The four main church leaders in Northern Ireland have appealed for people North and South to join them in a minute's silence on Saturday, in memory of the 28 people killed in the Omagh explosion.
The Catholic Primate of Ireland, Archbishop Sean Brady, the Presbyterian Moderator, the Right Rev Dr John Dixon, the Church of Ireland Primate, Archbishop Robin Eames, and the Methodist President, the Rev David Kerr, issued the appeal as about 5,000 people attended a vigil in Belfast yesterday.
They said they hoped church services would be held in every town and village in Northern Ireland on Saturday, followed by a minute's silence at 3.10 p.m., the exact time the bomb exploded. The church leaders will be in Omagh then, joining in prayer with local clergymen for a 30-minute service, beginning at 2.45 p.m., to show their solidarity with people left traumatised by the bombing.
The Rev David Kerr said people across the North "had been deeply touched by the Omagh bombing", realising it could easily have been their town, and their own families killed or maimed.
Yesterday several thousand people attended an emotional vigil outside Belfast City Hall. As the names of the 28 Omagh bomb victims were read out, people and representatives from the main churches bowed their heads in prayer and stood in silence for several minutes. Traffic was diverted from the city centre during the vigil.
Belfast's Lord Mayor, Mr David Alderdice, said: "This is a time to spend to reflect. This is a time for prayers, not speeches. It is a time for quiet and to listen to the still, small voice."
Meanwhile, people continue to queue outside Belfast City Hall and other towns throughout the North to sign books of condolences. Many entries are straightforward expressions of emotion, such as "God Bless", "May God Forgive Them" and "We'll Never Forget You". But a simple "Why?" pinned to a bouquet encapsulated the devastation and disbelief.
Money has been pouring into an appeal fund and donations can be made to the Omagh Memorial Fund, First Trust Bank, High Street, Omagh, Omagh Account Number: 55876365, and sort code: 93-81-30.