Conway Street, Belfast 1969

In August 1969 a British Loyalist mob led by the RUC B-Specials came down from Belfast's Shankill Road invading the Nationalist Falls area and driving people from there homes by shooting, burning and bombing.  Many people were killed and injured during that period in what has become known as the 'Pogroms of 69'.

The picture below, taken by Marian Walsh in December 1969, shows Greaves' Mill, which was situated at the end of Conway St, after it was burnt out during the trouble in August of that year.   It was believed at the time that British UVF snipers were operating from the top of this mill and it was therefore set ablaze by local residents in order to flush them out. 

Marian's father, 'John L' Loughlin, was injured during the disturbances. He was shot in the head by the B-Specials as he attempted to flee the rampaging loyalist mob, just at the corner of the mill. The B-Specials were at the time using Browning heavy machine guns.

Conway St was split roughly 50/50 Loyalist/Nationalist and ran directly from the Shankill Rd to the Falls Rd. The Falls Rd runs at right-angles to Conway St down the right of the photo.