By Joe Hanratty

 

NOBEL Peace Prize Laureate and perhaps the most celebrated politician in Ireland, John Hume, looks set to unveil a monument to commemorate the Castleblayney bombing.

 

Work is currently being undertaken to erect a specially commissioned monument to remember the devastating bombing which took place on n March 3 1976.

 

On that fateful Sunday evening a bomb exploded outside the Three Star Inn in the main street of the town killing Patrick Mone and injuring 17 others.

 

Patrick Mone was a well known local farmer was sitting in his car which was parked outside the building and beside the Mark 3 Ford Cortina containing the bomb.

  

A special plaque to commemorate the tragedy and perpetuate the memory of Patrick was unveiled on the wall outside the Comet Bar in Main Street, the site of the former Three Star Inn a number of years ago.

 

Then in 2006 Castleblayney Town Council were approached by Justice for the Forgotten and the family of the late Patrick Mone to erect a memorial in his honour.

 

The council employed Anthony McDonagh as Project Manager who was involved in the provision of the memorial to commemorate the Monaghan Bombing.

 

The site for the monument in presently cordoned off as the preparatory work in being done for its erection.

 

The unveiling will take place on Friday March 7 at 11.30am and will be done by John Hume.

 

The funding for the monument came through the Remembrance Commission which was set up under the Good Friday Agreement.

 

The theme of the monument is Time. It is based on the idea of how time is broken and yet continues.