25/02/2011

North's Blitz Anniversary Looms

Preparations are continuing for the 70th anniversary of the WWII Easter Blitz when German bombers left their deadly mark on Belfast on the night of Easter Tuesday, 15 April 1941 - with another raid just days afterwards.

As the 'night to remember' approaches, the North's Tourism Minister Arlene Foster has joined Ciaran Elizabeth Doran, NI War Memorial Curator to visit the Northern Ireland War Memorial Home Front Exhibition.

Located in the Royal British Legion's headquarters, the exhibition, which attracted international visitors from over 50 countries last year, includes a unique collection of artefacts, photographs and footage from the two world wars and gives an insight into the period's impact on local people.

First opened in 1963, the Tourism Minister was viewing the exhibition in its new premises in Talbot Street in Belfast.

Meanwhile, a new civic memorial dedicated to the victims of the World War II bombing of Belfast to be erected.

A solemn monument to commemorate victims of the Belfast Blitz of 70 years ago will be located in a park beside St Anne's Cathedral.

Depending on a feasibility study, Belfast City Council is to back a proposal for the first civic Blitz memorial in the city.

That location saw some of the worst bombing but although St Anne's Cathedral was in the middle of the danger zone, it managed to escape any direct hits.

Almost 1,000 were killed and thousands more injured in two raids around Easter1941 - and outside of the city of London - this was the greatest loss of life. Two hundred Luftwaffe bombers attacked Belfast, leaving around 100,000 people - of a total population of 425,000 - homeless.

See: Blitz Memorial Proposed

See: Belfast Blitz Recalled

(BMcC/GK)

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

07 April 2011
Memorial Proposal Recalls Blitz Anniversary
A solemn monument to commemorate victims of the Belfast Blitz that began 70 years ago today will be located in a park beside St Anne's Cathedral. Depending on a feasibility study, Belfast City Council is to back a proposal for the first civic Blitz memorial in the city.
28 October 2010
Labour Launch Policy Blitz
The Labour party has decried their association with being a party without policy by launching a litany of ideas on how they'd tackle the economic crisis.
09 March 2009
Ryanair Promise Free 1,000 Seats Per Million Lost By Aer Lingus
Ryanair have announced an unprecedented new promotion, which will see them give away 1,000 free seats for every €1million of after tax losses announced by their bitter rivals, Aer Lingus.
12 June 2008
Gardaí Safety Blitz On Learners Before Crack Down Enforced
Gardaí are set to mount a safety crackdown on learner drivers over the next week before new laws come into force in July The operation is being launched in an effort to reduce the death toll among young motorists.
03 April 2012
Man Dies In N2 Collision
Gardai in Ashbourne, Co Meath are investigating the circumstances of a fatal road traffic collision on the N2 just outside Ashbourne. The collision between a lorry and a van occurred at around 9.05pm on the 2nd April at The Rath, Ashbourne, just outside the town.