On This Day / September 18, 1920

Bigotry on the Bann

THE infamous ‘pogrom’ now in progress has recently been accompanied by the stipulation that its victim should sign away manhood, nationality and religion before being allowed to earn their daily bread.

This began in the works situated in Banbridge. In July, all the Catholics employed in the various weaving and bleaching establishments on the River Bann, adjacent to Banbridge, were cleared out.

The now familiar declaration is a Banbridge patent. The Catholic workers refuse to sign and even long weeks have passed and they still loll aimlessly about the streets, outcasts of society, men and women whom the children of the ‘elect’ pass with a shudder.

They are outcasts in every sense of the term with scarcely a nod of recognition from former friends of the workshop.

Today the entire Bann valley has been cleared. Over 500 Catholics on the lower reaches of the river from Laurencetown to Gilford have been added to the list of evicted victims.

A fortnight has elapsed since the Catholic employees of five further works were driven forth by a mob of thousands strong, with flute bands at its head.

A representative of The Irish News last week made an extended tour of the affected district.

Cycling along from Banbridge I first struck the little village of Seapatrick.

The dinner horn sounded and a stream of workers marched up the avenue for their midday meal.

Do they ever give a thought as workers of the world to their former comrades, perhaps without a dinner and they the cause?

Further along I passed the bleach works at Milltown (Lenaderg). The ‘Micks’ had been cleared also in July last.

Next came weaving works known as Hazelbank, owned by Mr Norman Dickson from which 80 girls were chased.

In Gilford the big local spinning mill of Messrs Dunbar, McMaster and Co. Ltd. whirled on but without 250 Catholics.

It was here the pogrom of the lower reaches of the river commenced.

Workers to Gilford Mill on Monday morning, September 6, on reaching the gates, found their progress barred by pickets who informed them that the mill was closed down for the day.

A total of about 800 are employed here and of this number about 250 are Catholic employees.

About a thousand Catholics employed in the valley of the Bann have now no work.

[Dr Phoenix notes: The impact of the sectarian work expulsions affected not only Belfast but Banbridge, Lisburn and Dromore.

The Banbridge ‘lock-out’ began with the IRA murder of Colonel GB Smyth in Cork.

The Gilford expulsions followed rumoured IRA involvement in the murder of a local Protestant during a highway robbery.