August 2025: Looking back on the Derry defining stories of the year

A capacity audience in Derry’s Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin gave eminent surgeon Professor Nick Maynard a standing ovation following his presentation ‘Gaza - A War on Healthcare’, in August.

Organised by Trócaire, Professor Maynard’s harrowing account of his work in Gaza, alongside his colleagues in Medical Aid for Palestinians, was the inaugural event of Féile 2025.

Normally employed as a Consultant Surgeon at Oxford University Hospitals, Professor Maynard urged people in Derry and Donegal to continue protesting, and put pressure on their MPs and TDs to take action about the atrocities being carried out in Gaza.

“We are witnessing a genocide, multiple war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and the world needs to know,” he said.

Derry man Eamonn Lynch who attended the event said he was privileged to witness Dr Maynard’s talk.

“It was impossible not to be moved by his recounting of the killing and starvation that is being done in Gaza.

“Derry and, indeed, Ireland had its fair share of colonial carnage, but the scale and level of slaughter and starvation in Gaza is incomprehensible.

“Dr Maynard’s testimony to genocide heightened my anger at the compliant western governments who obediently support Israel or at least pay lip service to the truth in Gaza,” said Mr Lynch.

Kate Nash retiring

Meanwhile, an outpouring of good wishes has followed the announcement by Derry’s Kate Nash she is stepping down as chairperson of the Bloody Sunday March Committee (BSMC).

Kate Nash is is stepping down as chairperson of the Bloody Sunday March Committee (BSMC).

In a social media post Kate revealed she had made the decision as a result of “severe ill health that requires plenty of rest”.
“I was diagnosed with heart failure about 18 months ago and I’m afraid one of the side issues is exhaustion. I do try to push against it but it is very hard,” she added.

Kate’s brother William was one of those murdered by the British Army on Bloody Sunday - January 30, 1972. Her father Alex was seriously injured.

In an extensive interview with The Derry News, Kate explained she and her sister Linda [Nash]had founded the BSMC prior to the 40th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.

“We formed the BSMC when the people who ran it up until 14 years ago decided to end it on the 39th anniversary. We decided we would take it up then. We did a little protest if you like at the ‘last’ march,” said Kate.

“Instead of following the march to the Guildhall, our protest was to turn over Rossville Street [towards Free Derry Corner, where the majority of those shot on Bloody Sunday were killed or injured] to let them know we disapproved,” she added.

“We felt strongly that we hadn’t had justice. Lord Saville had given his conclusions [June 15, 2010] and we didn’t agree. We still didn’t get justice. There were no soldiers prosecuted. The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) has simply played a game all these years, pausing and delaying. We were actually told a few years ago that it would not be prosecuting anybody,” said Ms Nash.

Youngsters enjoying The Greatest Show at Abercorn Park. 

Creggan graffitti

Derry Sinn Féin Councillor Emma McGinley was "disgusted" after graffiti was painted on a community building in Creggan where a shared history project event was due to be held in August.

The Creggan Neighbourhood Partnership building was attacked with paint bombs while messages directed at various organisations including security forces and prison service wardens were daubed on the walls of the building. One message written on the front of the building read ‘Not Welcome Here!’ while another was directed at Sinn Féin. The vandalism was discovered on Saturday morning.

Cllr McGinley said: "This graffiti is suspected to have been carried out in response to a peacebuilding, shared history project event that was due to take place in a booked room in the centre.

"Instead of contacting the centre, or speaking with the staff about any concerns about any event that was planned, these people came in the dead of night and targeted a vital community centre in the heart of Creggan, that is open and welcome for all."

Cllr McGinley added there was no place for intimidation in our communities.

Meanwhile, a post on social media claiming to be from the Creggan community said the event involving former members of the security forces “will never be acceptable”.

GAA urged to drop Allianz as insurers

Also in August, pressure mounted on the GAA to cease its relationship with Allianz Insurance.

The ‘Drop Allianz’ campaign was officially launched at a press conference at Croke park.
Derry’s Bloody Sunday Trust (BST) and Gaels Against Genocide have written to GAA President Jarlath Burns and ard stiúrthóir (director general) Tom Ryan respectively challenging the organisation to drop Allianz as sponsor.

Tony Doherty, BST chairperson said it had taken the action given Allianz’s “role in enabling genocide in Gaza”.

“Following the publication of UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese’s report ‘From Economy of Occupation to Economy of Genocide’ which detailed the extent of corporate complicity in the Gaza genocide, BST wrote directly to Jarlath Burns, in July,” added Mr Doherty.

“The letter highlighted the specific paragraphs in the UN report focusing on the activities of insurance companies including Allianz which show, global insurance companies including Allianz also invest large sums in shares and bonds implicated in the occupation and genocide, partly as capital reserves for policyholder claims and regulatory requirements, but primarily to generate returns.

“BST asked the GAA to end its sponsorship arrangement with Allianz.

“Given the GAA’s unrivalled importance in Irish society this would be of major significance and set a precedent for other organisations and institutions to follow.”

Mr Doherty expressed his disappointment that the GAA President has chosen not to respond either to BST’s original letter or a subsequent follow up letter.