SPRINGTOWN CAMP REUNION? -- Stormont Watch

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Date Posted: Sat, Feb 07 2009, 20:12:16 PST
Author: CR VETS
Subject: SPRINGTOWN CAMP REUNION?

PRESS RE LEASE

A Springtown Camp Reunion?

�I have never seen anything as bad as this except near Johnannesburg� �

Sheelagh Murnaghan M.P � 13th June 1964.

World War II had ended. The American troops had locked the gates of Springtown Camp for the last time. It had been home to countless combatants during that anti-fascist global conflict. In a final ceremonial and emotional gesture American troops joyfully marched off towards Strand Road and the river, bands playing and flags flying. They were finally being released from grave inner fears and heavy burdens on their loved ones and wider communities. At long last they would be homeward bound now that victory over Fascism had been won at a very high cost in human lives, both military and civilian. Several local women, hoping for a brighter future, would soon follow them to become their wives and raise their offspring in what was claimed to be �The land of the free and the home of the brave�.

After the Camp was vacated all was far from quiet on the homeless front in this Maiden City on the Foyle. Almost immediately a few brave free-thinkers with the best of intentions put their plan into action. The wire fences surrounding the former military base were cut in what became a successful bid to secure desperately-needed accommodation. The base appeared to many less fortunate folk as a highly-desirable location. Families began to select �their� huts. These were initially intended only as temporary dwellings, during wartime. Tirelessly, for two decades these civilian residents engaged in what at times must have seemed an unrewarding struggle against the power-brokers, in Derry�s Guildhall and Stormont.

Now plans are afoot for a Springtown Camp reunion of former residents and their offspring. Over recent months a local historical author and former civil rights leader, Mr. Fionnbarra O�Dochartaigh, has researched the post-war history of the camp and has agreed to deliver a public lecture in early March, as part of the build-up to the proposed reunion.

Yesterday, Mr. O�Dochartaigh commented: �My research was greatly aided by the fact that former residents of the camp a few years ago created their own website. I had relatives of my late father who lived in the camp and my research has been, as they say, an eye-opener. Therefore I gladly accepted a cordial invite to speak and share my findings with as many local people as possible. No one should ever feel shame if they have connections with Springtown Camp, in fact they should feel pride because it was their relations who spearheaded the wider struggle for basic civil rights for all. The situation regarding social housing was desperate in those days. It�s now hard to believe that the authorities selfishly decided to totally ignore the fact that for many years 400 families were living in 304 huts which were formerly considered by the U.S. military as �temporary accommodations�.

Former residents or others interested in attending this planned lecture, which will be held at a city-centre venue, are cordially invited to contact Mr. O�Dochartaigh, any evening after 7 PM on 71-286359 or contact the local civil rights veterans� e-mail address, rights.civil@googlemail.com

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