healingthroughremembering's photostream  

There were many casualties of the sectarian violence in Belfast in September 1969. Lives were lost, hundreds were injured, property was destroyed, communities were divided, and childhoods were shattered. This photo captured a camera crew filming the British army dismantling a barricade made of street paving slabs, before rioting broke out. A traumatised little girl stands posed for the photographer.

Written by Elizabeth M. Kirwan from National Photographic Archive, The National Library of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.

A page from a scrapbook created by a resident of the Ormeau Road during the 1970s, reflecting one man's personal response to the conflict.

Written by William Blair from the Ulster Museum, National Museums Northern Ireland, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Photograph of a ‘Platform’ shoe of a style that was quite commonly worn during the 1970s. This particular shoe had holes specially drilled into the thick sole to conceal bullets. It was detected by prison staff whilst being worn by a visitor to the Maze Prison, who was attempting to smuggle bullets into the Prison, in the early 1970s.

Written by Bob Pue from NI Prison Service

This matchstick model of the Ardglass Presbyterian Church was constructed by a Protestant prisoner at the Maze Prison in 1978. It was a gift from W.B. Mulhall, who was serving a life sentence, to Chief Probation Officer James Carr. Mr Carr’s son served with the Military Provost Staff Corps, and loaned the item to the museum in 2003.

Written by Ian Bailey from Adjutant General's Corps Museum

Constructed from wooden pallets and tyres, the bonfires are part of Loyalist ritual, commemorating Catholic King James' defeat at the Battle of the Boyne. Being deliberately excessive they can be read in the tradition of carnival, but often involve sectarian displays, such as this slogan KAT - Kill all Taigs.

© Mervyn Smith, image courtesy of Belfast Exposed
Written by Pauline Hadaway from Belfast Exposed, Belfast, Northern Ireland