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Remembering:
“Petals of Hope”
Artistic responses to the Omagh Bomb
Conversations with Carole Kane and Malachi O’Doherty
1
�Nicole Watt
“The human justice system, made of imperfect
people in an imperfect world, rarely satisfies our need
for resolution.’
It was a typically cloudy day in Northern Ireland when I first wandered into the Garden of
Light, the memorial established to honour the thirty-one lives lost in the Omagh Bomb of
1998. Having recently emigrated from America, I was unaware of the garden’s meaning,
only that I was heavily pregnant and it had a lovely lily pond which beckoned me to rest
my tired feet.
A bomb has never exploded in York, Pennsylvania. As far as I know there has never been
a murder in the neighbourhood where I grew up. And yet, there were tragedies of a
different kind, as there always are wherever human beings live.
The crimes I experienced during my youth and early adulthood are those rarely talked
about in public circles. Although society has changed much, most people are still not
comfortable hearing the stories I could tell, nor the stories of others like me. No one will
ever build a memorial garden to our lost childhood where we can gather to share our
grief, to feel strength and hope in numbers. Most of us will never have the opportunity to
pursue justice in a court of law.
Defending the innocent and holding lawbreakers accountable is vital in a healthy society.
However, I am all too aware, as are most of us, that the human justice system, made
of imperfect people in an imperfect world, rarely satisfies our need for resolution. The
bitterness and pain can linger for years, even decades, poisoning our lives and the lives
of those we love.. What is the answer then?
As a fellow sojourner on the path of injustice, I have come to believe that healing, closure
and justice is possible, even in the absence of monetary compensation or an admission
of guilt. I know because this is what has happened in my life. But believing in it takes a
shift in perception.
I have never had the opportunity to take those who harmed me to court, and yet justice
has entered my life in the form of purpose. While those who pursue crime and evil lose
their way, corrupting themselves and others, if we take the high road through our loss, we
will find noble purposes to pursue that benefit us and others around us.
When we are able and willing to empathise with others who suffer, justice and healing
redeem us in the form of compassion? When we are able to bear burdens others cannot
because we have carried such a deep grief for so long, we are given justice in the form
of strength? When the suffering that has gouged our hearts one day, perhaps far down
the road, creates a deep well that can now experience incredible joy and love, that no
longer takes a single moment for granted, we experience justice and healing in the very
gift of being more fully alive?
25
�When others trust us enough to tell us their stories we are given the honour of being
witnesses to others’ lives? And by listening, we are being heard, too, if not by an earthly
court, then by a much higher one, who judges not for this lifetime only, but for eternity.
Stepping into the garden on this sunny autumn day, I am reminded of the millions who
suffer and are not comforted: Abused children, victims of torture, those whose stories are
still bound in shame and silence. Perhaps we cannot achieve earthly justice for ourselves
and those we have lost, but maybe we can receive another form through helping others
who have no hope of helping themselves. We can be the light shining in the darkness- a
light so bright that it will be said of us ‘the darkness did not overcome it.’
No one can tell anyone else when or where or how the time of healing or surrender
will come or when the pursuit of justice has reached its end. The road of grief and
redemption has its own clock and the hour ticks differently for each person. But I feel
compelled to speak out for those who have shared their story with me: whether the guilty
ever receive their worldly due or not, I pray for you the same things I pray for myself- a life
of joy, love, healing, divine justice- and most of all - peace.
26
�This publication has received support from the Victims Support Programme for Groups
Working with Victims and Survivors, which is administered by VSS on behalf of the Office of
the First and Deputy First Minister. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of
the Victims and Survivors Service.
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Remembering 'Petals of Hope' (<em>collection</em>)
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Some of the recorded stories can be found at the 'Petals of Hope Revisited' blog: <a href="http://www.omaghpetals.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">www.omaghpetals.blogspot.co.uk/</a><br /><strong>See also:</strong><br /> Information about the original Petals of Hope project on Carole Kane's website: <a href="http://www.carolekane.com/index.php?/petals-of-hope/" target="_blank">www.carolekane.com/</a>
Stories Collected
Non DC - Number of stories recorded as part of the project.
15 video; 23 text
Stories Deposited
Non DC - Number of stories deposited with Accounts of the Conflict.
