by Ronan McSherry

Retired Beragh farmer Mick Grimes who lost three generations of his family in the Omagh bomb has published a book dedicated to all those killed in the atrocity on August 15, 1998. His wife Mary, granddaughter Maura and daughter Avril, who was pregnant with twins, went on a shopping trip to Omagh to celebrate Mary's 65th birthday. They never came home. Mary was never to see the flowers waiting on the kitchen table lovingly bought for her by her husband of over 40 years, nor any of the birthday cards from her eleven children.

'Till We Meet Again' is an insightful, charming and touching account of life as it used to be in rural Tyrone. Mick, who is 83-years-old, narrates a first-hand account of a farming and family life lived in the close knit community of Beragh where he has spent all his days.

poems

For years he contributed articles and poems for a local newssheet titled 'The Link.' He recalled how his poems had been collated by his wife and daughter Avril. "One Christmas morning I found a bulky envelope amongst my presents. It was from Mary and Avril. On opening it I found a small book well presented and professionally bound. It contained all the little so-called poems or rhymes I had written up to that date. It was good to know that someone cared.

On different occasions in the years that followed Mary sometimes hinted that I should try to write a book. While I did not turn down the idea point blank I knew in my heart that it was beyond my capability.

Then in the years after the Omagh atrocity in 1998 the fact that I had made no effort to comply with my wife's request sometimes caused me concern. About 18 months ago I decided to make an attempt. No doubt some readers will frown at my endeavour but I like to think that somewhere beyond the great divide there will be one who smiles."

With stories, humorous anecdotes, poems and observations he takes us through the 'Hungry Thirties' through war time Ireland to the present day. His poignant account of the loss of his wife, daughter and grandchildren in the Omagh bombing is heartrending and his tender poetry offers a glimpse into the great love that still burns strong ten years on.

Speaking to the UH Mick said he bore no hatred for the people who took away his loved ones. "What can you do only keep going? I have no answer to it and neither has anyone else. You don't come to terms with it. We didn't go public at all as there wasn't any point in it and it wasn't going to change the situation. They shouldn't have done it. It simply made no sense at the time. I know they didn't mean to kill anyone belonging to me but they shouldn't have been at it in the first place. No, I don't carry hatred for anyone. It would hurt yourself.

"I was very close to my wife. She was from Knockavilling, Co. Cork. I met her when she came up here to visit a cousin of mine when she was nursing in Scotland. We married about 18 months after we first met in July 1956."

At Mary's funeral Mass Father James Grimes told how he nearly broke down when he was informed that Mick had written a special poem in her honour to mark his wife's 65th birthday, a week before her untimely death. The poem titled, 'The Touch of a Hand' is in the book along with other beautiful and touching prose.

'Till We Meet Again' is a book that will delight and infect the reader with its warmth long after reading it. The public is welcome to the book launch at 8pm on Monday, August 4 in Omagh Library with UTV's Paul Clarke. Priced at £10 (¤12.50) it will then be available at selected Easons bookshops and newsagents nationwide.