On This Day / January 23, 1971
Go BackReproduced with permission from The Irish News.
19710123
Reference Date
19710123
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 23rd January 1971, Stormont and Westminster exchanges exposed sharp divisions over curfews, civil liberties and celebrations marking Northern Ireland’s 50th anniversary. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
Labour MP on Curfew | On This Day – 23rd January 1971
EVENTS in Belfast on July 3rd last year could take place anywhere in the UK, Mr Gerald Kaufman (Labour, Ardwick) said at Westminster yesterday.
Mr Kaufman said that General Freeland [the GOC] had issued a press release about a curfew in Belfast and a ‘restrictive rule’ took place from ten o’clock on the Friday night until the Sunday morning.
‘Thousands were placed under what amounted to house arrest.
‘If this was not a curfew, what was the legal authority for restriction of movements of thousands of people?’
Mr Rafton Pounder (Unionist) said he had no hesitation in commending General Freeland.
Mr Ian Gilmour (Defence Under-Secretary) said that on July 3 [1970] information was received of an arms cache in a specific house and the army and RUC carried out a successful search. As they withdrew, they came under fire from hostile crowds. Troops had to use firearms in their own defence.
Paisley in Chaplain Row
THE Speaker, Mr Ivan Neill, said at Stormont yesterday that he would give a ruling later on a question raised by Rev Ian Paisley (Protestant Unionist) in regard to the recent appointment of a Catholic priest as chaplain to the House.
Mr Paisley said that the manner of the appointment brought the House into contempt.
He said that four years ago when the Nationalist Party accepted the role of Official Opposition, an invitation was sent to the Catholic Hierarchy to nominate a priest to act as chaplain.
The letter was not acted on but in 1968 the Nationalist Party ceased to accept the role of official opposition.
‘No Cancellation of Ulster 71’
THE PM, Mr James Chichester-Clark said yesterday that he could see no reason whatever to cancel ‘Ulster ’71’ which was being staged to help the economic position of NI.
Mr Paddy Kennedy (Rep Lab) asked if the Dublin Government were co-operating in this project and what plans there were for the counties of Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan.
He asked for an assurance that publicity would be given to unemployment in places like Derry and Ballymurphy.
The setting up of the state 50 years ago was a mistake and the sooner steps were taken to rectify that, the better.
Rev Ian Paisley- No surrender!
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: The polarisation of opinion over the Unionist government’s initiative to celebrate the first half-century of the Northern Ireland state is highlighted in these Stormont exchanges.
Paisley never lost an opportunity to stir the pot, even challenging the historic appointment of Stormont’s first Catholic chaplain.
At Westminster, the SDLP leader, Gerry Fitt was able to rely on his Labour friends to embarrass the Tories over their NI policy.)
On This Day – 23rd January 1971
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19710123
Reference Date
19710123
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 23rd January 1971, Stormont and Westminster exchanges exposed sharp divisions over curfews, civil liberties and celebrations marking Northern Ireland’s 50th anniversary. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
Labour MP on Curfew | On This Day – 23rd January 1971
EVENTS in Belfast on July 3rd last year could take place anywhere in the UK, Mr Gerald Kaufman (Labour, Ardwick) said at Westminster yesterday.
Mr Kaufman said that General Freeland [the GOC] had issued a press release about a curfew in Belfast and a ‘restrictive rule’ took place from ten o’clock on the Friday night until the Sunday morning.
‘Thousands were placed under what amounted to house arrest.
‘If this was not a curfew, what was the legal authority for restriction of movements of thousands of people?’
Mr Rafton Pounder (Unionist) said he had no hesitation in commending General Freeland.
Mr Ian Gilmour (Defence Under-Secretary) said that on July 3 [1970] information was received of an arms cache in a specific house and the army and RUC carried out a successful search. As they withdrew, they came under fire from hostile crowds. Troops had to use firearms in their own defence.
Paisley in Chaplain Row
THE Speaker, Mr Ivan Neill, said at Stormont yesterday that he would give a ruling later on a question raised by Rev Ian Paisley (Protestant Unionist) in regard to the recent appointment of a Catholic priest as chaplain to the House.
Mr Paisley said that the manner of the appointment brought the House into contempt.
He said that four years ago when the Nationalist Party accepted the role of Official Opposition, an invitation was sent to the Catholic Hierarchy to nominate a priest to act as chaplain.
