11 Comments
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Zoë's avatar

Maeve, I was incredibly moved to listen to both your and your sisters' statements read out today. Your inherently empathetic nature is evident in your words as you speak for the people of Omagh, and everyone in your community impacted by that horrific day - the traumatic memories shuddering through your childhood, to the present day, not resolved, swept under the carpet - sometimes by those closest to you. I am sure there are many people who may have felt they weren't entitled to give an account of their experiences of that day as well as the days, weeks and years following, and you gave their feelings a voice through your words, whilst articulating that you were not speaking for them, but with them, they are seen too. All your experiences are valid. Thank you for sharing this with us.

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Maeve's avatar

Zoë, your message here and your friendship give such sustenance to my life. Truly, you see me and I hope that I see you the way you want and need to be seen also. Your kind words and the generosity of your time mean the world to me. Thank you for this.

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Victoria Johnston's avatar

Holding you in my heart today and the people of Omagh, always ❤️.

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Maeve's avatar

Thank you V. We walk this road together <3

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Clare Egan's avatar

I really enjoyed reading this Maeve. It's such an important contribution to the many voices who've spoken out about the trauma of that day. Thank you for sharing 💕

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KN's avatar

Such powerful, precise and human writing. Thank you for writing this Maeve. My heart goes out to you. Xx

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Maeve's avatar

Thank-you Kylie. Something about us west of the Bann-ers. We just innately get it - and each other :) Hope you are doing good. x

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Eli Davies's avatar

Thank you for sharing this Maeve. Sending you love and solidarity x

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Emer McHugh's avatar

Thank you for this, Maeve — I can’t imagine having to carry that pain, grief, and trauma for so very long x

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Rachel's avatar

Maeve, I'm deeply moved by how you have articulated the day of the bomb and its long shadow. To acknowledge the hierarchy of grief in this place - and the additional trauma it creates - is a cultural taboo that is almost impossible to convey to those who don't experience it. Putting words to your experience has done a service to the inquiry but also acknowledged the limitations of such a process. Thank you for writing and sharing.

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Maeve's avatar

So observant of you Rachel - as always - to note the additional trauma of the hierarchy of grief on all of us in this region. Finding those words through therapy was a lightbulb moment for me. I will tell you about some more of the limitations of the inquiry methodology when I see you. These things are so slippery, even a truly trauma-informed practice will not fully be able to tease out the impacts.

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