Residents of cities, towns, and villages across Northern Ireland celebrated V.J. Day or Victory over Japan Day on 15th August 1945. The village of Bellaghy, Co. Londonderry was no different and the newspapers of the time recorded a "joyful spirit" in the streets.
As locals awoke on 15th August 1945, most houses flew flags to celebrate the end of the Second World War in the Pacific. By the following day, streams of bunting crisscrossed the Main Street.
At 2000hrs, Bellaghy Pipe Band and L.O.L. 400 Flute Band paraded through the village. A short address from Reverend J. Boyle followed before the observation of 2 minutes’ silence for those who never returned to the local area. Following the moment of commemoration, Mr. John Thompson lit the ceremonial bonfire. Loudspeakers blasted popular music of the time and old-time songs for games and dancing in the street.
The celebrations to mark V.J. Day in Bellaghy, Co. Londonderry continued for several days. On 17th August 1945, Mr. Thomas McCarroll was the M.C. at a Victory Dance in Ballymacombs Orange Hall. There, the Alpha Dance Band of Magherafelt, Co. Londonderry provided the tunes to keep people dancing late into the night.