There has been a groundswell of support in Dundalk for the victims of the Omagh bombing, and a large demonstration has been organised for Saturday to express solidarity with the peace process and the absence of support for those behind the explosion.
The demonstration is part of an outcry by people working and living in the Border town who are angered at publicity and news reports which suggest Dundalk is home to the people behind the explosion. They are also frightened that media coverage could result in a retaliation attack.
Mr Brian O'Neill is one of the organisers of Saturday's demonstration. "We have six points in relation to it," he said. "We want to express revulsion at the atrocity in Omagh, express community sympathy with the families who lost loved ones and the injured of Omagh, Buncrana and the Spanish student group.
"We also want to express solidarity with the peace process and reaffirm the referendum vote in favour of the Good Friday agreement. We will demonstrate our disgust at those who without any mandate are bringing disgrace to the town of Dundalk.
"We are saying directly to the 32 County Movement and the `Real IRA' that there will be no hiding place in Dundalk or Co Louth for their activities, and that the people of Dundalk and Louth support the Government, the gardai and the RUC to take whatever action is necessary to crush the activities of those organisations still involved in violence and terror."
Meanwhile, people in the nearby village of Blackrock are to hold a candlelit vigil this evening to express their anger at the killings.
Ms Bernadette Sands-McKevitt, vice-chair of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement, yesterday closed a shop she runs in Dundalk after a death threat was allegedly received. The threat was made within minutes of it opening. However, gardai say they did not receive any complaint but were aware the shop had closed.
At close of business yesterday three bunches of flowers tied with black ribbons had been put into the shutters of the shop. The attached cards read "Shame, 28 dead, what `cause' justifies this?"; "In loving memory of the 28 dead. Shame!"; and "28 in your name not in the name of Ireland".
A nearby retailer said: "We want peace. We are just tenants as well and not responsible for somebody else's behaviour. It was an atrocity we are not responsible for. I am ashamed now to say I come from Dundalk."