25 YEARS AGO/1981
Planners admit 'Strong arguments for shopping centre'
THERE was a dramatic development at the Public Inquiry into the application for planning approval in relation to the shopping centre at Dromore Road, Omagh, when an official from the Department of the Environment's Planning Service admitted having a change-of-heart on their earlier opposition to the proposal.
Hilary Heslip, Divisional Planning Officer, after answering an hour-long series of questions from Desmond Boal QC, who was appearing for the applicants, Equipment Sales Ltd, agreed that on environmental, sociological and economic considerations, there was a case to be made for the shopping complex – providing no clear planning principle was breached.
Mr Boal said he was under the impression that the Planning Authority believed the application to be "undesirable." But Miss Hewslip replied it was also true to say that her department had always recognised there were strong arguments for such a centre.
Jobless youths help club
SIX local unemployed youths have shown that the image of time-wasting and boredom – normally associated with life on the 'dole' – is not always a true picture. For instead of standing around street corners, they have been giving their combined talents free of charge to the Omagh Boys' and Girls' Club - getting the vandalised centre back into operation.
The credit is due to the willing volunteers – Owen McCanny, Terry McCullagh, Martin Simmonds, Kieran Lowry and brothers, Paul and Mickey Brownson – who by taking on the work themselves have saved the club over £1,000.
50 YEARS AGO/1956
Heroic Hungary treacherously assaulted by Soviet might
THE Soviet Union has thrown its armed might against the Hungarian people, seized the government and renewed the bitter struggle with Hungary's army and insurgent forces for control of the country.
Moscow radio announced that "the reactionary conspiracy" had been crushed and that a new government headed by Janos Kadar – first secretary of the Hungarian Communist Party – had taken over.
The Holy Father issued an Encyclical in which he said, "The blood of the Hungarian people cries to the Lord, who, as a Just Judge, often punishes the sin of individuals only after death, but sometimes strikes in this life governors and nations themselves for their injustices."
'Old timers' top bill at Plumbridge concert
AN unusual and most enjoyable concert in aid of parochial funds was held in St Patrick's Hall, Plumbridge. The artistes were parishioners all over 70 years of age.
They entertained a very large audience with old-time songs, selections of instrumental music, and traditional Irish dances which were performed with amazing precision.
The concert was kept on a lively note by a very efficient fear a'tigh, Joseph McCullagh, auctioneer, Plumbridge. The oldest artiste in the concert was Thomas Morris (Tommy' as he is best known to the people of Plumbridge) aged 96 and still very active who sang three very old songs which delighted the audience.
75 YEARS AGO/1931
Excitement at Clogher
GREAT excitement was created at Clogher by the accidental ignition of petrol in close proximity to two motor garages, and considerable destruction to property narrowly averted by the presence of mind and prompt action of JS Stephens, manager of the Ulster Bank.
It appears that Hugh McKenna, who carries on the trade of saddler in one end of a wooden hut, the other end being used by Mr Stephens as a motor garage, mistaking petrol for paraffin, was pouring it into an oil stove when a tremendous explosion took place, and for a short time the position looked dangerous.
However, there were a number of people about the place and, under the direction of Mr Stephens who took charge of the work, the fire was speedily extinguished without serious damage being done.
Fight in New York theatre
TWO thousand theatre-goers had to scramble to shelter from flying bullets while a gang of half-a-dozen gunmen backed their way out from the Fox Folly Theatre in Brooklyn to a motor car and escaped with their loot.
The battle was waged with two policemen, who chanced to be in the theatre, and with other policemen outside, who had been attracted by noise of the shooting. It is known none of the audience was shot, but one of the policemen received a bullet wound in the hand.
The motor car in which the bandits got away had been stolen, and it was found abandoned later with 27 bullet holes in it, and 150 dollars on the floor. There was also blood on one of the seats, showing that the police bullets had probably hit somebody.
100 YEARS AGO/1906
Circus performer attacked by his ten tigers and six lions
WHILE the lion tamer, Herr Peters, was conducting a performance with his ten tigers and six lions at the Busch Circus, Berlin, he slipped and the animals at once rushed on him, severely biting and pawing him.
Four assistants made their way into the cage and drove back the beasts by blows with iron bars, and Peters crawled out with their aid through the gate, and managed to show himself three times to the public in the circus before he broke down unconscious.
The public, principally composed of children, were seized with a sort of panic, but were ultimately calmed by the assurances of the circus staff, whereupon the performance continued.
Gas explosion in Omagh
A HOUSE occupied by Francis Colton at Church Street in Omagh was badly wrecked in a serious gas explosion. The floor in the room, a room off the kitchen, was blown up and the furniture overturned, most of it being destroyed.
Mr Colton and a little child were in the room at the time of the occurrence, but fortunately escaped without and more serious injury than the shock.
One of the occupants of the house told a 'Herald' reporter that she heard a grating noise, and suddenly the ceiling fell and the whole house seemed to shake. The windows at the back were smashed and the frames blown out into the yard.
– NIGEL McDONAGH
