Bloody Sunday March Committee releases 54th anniversary programme of events

Releasing its programme of Bloody Sunday Weekend events marking the 54th anniversary of the atrocity, a spokesperson for the Bloody Sunday March Committee said: "Look around the world today and it sometimes seems like a jigsaw exploding slowly in a downpour of blood.

"Old borders etched by imperialism  crack and crumble under the contradictions of a system driven not by the good of humanity but by a competitive drive to accumulate wealth," they added.

"The ruling class has become rich beyond the dreams of avarice while the poorest cling to life at the edge of extinction.

"In this jaggedly divided society, as Yeats put it: 'The best lack all conviction while the worst are full of passionate intensity'.

"This isn’t poetical rhetoric: it is the poison at the heart of a grotesque system.  It is what the armies of ruthless parasites exist to defend - to stamp out any challenge to the political and economic setup which suits them best. They will maim and massacre all who stand in their way.

"What they fear most of all is a risen people. The Bloody Sunday massacre was not a random event which can or should  be forgiven and forgotten in the interests of some ill-defined 'reconciliation'", said the spokesperson.

"What the word means in this context is reconciliation between the kill-crazy gunmen  at the bottom of Rossville Street and the families and friends of those who fell in the hail of bullets," they added.

"We shout it out loud that it wasn’t our Protestant neighbours who visited death on the civil rights march in January 1972. It was the British Army and the British State.

"We in the Bloody Sunday March Committee don’t want reconciliation with such malodorous elements but truth and justice from them and from those who sent them into the  Bogside with murder in their minds.

"We are going to keep marching right on to the end of the road, not just for Derry but for all around the world whose lives been shattered by the implacable evil of British imperialism.

"As part of the Bloody Sunday March Committee's annual anniversary events, we invite you to join us in the following upcoming events:"

Thursday, January 22, 2026 - 

Annual fundraiser, Sandinos, 7.30pm, featuring Sián(na), Hypnic Jerk, Rowdy, Dan & Leanne, Hong Kong Nocturne, Sunset Theory and Runbacks

Thursday, January 29, 2026 - 

7.00pm, Hind Rajab anniversary. Remembering the life of Hind and all of the other children brutally murdered in Gaza and the West Bank by the IOF.
Hind Rajab Peace Garden, Glenfada Park

7.30pm, Pilots Row, 'Art as Protest, exhibition launch by Ciarán Dunlevy.

Mainly known for colourful historical and quirky murals. Ciarán recently, fed up with the direction the world is moving in started creating art to highlight injustice in the world! Highlighting how history keeps repeating itself. Until we change, nothing changes if nothing changes.

Friday, January 30, 2026 - 

7.00pm, Nerve Centre, Iron Ladies documentary screening + Q&A

The untold story of working-class women who, during the 1984–85 Miners' Strike, found themselves at the forefront of a battle against the British state. From Scotland down to Kent, women from the coalfields shed light on their experiences of the year-long struggle, and how they became the backbone of the Strike. With many still active today, their actions reshaped the landscape of political activism for working-class women.

7.30pm, St Columb's Hall, 'The Killing of The Reavy Brothers' book launch.

Join Jim Keys, Co-ordinator of Gaslight Media Trust and its epilogue project , in conversation with Eugene Reavy.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of when the Reavy family's life was devastated by sectarian murder. Eugene's brothers, John Martin, Brian and Anthony were viciously shot in an attack by loyalist gunmen. John Martin and Brian were killed instantly and Anthony would die from complications to his wounds.

On the same night, three members of the O'Dowd family were also attacked and killed. Both shootings are now known to have been the work of the notorious Glennann Gang, a loyalist paramilitary grouping which included members of the UDR and RUC.

Saturday, January 31, 2026 - 

12.00pm to 5.00pm - Pilots Row, Rossville Street, Derry

The Bloody Sunday March Committee would like to invite you to join us for a day of open forum discussions, the annual Derry Radical Bookfair and Ciaran Dunlevy's 'Art as Protest' exhibition.

12.00pm -1.00pm: State Oppression Against Women

Farrah Koutteineh is founder of KEY48 - a voluntary collective calling for the immediate right of return of over 7.4 million Palestinian refugees. Koutteineh is also a political writer focusing on intersectional activism including, the Decolonise Palestine movement, indigenous people's rights, anti-establishment movement, women's rights and climate justice.

Amie Gallagher is the Focus Project Coordinator at Creggan Enterprises, supporting women in working-class  communities through community development, education, and advocacy rooted in lived experience. Her work includes highlighting the humanitarian impact of counter-terrorism legislation on women and children.

Red Umbrella Éireann represent various organizations and movements advocating for sex workers' rights, symbolized by the red umbrella used internationally for protection, visibility, and resistance against abuse/stigma. Advocating for decriminalization and human rights through solidarity and direct action, highlighting shared struggles. Discussion will be around how Irish State Forces regularly endangers sex workers.

2.00pm to 3.00pm: Radical Question Time

The event, chaired by local journalist Catherine Mc Ginty, will include comedian, writer, film maker and political activist, who was part of the Irish contingency on the Flotilla to Gaza, Tadhg Hickey. Leading Hillsborough justice campaigner Sheila Coleman and local activist Stephen Devlin, father of Jordan Devlin from the Filton 24 who has spent 16 months in prison on remand for opposing genocide. Jordan is currently on trial in England now.

3.30pm to 4.30pm: The State We Are In

Liam Wray, Geraldine Doherty, Eamon Mc Cann, and Susanne Mc Kerr

Join us alongside Bloody Sunday and Ballymurphy family members and activists for an open forum discussion event around Unfinished Business. Topics will include the trial of Soldier F, Bloody Sunday and the Ballymurphy massacre, the inquiries that followed and an exploration of the massacres and the ongoing violence we are currently witnessing around the world today.

This year marks the 10th annual Derry Radical Bookfair and the image as part of this year's poster is of local republican activist Martina Donnelly (RIP), nee Quigley, on the streets during the 1970's. 

The use of Bin lids was seen as an early warning system for the local community to highlight the imminent danger of British troops in the area.  A very proud Derry woman, Martina raised her family with a love of books, community and revolution.

Sunday, February 1, 2026: 

Bloody Sunday March For Justice. Assemble 2.30pm, Creggan Shops.

Key speakers:

Saeb Shaath - Gaza born Saeb is the Former head of the Palestinian Delegation to Ireland. Leading the charge on Palestinian Solidarity, Shaath speaks from first hand experience of both the situation in Gaza and the political landscape in Ireland.

Liam Wray - Brother of Bloody Sunday victim James Wray. Liam has been a stalwart campaigner for justice for the Bloody Sunday families, and for all those who have suffered at the hands of the state.

Geraldine Doherty - Niece of Bloody Sunday victim Gerald Donaghy, who was framed by the state by the planting of nail bombs on his body. Geraldine has long sought justice for her uncle, with this past year being particularly challenging due to the ruling on the Soldier F trial.

Bernadette Devlin-McAliskey - A name that needs no introduction in Derry. One of the original organisers of the Bloody Sunday March in 1972, a former MP, a life-long political organiser and activist, and a phenomenal motivational speaker, Bernadette McAliskey will close this years Bloody Sunday March.