Club News

18/10/02 Great History Night in Corrigan Park with guest speaker

The club experienced a great night of history and reminiscing in Corrigan Park last Friday night when Jimmy McDermott, local historian, teacher and author of "Northern Divisions - The Old IRA and the Belfast Pogroms 1920-1922" (right), gave a talk on Belfast from its early days.

 

He concentrated on the area for which he did his research, that is Belfast 1920-1922, piecing together the history of the history of Belfast republicanism around the time of partition.

Jimmy was able to not only inform the audience about the events of the 1920-1922 period and its effect on the nationalists of Belfast but he was also able to link this in with the founding of St. Johns G.A.C. in 1929.

Many well known members were quoted in his talk, including Bob Foley and John Montgomery, which brought fond memories back to all those present. A large number of photographs and pictures were also put on display for the crowd during the lecture.

In total it lasted an hour and a half, though Jimmy paused only two or three times to have a sip of Coke. The fifty strong crowd who had gathered to listen to his talk all agreed that this was both an interesting and entertaining night in the club and are looking forward to a possible followup!