50th anniversary Mass for murdered of Annie's Bar massacre

The 50th anniversary Mass for those murdered in the Annie's Bar Top of the Hill Massacre was held on Tuesday night in St Columb's Church, Waterside.

The Mass was celebrated by Fr Michael Canny and deacon Reverend Shaun Doherty.

Giving the sermon at the Mass, Fr Canny said: "Two afternoons ago millions of people of all ages gathered in their homes, social clubs and bars throughout the world to watch the World Cup final between Argentina and France. Gathering together to watch football is something people have done for generations. 

"50 years ago today, just five days before Christmas, men from our community gathered in Annie’s Bar to watch a football match. Wolves were playing Spurs that night. It was the 1st leg of the semi-final of the League Cup. There was an extra special atmosphere with Christmas just around the corner. Sadly, the joy and festive cheer in this little part of the world was about to be brutally silenced.

Additional Reading:

'He was not even there for my first Christmas' - Gillian McElholm

Annie's Bar was the 'forgotten' tragedy

"At 10.30 on that Wednesday evening two men with evil in their hearts entered the bar. They left in their wake a scene of utter devastation and confusion. 5 people lay dead, 4 were injured and the lives of many people in the Top of the Hill community were changed forever. 

"The motive for this callous act was sectarian - but evil cares not for faith. Among the dead was a Protestant, Charles Moore aged 31 a nursing assistant who left behind two daughters, a third daughter was born just three weeks later. Charlie McCafferty aged 30 had 5 stepchildren and a son and daughter. Barney Kelly was just 26, having married just 3 months earlier, his wife was expecting their first child.  Michael McGinley, (37) a married man who had played with his 7 month old daughter, his pride and joy, before he headed out to watch the match.  Frank McCarron was the oldest victim at 58, he was a widower and had 6 daughters and a son.

"1972, 50 years ago, has been described as the darkest year in our so called troubles. The pages of history tell us that 479 people were murdered and 4,876 people were injured.  From these grim statistics we know that this community was not the only community to have life changing events visited upon them. On this day 50 years ago 8 people were killed across the north of Ireland, 6 in Derry. So whilst this evening our primary focus is on those murdered and injured in Annie’s Bar, tonight we hold in our hearts all those who suffered.

"The savagery of 50 years ago must have been so harrowing for those most closely affected. The families and friends and first responders were confronted by an unimaginable scene. As well as the lives taken the lives of many others have been changed forever. Broken hearts……. sorrow, unfulfilled dreams…..empty chairs at festive tables, unopened Christmas presents. Our hearts feel for all of you especially tonight as we pray with you and for you.     

"In the coming days people will be preparing to celebrate Christmas. For those of us who believe in Christ, Christmas is about the coming of our saviour into the world all those years ago. As part of our preparation for the feast the Christian churches remind us of the words of the prophet Isaiah who many centuries earlier spoke of a time “when people will hammer their swords into ploughshares and spears into sickles, when nation will not lift sword against nation and there will be no more training for war”. 

"In the dark days of Christmas 50 years ago as families prepared to lay their loved one to rest, parents and grandparents, young people and old must have longed for and looked forward in hope to new and better times. This evening, all those years on, this Top of the Hill community has, while not forgetting the pain of the past, worked together to build a brighter and better future for this and future generations. For this we must give thanks. 

"We continue to hope…….. Hope refuses to be silenced… our Vision will not be stopped. People in our different communities had a vision, had hope – a vision and a hope that could not be contained – and today we witness a transformed community.  Yes we have our different identities but we also have the courage to embrace and learn from difference. From the pain of the past a new future has been born. Hope in the future is our strength.

"For the church this time of year is about waiting in hope. To hope is to be ready for what is not yet born.   In the South American jungle the missionary Albert Schweitzer wrote; 

“What sort of farmer ploughs the furrow in the autumn but has no hope for the spring?

"So too we accomplish nothing without hope, without a sure inner hope that a new age is about to dawn.   Hope is strength, the energy in the world is equal to the hope in it. And even if only a few people share such hope a power is created which nothing can hold down – it inevitably spreads to others”   

"The first Christmas reminds us that because God’s son was born into our world, every person is to be seen as a brother and sister. The angels sang peace on earth to all of good will. As we leave here this evening in hope, we will continue to walk together, out of the dark days of our history, never ever forgetting them but keeping our hearts focused on living in and working for a community that offers hope, peace, joy and love. Our Christian faith demands it and those who died and were injured certainly deserve it.