The letter was not acted on but in 1968 the Nationalist Party ceased to accept the role of official opposition.
‘No Cancellation of Ulster 71’
THE PM, Mr James Chichester-Clark said yesterday that he could see no reason whatever to cancel ‘Ulster ’71’ which was being staged to help the economic position of NI.
Mr Paddy Kennedy (Rep Lab) asked if the Dublin Government were co-operating in this project and what plans there were for the counties of Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan.
He asked for an assurance that publicity would be given to unemployment in places like Derry and Ballymurphy.
The setting up of the state 50 years ago was a mistake and the sooner steps were taken to rectify that, the better.
Rev Ian Paisley- No surrender!
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: The polarisation of opinion over the Unionist government’s initiative to celebrate the first half-century of the Northern Ireland state is highlighted in these Stormont exchanges.
Paisley never lost an opportunity to stir the pot, even challenging the historic appointment of Stormont’s first Catholic chaplain.
At Westminster, the SDLP leader, Gerry Fitt was able to rely on his Labour friends to embarrass the Tories over their NI policy.)
On This Day – 23rd January 1971
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19710123
Reference Date
January 23, 2021
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice *
Summary: On This Day – 23rd January 1971, Stormont and Westminster exchanges exposed sharp divisions over curfews, civil liberties and celebrations marking Northern Ireland’s 50th anniversary. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
Labour MP on Curfew | On This Day – 23rd January 1971
EVENTS in Belfast on July 3rd last year could take place anywhere in the UK, Mr Gerald Kaufman (Labour, Ardwick) said at Westminster yesterday.
Mr Kaufman said that General Freeland [the GOC] had issued a press release about a curfew in Belfast and a ‘restrictive rule’ took place from ten o’clock on the Friday night until the Sunday morning.
‘Thousands were placed under what amounted to house arrest.
‘If this was not a curfew, what was the legal authority for restriction of movements of thousands of people?’
Mr Rafton Pounder (Unionist) said he had no hesitation in commending General Freeland.
Mr Ian Gilmour (Defence Under-Secretary) said that on July 3 [1970] information was received of an arms cache in a specific house and the army and RUC carried out a successful search. As they withdrew, they came under fire from hostile crowds. Troops had to use firearms in their own defence.
Paisley in Chaplain Row
THE Speaker, Mr Ivan Neill, said at Stormont yesterday that he would give a ruling later on a question raised by Rev Ian Paisley (Protestant Unionist) in regard to the recent appointment of a Catholic priest as chaplain to the House.
Mr Paisley said that the manner of the appointment brought the House into contempt.
He said that four years ago when the Nationalist Party accepted the role of Official Opposition, an invitation was sent to the Catholic Hierarchy to nominate a priest to act as chaplain.
The letter was not acted on but in 1968 the Nationalist Party ceased to accept the role of official opposition.
‘No Cancellation of Ulster 71’
THE PM, Mr James Chichester-Clark said yesterday that he could see no reason whatever to cancel ‘Ulster ’71’ which was being staged to help the economic position of NI.
Mr Paddy Kennedy (Rep Lab) asked if the Dublin Government were co-operating in this project and what plans there were for the counties of Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan.
He asked for an assurance that publicity would be given to unemployment in places like Derry and Ballymurphy.
The setting up of the state 50 years ago was a mistake and the sooner steps were taken to rectify that, the better.
Rev Ian Paisley- No surrender!
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: The polarisation of opinion over the Unionist government’s initiative to celebrate the first half-century of the Northern Ireland state is highlighted in these Stormont exchanges.
Paisley never lost an opportunity to stir the pot, even challenging the historic appointment of Stormont’s first Catholic chaplain.
At Westminster, the SDLP leader, Gerry Fitt was able to rely on his Labour friends to embarrass the Tories over their NI policy.)
On This Day – 23rd January 1971
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
On This Day is a daily column in the Irish News looking back either 50 or 100 years. The column was compiled by Dr Éamon Phoenix from the mid 1980s until autumn, 2022. The Foundation is very grateful to the Irish News for giving permission to reproduce Eamon’s columns. Funding gratefully received from Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and the Magill Trust.
* The Foundation has worked hard to recreate Eamon’s distinctive voice through AI. Since this is an emerging technology, occasional imperfections may be audible.