contact:
Diocesan Communications Officer, Derry & Raphoe
Mr Paul McFadden
028 7126 2440
07525 826290
press@derryandraphoe.org