The Derry Citizens' Defense Association (DCDA) was an organisation set up in

Derry Derry, officially Londonderry (), is the second-largest city in Northern Ireland and the fifth-largest city on the island of Ireland. The name ''Derry'' is an anglicisation of the Old Irish name (modern Irish: ) meaning 'oak grove'. The ...

in July 1969 in response to a threat to nationalist residents from the

Royal Ulster Constabulary The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) was the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2001. It was founded on 1 June 1922 as a successor to the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC)Richard Doherty, ''The Thin Green Line – The History of the Royal ...

(RUC) and civilian unionists, in connection with the annual parade of the Apprentice Boys of Derry on 12 August. This followed clashes with the RUC in January and April 1969, which resulted in widespread violence. The DCDA played a prominent role in co-ordinating the area's residents in the Battle of the Bogside, and was the effective government of the self-declared Free Derry from August to October 1969. Its leaders included

Seán Keenan Seán Keenan (died 3 March 1993)Derry republican remembered
Aeneas ...

, Paddy Doherty and Johnnie White. Keenan and White were well-known

republicans Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

References

1969 establishments in Northern Ireland Organisations based in Derry (city) Organizations established in 1969 Political advocacy groups in Northern Ireland The Troubles in Derry (city) {{NorthernIreland-stub