Communities Minister today spoke at an event at
the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) as part of
the Holocaust Memorial Day 2025 programme.
The event, which was organised by PRONI and the Northern Ireland
War Memorial (NIWM), looked at the journey of the late Walter
Sekules, a Holocaust survivor from Austria whose family moved to
Kilkeel shortly after the war.
Communities Minister, said: “The story of
the Sekules family is one of immense hope after
unimaginable adversity. The Sekules family thrived in
Northern Ireland, establishing a successful business and calling
Kilkeel their home for decades.
“This year's theme of Holocaust Memorial Day is 'For A
Better Future' and to achieve that, we must learn from the
past. This year is the 80th anniversary of the end of
Second World War and the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, a
poignant reminder of the millions who lost their lives during the
conflict.
“We all have a responsibility for ensuring that the
crimes of genocide and persecution will never be repeated. We
want to embrace a future where people do not suffer prejudice or
persecution because of their faith, their ethnicity, the colour
of their skin or their community background.”
Author Csilla Toldy shared the story of her illustrated
children's book, Enemy Alien – Walter's Journey Through
Adversity. Esther Bloch, Walter's sister joined Csilla for
the talk, taking the audience through their family life from the
Soviet detention camp in Kazakhstan to Kilkeel.
Notes to the Editors:
- Photo caption: L-R David Huddleston PRONI, Esther
Bloch with Communities Minister , author Csilla Toldy and
Keith Beattle from the Northern Ireland War Memorial at an
event to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.
- The Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) takes place each year on 27
January and is organized by The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. It
encourages remembrance in a world scarred by prejudice and
persecution. A programme of events to support HMD takes place in
January. Further info can be found on Holocaust Memorial Day Trust |
What is Holocaust Memorial Day?
- The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRON) is a
division within the Department for Communities. It was
established on 22nd June 1923 and currently holds more than three
million documents. PRONI is based at 2 Titanic Boulevard, Titanic
Quarter, Belfast. For details on opening hours, see
www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni
or call 028 90 534800)
- The Northern Ireland War Memorial is a museum that provides a
window on Northern Ireland's key role in the Second World War and
the impact of the war on its people. For details on opening
hours, see www.niwarmemorial.org/visit-us
