On the 3rd of July 1970, a Friday, the British Army seals off the lower Falls area of west Belfast.

A ‘curfew’ is announced, although without a legal basis.

Troops go in, searching from house to house, looking for IRA weapons.

But the use of CS gas, houses being wrecked, looted even, turns the population against them.

Hundreds, maybe thousands of rounds were fired – four people died – all victims of the army.

The Official IRA decided since they couldn’t get their guns out – they should fight the army in what they called ‘The Battle of the Falls.

In the end the army did seize a considerable number of weapons, though many were smuggled out.

However, the standing of the British Army in west Belfast had been completely changed.

To hear the story of the Falls Curfew and its impact, Ciarán Dunbar is joined by historian Brian Hanley, and by Belfast Telegraph columnist and author Malachi O’Doherty.

This podcast was originally published in July 2024.

Belfast – The Falls Road Curfew

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