All Our Yesterdays: Febraury 15, 2024

25 Years Ago/1999
Omagh traders lash out
OUTRAGED business leaders have launched a scathing attack on Omagh District Council’s plans to raise local rates by almost ten per-cent and calls have been made for the local authority to ‘get its act together’ before placing such a heavy burden on ratepayers.
In a hard-hitting statement issued jointly by the local Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Omagh Traders Association, both organisations called on the council to put their ‘house in order’ before imposing massive charges. Business representatives say they are outraged that the rates increase was announced against the backdrop of reported losses of almost half a million pounds at the council-managed Ulster History Park.
The staggering increase in the domestic rate has led one businessman to accuse local elected representatives of ‘letting Omagh down’. The joint grouping has called on the local authority to restructure council-owned facilities, before placing any further massive increase on ratepayers.
Replying to the criticism, the council’s chief executive, John McKinney highlighted the fact that the increase had occurred against a backdrop of what he described as ‘unavoidable costs’. He said a number of factors, which were outside the council’s control, had accounted for 35 per-cent of the increase alone.
In their statement, both the Traders’ Association and the Chamber point out that everyone suffers when local rates are set at such high levels.

50 Years Ago/1974
Fires showed Omagh’s agony
A CRUEL blow directed at the very life of Omagh was struck when following the blasting of the Crown Building, housing the offices of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, at Lisnamallard, major fires broke out in High Street and Market Street, as a result of incendiary devices having been planted in the shops.
The toll of the destruction included the gutting of four important business premises, the devastation of two residences at Lisnamallard which were rendered uninhabitable, the wrecking by bomb blast of the local Baptist Church, and serious damage to other property.
Cost of the damage will run into several hundreds of thousands of pounds, and the night’s outbreaks of destruction will be remembered as the worst Omagh has known.
There is total condemnation of the attempt to wreck the town, which had already been sorely stricken by the bombing of business and residential premises in Campsie.
The incendiarism is seen as an ominous development and one against which the surest protection can lie only in all businesses taking special measures for the check of their premises.
“I have never seen such fires in the town of Omagh,” was how one senior citizen of the county town summed up the drama of leaping flames, dense smoke, collapsing roofs and ceilings, shattering windows, fire hoses, water and crowds in High Street and Market Street.

75 Years Ago/1949
Anti-partition victory
SCENES of enthusiasm, not witnessed in Omagh since the Imperial Election of 1935, when Messrs. Mulvey and Cunningham were elected as Nationalist members for Tyrone and Fermanagh, greeted the announcement of the victory of the Anti-Partition candidate, Mr Roderick H O’Connor, over the Unionist nominee, Mr T McClay, in the General Election for the Six-County Parliament.
From about 10’clock people gathered outside the Courthouse where the counting was being carried on, and there were many queries when there was a recess at 10.15pm before the West Tyrone constituency was dealt with as to whether Mr O’Connor won. Even though these people were told that the soonest a result could be expected would be about 1am, they stayed outside the Courthouse in case they would miss the announcement.
Heavy rain did not deter them from waiting nor did it dampen their spirits, and when the announcement was made at 1.40am, loud cheers were raised and these continued during the speeches of thanks to the Returning Officer and his staff, at times drowning what the speakers were saying.
The huge crowd gathered inside the porches of the Courthouse and as the successful candidate walked down the stairs, an eat-shattering cheer was raised. One old lady detached herself from the crowd and expressed the sentiments of all there when, grasping the candidate’s hand, she said, “God bless you, Mr O’Connor.”

100 Years Ago/1924
Chocolate factory burned
A BIG fire occurred at the factory of the Urney Chocolate Co Ltd at Urney, three miles from Strabane, on the Tyrone side of the border when the magnificent building was gutted, nothing remaining except the bare walls and the engine room. The damage is estimated to exceed £20,000. The outbreak was discovered shortly after noon, the workers having just left the premises, and when the alarm was given by the ringing of the factory bell by an employee who happened to be in the vicinity, the workers hurriedly returned and left no stoned unturned in their endeavour to check the flames, but from the outset, little hope was entertained of saving the building. Voluntary helpers also assisted the workers, and hand fire extinguishers were freely used. A telephone message reached Strabane and the town fire bell rang out for quarter of an hour, but owing to the distance the local fire brigade were unable to respond as they were not equipped with a motion vehicle and it would have taken them about one and a half hours to have reached the scene. However, the Derry Fire Brigade were telephoned for and answered the call. Strabane police rushed to Urney in Crossley tenders and joined in the work of salvage. In this way some valuable machinery was got out, but for the greater part, the factory’s contents were destroyed, including furniture, costly machinery, enormous quantities of chocolate and ingredients. Despite efforts to control the flames, they spread rapidly and the ceiling soon collapsed.