Marion and Hugh

Marion and Hugh with their memories of the Duke Street march on 5th October 1968.

An episode of the '68 podcast, hosted by BBC Radio Foyle, titled "Marion and Hugh" was published on October 1, 2018 and runs 10 minutes.

October 1, 2018 ·10m · '68

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Summary

Friends Marion and Hugh were involved in the early days of the civil rights movement – they recall the atmosphere in the city before the march and what happened next.Most historians agree that if the Troubles started in one time and place, it was the civil rights march on Duke Street in Londonderry on the 5th October 1968. The demonstration had been banned by the government and when it went ahead police turned water cannon on the protestors and beat them with batons. Footage was beamed around the world – and life in Northern Ireland had changed in the space of a few hours.On the 50th anniversary of the event, BBC Radio Foyle captures a range of witness testimony and reflection from those who were on the march, those who opposed it, and others who remember the build-up to and aftermath of this turning point in our history.

Episode Description

Friends Marion and Hugh were involved in the early days of the civil rights movement – they recall the atmosphere in the city before the march and what happened next.

Most historians agree that if the Troubles started in one time and place, it was the civil rights march on Duke Street in Londonderry on the 5th October 1968. The demonstration had been banned by the government and when it went ahead police turned water cannon on the protestors and beat them with batons. Footage was beamed around the world – and life in Northern Ireland had changed in the space of a few hours.

On the 50th anniversary of the event, BBC Radio Foyle captures a range of witness testimony and reflection from those who were on the march, those who opposed it, and others who remember the build-up to and aftermath of this turning point in our history.