POLITICIAN'S SPEECHES: TAOISEACH Brian Cowen described the anniversary as "poignant" and said he had come to Omagh to "stand in solidarity with the community as they try to pick up the pieces and move on with their lives"
Congratulating those who organised and took part in the ceremony, he added: "It was a wonderful example of cross-community solidarity at a very difficult time for the families and the bereaved."
He paid tribute to those who were injured on the day, and especially to those who continued to carry the burden of the atrocity.
"It is an opportunity also to recall the work of the emergency services and the medical staff who provided such wonderful assistance at such a terrible time."
Omagh was an example of "the resilience of the human spirit".
"Ten years ago on this day a terrible tragedy occurred. The sheer senselessness of it all came home to me when I visited the place where that car bomb was placed. It was a very moving occasion, and we can only offer our prayers, condolences and sympathies and our solidarity with the people who suffered so grievously."
He insisted that the political process was "the means by which we move forward".
Turning to the Real IRA which carried out the bombing, he said the people of Ireland had spoken and the bombers "had no business" in continuing any campaign of violence.
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness spoke of his sense of privilege at standing with the people of Omagh who had suffered so grievously 10 years ago.
"Those who were behind the bomb and those who planted the bomb were out to destroy the peace process and to destroy Sinn Féin's peace strategy. Ten years on it has failed miserably."
Referring to those who believe "that resorting to force represents a way forward", he said: "I think they need to reflect on the events of the past 10 years and to recognise that they would be far better stopping."
He called on dissident republicans to abide by "the desire of the overwhelming number of people on this island" for peace.
"What we have to do now is redouble our efforts to ensure that nothing like this will ever be visited on anywhere on this island."
Junior minister Jeffrey Donaldson also spoke of his feelings and called for "peace with justice".
"Today is a day to remember those who lost their lives so tragically in Omagh. To remember those who still bear the pain and the scars of that terrible event. We will examine how we go forward, how we help the families achieve the justice they so richly deserve.
"Today is a day to look back, to remember and to reflect, and then to look to the future in the hope that the peace we are trying to build in Northern Ireland is not destroyed by those who sought to destroy it 10 years ago."
Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward said: "Today people in Omagh and across the world will remember the terrible atrocity which took the lives of 29 innocent people and two children yet unborn. The events of August 15th, 1998, will forever be indelibly marked in the minds and hearts of all decent people. Nothing will undo the pain and suffering of those who had been so savagely hurt.
"And the dignity and courage of the families and friends of those who were murdered has, with the towering response of the people of Omagh, shown the world that terrorism has no place in a decent world. The search to bring to justice those criminals behind the bomb still continues."