Omagh

[Chickenkeev]

Looking back on it I can't believe it happened on this island. I hope all Omagh people are ok at this time.

Hi Chickenkeev. Omagh woman here. Still hardly believe it myself. Most days I hardly think of it but just this morning on bbc ulster there was a girl from Strabane talking about her memory of the day as a 6 year old, the static of the radio listening for updates from a neighbouring town, her mum a former teacher in Omagh in bits and seeing her dad cry for the 1st time and the fear she carried as a young of could it happen to them? Basically it was a segment about the legacy of the GFA, what she was getting at was the fear/ trauma she has carried over her lifetime due to an incident she wasn't directly involved in in comparison to the trauma and brutality those have who suffered directly throughout the troubles and the legacy of that, and how its basically ingrained in our DNA. Anyway I'm waffling, but I found myself shedding a tear this morning at her little innocent memory and then thinking of my memories of that day and the aftermath as an older teenager and again i wasnt directly involved. I'll never forget it. Our town will never forget.

That kind of trauma doesn't ever leave you and often has a physical reaction. I shudder watching news from that time and i had no real connection to it.

And i hope you and yours are ok x

Thankyou! I was shaking like a leaf writing that post it's strange how memories can have a physical reaction like you say!

I have done counselling for family stuff and the guy remarked on my actions while i was talking about particular things from my childhood. The actions were completely unintentional/unnoticed but as the man said, the body remembers!

Thanks for the thread @Chickenkeev. We all do well to remember the people who died and were injured on the day.
Also, to remember that the trauma of it reverberates out, like ripples on a pond, far away from the initial impact point, in space and time.
I am old enough to remember the repetitive horror of the news from the other end of our shared island, every single night, on the telly. I remember coming home from work on my lunch break, in the week preceding the (Belfast/Good Friday)agreement so that I could watch the news (fewer tellies in pubs/restaurants then). My flatmate and I sat and watched it. We were all caught up in the history and hope and optimism.

The IRA destroyed that hope, in Omagh.
Personally, I cannot support Sinn Fein, as a result.

Commiserations to all those who are remembering those they lost, people living with injuries and traumatic memories.