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'Window of Hope' unveiled in
Buncrana
20.08.09
A BEAUTIFUL stained
glass window has been unveiled in Buncrana to
remember the young local victims of the Omagh
bombing. The 'Window of Hope' at Scoil Iosagain
primary school, was designed as a permanent
commemoration to Buncrana friends Oran Doherty, 8,
Shaun McLaughlin, 12 and James Barker, 12, who were
among the 29 people, including a woman pregnant with
twins, killed in Omagh on August 15, 1998. Hundreds
more people were injured in the atrocity.
The windows were designed and created by the
victims' families in Buncrana, Omagh and Madrid. A
'Window of Hope' has also been created for the nine
victims of the 1972 Claudy bombing, and their
families.
The initiative was undertaken by Shared City Project
co-ordinator Jeanette Warke and was funded and
supported by Derry City Council and the Community
Relations Council of Northern Ireland.
The families worked together at a series of
workshops coming up with ideas for the stained glass
window that would "reflect the grief and sadness
that they feel and how they have hope for a better
future". |
Scoil Iosagain, where
the young victims attended, hosted the first 'Window
of Hope' unveiling last Saturday, August 15, at
3.00pm - the 11th anniversary, to the very hour, of
the bombing in Omagh.
Omagh Central Library unveiled its window the
following day, also at 3pm. Later this month, on
Saturday, August 29, the Diamond Centre, Claudy,
will be the venue for their unveiling event while Ms
Warke hopes to travel to Madrid, Spain, later in the
year to present their stained glass window.
She said working on the project had been a great
experience for everyone involved. “It was a great
honour for me to be part of the project and to
afford the families temporary relief from |
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the trouble and pain
they continue to endure with the loss of their loves
ones, in the horrific aftermath of the bombs in
Claudy and Omagh.
"The families hope that the windows will send out a
message of hope to all affected by the Troubles on
the island of Ireland,” she said.
The stained glass windows were created with the help
of local artist Bridget Murray with input from the
various family members. They feature a range of
symbols that are important to each including the
Buncrana coat of arms, the Madrid coat of arms, the
iris flower, the lily, the sun and a candle. Jim
Arbuckle assisted with the design and brochure while
Alpha Designs produced the stained glass windows.
“It is my sincere hope that many people will derive
some comfort from viewing these beautiful stained
glass windows and that the love with which they were
designed will shine out to everyone throughout the
world, “added Ms Warke. |
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