West Belfast Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Falls Curfew 40th anniversary to be commemorated

Published: 27 June, 2010

The photo shows Rita Doherty with Robert 'Dinker' McClenaghan at the new Falls Road mural dedicated to the memory of the events in July 1970 when the British army under orders from the unionist regime in Stormont imposed a military curfew on the Lower Falls area of Belfast.

Robert is the chair of the commemoration committee and Rita, a young girl at the time, saw her uncle Patrick shot dead by British soldiers. Her father was also wounded by British army rifle fire.

The curfew was broken after 3 days when women from throughout Belfast forced their way through British barricades bringing much needed food to the beleagured residents.

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July 3-5 marks the 40th anniversary of the Falls Curfew. Please see below a programme of events which the Falls Commemoration Committee have organised.

Please invite friends to attend.

Saturday 3rd July

...
12 - 4 pm: Divis Community Centre. Curfew Photographic Exhibition.

Falls Curfew DVD during the day for young people to see.

7.30 pm: Falls Ancient Order of Hibernians (Hibs), Clonard St, that night as part of a panel discussion to discuss the legacy of the Curfew.

1970s Disco afterwards. 1970's dress code compulsory!!

Sunday 4th July

11 am: St Peter's Cathedral. Special Mass for Truth and Justice to remember the 4 dead and the Rape of the Falls. This was the first British Army shoot to kill operation of the conflict. If they had of been charged with murder then a lot of the future shoot to kill operations like the Springhill masacre, Ballymurphy massacre Bloody Sunday could have been avoided.

12 pm: Maureen Sheehan Centre, Albert Street. Re-enact of Breaking the Curfew with women from West Belfast etc.

1pm: International Wall. Plaque commemorating the 5 people murdered to be moved from Elaine's shop, beside Irish school and moved to International Wall to be unveiled by relatives.