Service of commemoration marks 75th anniversary of Belfast Blitz

Wednesday April 6th 2016

Buildings smoulder beseide St Anne's after the Blitz 75-years-ago this month. Photo: Belfast Telegraph

Buildings smoulder beside St Anne’s after the Blitz 75-years-ago this month. Photo: Belfast Telegraph

St Anne’s Cathedral is hosting a special service on Sunday April 17 as part of a weekend of events to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of the Belfast Blitz.

On the night of Tuesday April 15 1941, almost 200 Luftwaffe bombers undertook the second, and biggest, of four raids on the city. More than 900 people were killed, in the biggest loss of life in any night raid outside London, with a further 1,500 injured. Another 150 people were killed in a subsequent raid on the night of May 4-5 1941.

The ecumenical service of commemoration on April 17 will be held at 3 30pm. It has been organised by St Anne’s in conjunction with St Patrick’s Church, Donegall Street. The service will be led by the Dean, the Very Rev John Mann, and Fr Michael Sheehan, Administrator of St Patrick’s.

The Cathedral stands alone after buildings around it were demolished in the Blitz.

During the service candles will be lit to offer symbolic reflection for those who lost their lives in the Blitz.

The service, which is open to the public, will mark the end of a weekend of commemorations, beginning with the unveiling of the first in a series of memorial plaques at St George’s Market – which was used as a temporary mortuary during the Blitz – at 10 30am on Friday April 15.

Other events over the weekend will include:

A lecture by Dr Brian Barton, author of ‘The Belfast Blitz: The City in the War Years’, in the Bobbin coffee shop in Belfast City Hall (Friday from 6.30pm to 8pm);
A ‘sound and light’ presentation in the City Hall grounds, accompanied by the names of all who lost their lives being listed on the Big Screen (Friday 8pm);
A Blitz-themed family open day in the Northern Ireland War Memorial gallery in Talbot Street (Saturday 10.30am to 2.30pm);
A special Blitz commemorative exhibition in the City Hall;

A 1940’s-themed tea dance will also be held at the Ulster Hall on May 2.

For further information on the Belfast Blitz commemorations, visit

http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/events/Events.aspx