Battle of the Somme… the international and local impact

This Friday, Holywell Trust in Derry, in partnership with The Junction’s Ethical and Shared Remembering project, will host an event that will examine the impact of the Battle of The Somme on the centenary of the first day of the battle.

At the event, which will run from 11.00am until 2.00pm at the Holywell - DiverseCity Community Partnership building in Bishop Street, attendees will hear from two influential speakers - Rev. Dr. Johnston McMaster and Trevor Temple.

Dr McMaster will focus on the international context and impact of the battle through his lecture ‘Hideos Slaughter and Indescribable Valour: The Somme in the Global Context.”

This lecture is one of two given by Dr McMaster at the invitation of the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission to members of the Assembly and an invited public in the Senate Chamber, Stormont.

The first lecture in March was on the Easter Rising and the Somme lecture given on 27 June, a few days before the Somme centenary.

The purpose of the lectures was to contribute towards and enhance reconciliation.

After a short lunch break, Mr Temple will focus on the local impact of 1 July, 1916, especially the human stories behind the names and statistics - stories of loss, heartbreak and selfless courage. It will also challenge the myth that only one side of the political and religious divide in Ulster suffered on that day.

If you want to come to the event telephone Lisa on (028) 7126 1941 or email [email protected]. For more information on this events, and all other upcoming Holywell Trust activitiesplease visit www.holywellevents.com.