Stained glass memorials for victims of bombings

Families of those killed in the Omagh and Claudy bombings are to gather across Ireland and Spain to unveil a series of new memorials.


The stained glass windows, which were designed and created by the bereaved relatives, will be located at Buncrana, Claudy, Omagh and Madrid as a permanent tribute to the 38 people and two unborn babies killed, and also to the scores injured, in the 1971 and 1998 bombings.

Entitled the Windows of Hope project, the initiative was instigated by the co-ordinator of the Londonderry-based Shared City Project, Jeanette Warke, and has been funded 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 their grief and sadness and their hope for a better future.

Nine people were killed in the Claudy bombing of July 31, 1972.

Three bombs exploded in the centre of the village, killing six people outright while three others died later from their injuries.

The Omagh bombing was the most lethal atrocity of the Troubles. The Real IRA attack on the centre of Omagh on August 15, 1998, killed 29 people, among them a woman pregnant with twins.

Three of the children killed in the bombing came from Buncrana in Inishowen — Oran Doherty (8), Sean McLaughlin (12) and James Barker (12).

Two Spaniards, Rocio Abad Ramos (23) and Fernando Baselga (12), who were staying in Buncrana on an exchange programme, were also killed.

Scoil Iosagain Primary School in Buncrana will host the first of the Window of Hope stained glass window unveiling ceremonies on Saturday at 3pm.

At the Central Library, Omagh relatives will unveil their window on Sunday at 3pm, a day after the 11th anniversary of the bombing.

On Saturday, August 29, the relatives of those killed in Claudy will gather at the Diamond Centre at 3pm.

Jeanette Warke said working on the project has been a moving experience for everyone involved.

She said: “It was a great honour for me to be part of the project and to afford the families temporary relief from 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.

Ms Warke is planning to travel to Madrid later in the year to present their stained glass window.