Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council is set to mark Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 January 2025 and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau with a number of events that residents can take part in.
Funded by the council’s Good Relations Programme, in partnership with The Executive Office, the events will unite communities worldwide in remembering the six million Jewish men, women, and children, along with millions of others, who were persecuted and murdered during the Holocaust.
The 80th anniversary reminds us that we have a shared responsibility to honour the memory of those who suffered and to work towards a future free from hatred, discrimination, and division.
Cllr Jonathan Craig, Chair of Leisure & Wellbeing, shared: "Holocaust Memorial Day is a time to quietly reflect on the atrocities of the past as well as honour the memory of everyone who suffered and was affected. Our Good Relations Programme has long recognised the importance of commemorating this day, ensuring that the lessons of history remain at the forefront of our community. By remembering together, we reaffirm our commitment to building a society free from hatred and division."
Here’s how you can take part:
• The Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum will host an exhibition titled Through These Pale Cold Days, an artistic response to the Holocaust by local artist Leslie Nicholl. The exhibition opens on Monday 20th January. Nicholl's work was inspired by a visit to Auschwitz and Birkenau where he encountered a haunting photograph of a young woman whose expression conveyed a disturbing mixture of dignity and fear.
• Cllr Jonathan Craig, Chair of Leisure & Wellbeing and Shirley Lennon from the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust will mark Holocaust Memorial Day at 1 PM on January 27th, followed by refreshments. All welcome.
• Light a candle at 8pm on Monday 27th January to remember the victims and stand in solidarity.
• Learn more about Holocaust Memorial Day and its lessons by exploring the resources provided by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust at hmd.org.uk.
Together, we can ensure that the lessons of the past guide us toward a future of unity and understanding.