Daithí describes the scenes in the Falls Road area in the late 1960s and the early 1970s. He talks about the events that occurred over that period as well as his own experiences that shaped his political outlook and led to his political activism.
Audio Transcript
00:00:00.0 00:02:47.0 Daithí’s background. Born in Falls Road area. Uncles were interned in the 1940s.
00:02:47.0 00:08:57.5 Experiences on the Falls Road in the 1960s. Witnessing the burning of houses in 1969. Moving to grandmother’s house for safety.
00:08:57.5 00:14:38.0 Arrival of British army. Initial friendliness changed after the Falls Road Curfew. Wrecked homes, CS Gas, gunbattles.
00:14:38.0 00:17:10.7 British army viewed as protecting the status quo.
00:17:10.7 00:22:21.6 Introduction of internment. Community response. British army occupying community facilities. Daily harassment. Riots. Political awakening.
00:22:21.6 00:25:59.0 Memories of daily riots and gunbattles. Recalling such scenes and the impression it had on him as a young child.
00:25:59.0 00:27:56.7 His mother and other women organising fund raising for internees. Great community camaraderie. Rent and rates strike.
00:27:56.7 00:31:28.5 Aged 15 shot and wounded by the British army, subsequently sentenced to 5 years detention.
00:31:28.5 00:37:08.7 Methods used by British army against young people when taken to local barracks.
00:37:08.7 00:39:14.6 Experiences on the streets shaped his political direction.
00:39:14.6 00:44:29.4 Prison experiences. Overall viewed prison as a positive experience.
00:44:29.4 00:47:06.5 Conversation with doctor. Release.