Eighty five years after the Belfast Blitz, survivor Reggie Davidson has recalled the devastation and resilience he witnessed as an eight year old during the Easter Tuesday raid of 15 April 1941. Nearly one thousand people were killed and one thousand five hundred injured when German bombers targeted the city, leaving widespread destruction and around one hundred thousand people homeless. Davidson remembered seeing the city centre burning from Stranmillis and later cycling through flattened streets still smouldering.

Despite the destruction, he said the city 'rose to the occasion'. His mother helped open a local air raid shelter when sirens sounded, and he assisted her as neighbours sought safety. He praised the efforts of emergency services and ordinary քաղաքացինs who 'did their bit' during the attacks, which struck docks, factories and densely populated neighbourhoods.

To mark the anniversary, a new play at the Sanctuary Theatre in east Belfast explores the human stories behind the raids. Staged in a former church that sheltered families during the bombings, the production highlights themes of memory, community and hope. Its creators say sharing firsthand accounts ensures future generations become witnesses to what the city endured and overcame.