Northern Ireland

Belfast City Hall plunged into darkness to mark 80th anniversary of Blitz

Belfast Lord Mayor Alderman Frank McCoubrey laying wreaths in memory of those who died during the Belfast Blitz. Picture by Alan Lewis/ PhotopressBelfast
Belfast Lord Mayor Alderman Frank McCoubrey laying wreaths in memory of those who died during the Belfast Blitz. Picture by Alan Lewis/ PhotopressBelfast Belfast Lord Mayor Alderman Frank McCoubrey laying wreaths in memory of those who died during the Belfast Blitz. Picture by Alan Lewis/ PhotopressBelfast

BELFAST City Hall was plunged into darkness last night as the city marked the 80th anniversary of the Blitz when almost 1,000 people lost their lives.

Two searchlights were also beamed into the night sky from the grounds of City Hall as people remembered the tragic events that unfolded in the city during World War Two.

The devastating impact of the Belfast Blitz was also marked yesterday at Belfast City Cemetery on the milestone anniversary.

Lord mayor Frank McCoubrey laid a wreath and observed a two minute silence at the mass graves of the hundreds of unidentified victims of the German bomber raids that destroyed large areas of Belfast over the Easter period in 1941.

Wreaths were also laid at Milltown Cemetery during short ceremonies organised by the Northern Ireland War Memorial Museum and floral tributes will be left at the Blitz memorials within the museum today.

Almost 1,000 people, mainly civilians, lost their lives in the four German air raids on the city with the scars on buildings and streets still visible today.

Belfast’s world-famous shipyards that were contributing to Britain’s war efforts, made it a legitimate target for the Luftwaffe who carried out four raids on the city between April 7 and May 6 1941.

Around 100,000 people were also left homeless.

Belfast was one of 16 cities across the UK to suffer as a result of the Blitz during the Second World War.

The city was largely unprepared for a bombardment of such a scale and April 15 1941 was the worst night of the attacks, thought to have been the biggest wartime raid outside London.

The 80th anniversary marks a moment when the Belfast Blitz is still within living memory, but it won’t be for long.

Mr McCoubrey said it was appropriate for the city to pause and reflect on what is a "significant anniversary".

"The Belfast Blitz in 1941 was a major event in the city’s history," he said.

"It had a devastating impact, not only in terms of the tragic loss of life, but also leaving thousands of people without a home.

"Some of our older generation will still have vivid memories of the Blitz; stories of bravery, hardship and survival.

"It’s important that we continue to remember this part of our city’s history and educate our younger generations, to help them understand the impact the Second World War had on Belfast and its people."

Mr McCoubrey also said that the east wing of Belfast City Hall was extensively damaged during the Blitz with the Great Hall bearing the brunt of the damage.

"The lord mayor at that time had the foresight to request the removal of the stained glass windows and they were stored in the basement of Mount Panther House in Co Down," he said.

"Remarkably the ones in the Great Hall today are the original windows."

A piece of shrapnel, believed to have come from the incendiary device that struck City Hall, is on display at the building as part of its visitor exhibition.

The iron spike was found in the central courtyard of the building on the morning following the bombing.