On the afternoon of Saturday 15th August 1998 at 3.10 p.m. a car bomb exploded in Market Street, Omagh killing 29 people and two unborn children, as well as injuring 370 people. It remains the largest loss of life of any single incident in the history of the Northern Ireland troubles.
The Omagh Bomb Archive Web Site
Since 1998 library staff collected and collated information relating to the tragic events of August 1998 and its aftermath with a view to creating an archive. Omagh Support and Self Help Group (OSSHG) also collected relevant material.
In 2001 the WELB and OSSHG decided to work in partnership and seek funding to develop a searchable database of the material collected.
This significant and challenging project has involved many people throughout the community.
Both organisations have contributed to the project in different ways to make information accessible to victims and families, researchers and academics, the local community and across the world.
The Material Collected
The archive collection includes over 10,500 newspaper articles, 15,000 emails, 818 books of condolence, 52 videos, nearly 3,000 floral tribute cards, 1,000 sympathy cards and 20 patchwork quilts and cushions presented by the NI Patchwork Guild. The library is still collecting and would welcome any further donations of material.
Click here to visit the Omagh Bomb Archive Web Site