11 video; 15 text
Collection Permission Form
Non DC - Collection permission form signed and returned.
Yes (signed 29 March 2014)
Description
An account of the resource
The Remembering 'Petals of Hope' project (2013-14) produced a collection of 15 audio visual and 23 written stories related to the Omagh Bomb (15 August 1998). The work involved in conducting the interviews and producing the recordings was carried out by Carole Kane and Malachi O'Doherty.<br /> Carole Kane, a freelance artist / community arts facilitator, was involved in the original 'Petals of Hope' project (1998-99) in association with Omagh District Council, which, with the assistance of children from Omagh, transformed floral tributes left at the scene of the bomb into handmade paper and art work. This resulted in an exhibition in the spring and summer of 1999 and the publication of the exhibition catalogue entitled 'Petals of Hope' (1999).
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Carole Kane, and Malachi O'Doherty
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2014
Language
A language of the resource
English
Relation
A related resource
See also:<br /><em>The booklet:</em> <br /><strong>Kane, Carole., and O'Doherty, Malachi.</strong> (2014). Remembering: "Petals of Hope" - Artistic responses to the Omagh Bomb. Omagh: VSS and Omagh District Council.<br /><em>Web sites:</em><br /><a href="http://www.carolekane.com" target="_blank">www.carolekane.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.omagh.gov.uk/" target="_blank">www.omagh.gov.uk</a><br /><a href="http://www.omagh.gov.uk/district_of_omagh/omagh_remembers/petals_of_hope/" target="_blank">www.omagh.gov.uk/district_of_omagh/omagh_remembers/petals_of_hope/</a><br /> The original exhibition catalogue:<br /><strong>Kane, Carole.</strong> (1999). Petals of Hope. Omagh: Omagh District Council.<br />The catalogue is available to purchase at this Web page:<br /><a href="http://www.omagh.gov.uk/culture_leisure_and_tourism/visitor_services/online_book_store/?bookID=31" target="_blank">www.omagh.gov.uk/culture_leisure_and_tourism/visitor_services/online_book_store/?bookID=31</a>
Permission Form Scanned
Non DC - Scan of permission form uploaded to archive.
Yes
Delayed Access
Non DC - Yes/No on request for delayed access.
No
Availability Online
Non DC - Availabilty Status (deposited, delayed, external, cain)
deposited
Contact
Non DC - Contact person within the organisation.
Carole Kane (carolekane@btinternet.com)<br />Jean Brennan, Arts Manager, Omagh District Council (jean.brennan@omagh.gov.uk)
Publication
A book, article, monograph etc.
Author
Author of the publication
Watt, Nicole.
Date Type
Publication, Submission, Completion date etc.
2014
Publication Title
Full title of publication, as it appears on item.
<em>'The human justice system, ...'</em><span>, <span>in, </span><strong>Kane, Carole., and O'Doherty, Malachi.</strong><span> (2014). Remebering: "Petals of Hope" - Artistic responses to the Omagh Bomb. Omagh: VSS and Omagh District Council.</span></span>
Publisher Location
Place of publication: city / town
Omagh
Publisher
VSS and Omagh District Council.
Publication Type
Report, Book, Manual etc.
Booklet
Publication Status
Published, in Press, Unpublished, etc.
Published
ISBN
978-1-86-991922-1
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
<em>'The human justice system, ...'</em><span>, by Nicole Watt (</span><em>story text</em><span>)</span>
Description
An account of the resource
The text, in PDF (Portable Document Format), of one of 20 personal accounts related to the Omagh Bomb (15 August 1998). The accounts were published in the booklet Remembering: "Petals of Hope".
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Kane, Carole., and O'Doherty, Malachi.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
VSS and Omagh District Council.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2014
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text; PDF; 269KB
Language
A language of the resource
English
Availability Online
Non DC - Availabilty Status (deposited, delayed, external, cain)
deposited
Catalogue ID
Non DC - ID for the Catalogue entry that relates to this entry
2298
Collection ID
Non DC - ID for the Collection that relates to this entry
155
Organisation ID
Non DC - ID for the Organisation that relates to this entry
154
Remembering 'Petals of Hope'
Workers' Educational Association (WEA)