My Bloody Sunday
“My Bloody Sunday” is a 3 episode podcast by Deirdre Brennan and Barry Connolly. The Bloody Sunday families, those who attended to the wounded and dying, journalists and photographers recount that fateful day in 1972. When 13 innocent civil rights demonstrators were shot dead by members of the British Parachute Regiment.
My mother was from the North. I spent a large part of my childhood there during the troubles. Growing up in a household steeped in Northern Irish politics and civil rights it was very important to me to create a body of work to mark the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday in 2022.
American Photography 38
As a photographer, the initial idea was to create a series of portraits of the relatives of the victims of Bloody Sunday and those who were on the Civil Rights march 51 years ago. The day before I was setting off to Derry for the first time, I was encouraged by Barry Connolly, a sound engineer at Plexa, to recorded interviews with relatives.
The three episodes are The March, in which relatives of the victims and those who attended the march, along with journalists and photographers, recount the events of that fateful day 51 years ago; The Aftermath, which explores the wakes, the funerals and the effect it had on the families and the city of Derry, while family members remember in loving detail the type of people the victims were; and The Search For Justice, in which the relatives describe the 51 years they have spent fighting for justice for their families.
The recordings have culminated in a three part podcast entitled “My Bloody Sunday”. The recordings were edited and arranged by Barry at Plexa. The title is a quote from Ursula Clifford, a nurse who was on the march and tended to the wounded and dying. The recordings were edited and arranged by Barry at Plexa.
I was interested in hearing exactly what it was like to be on the march 51 years ago. How the families spent that Sunday morning, was there any sense of foreboding. The atmosphere on the march and the aftermath of the shootings. The effect it had on their lives and the city of Derry. I also wanted to know what type of people the victims were. They were all hard working people, leading productive lives with deep family bonds.
Most importantly, the Bloody Sunday families are very pleased with the production. Feeling that it is a powerful and emotional telling of the families stories in a novel way. They also feel it a valuable archival document in accurately telling the tragedy of Bloody Sunday to future generations. They are hoping for it to have a permanent home in Derry in the future. I would like to thank everyone involved who invited me into their homes and trusted me to tell their story. Their fight for justice for their loved ones continues.
This is a very valuable archive in accurately telling the tragedy of Bloody Sunday to future generations
- Roslyn Doyle sister of Kevin McElhinney. A teenager who was shot dead on Bloody Sunday.
It's brilliant actually. I was so moved in the 2nd episode listening to Nearer My God to Thee, it brought tears. Terrific piece of work. Thank you very much.
- Kate Nash, whose brother William was killed and whose father Alex was seriously injured on Bloody Sunday.
I have found the episodes to be very powerful and emotional. Thanks for creating an excellent portrayal of the families story.
- John Kelly whose brother Michael was killed on Bloody Sunday.
Very very happy with it, thank you. So sad, heartbreaking
- Helen Deary whose mother Peggy Deery was the only woman shot on Bloody Sunday.
Outstanding, made me cry.
- Ursula Clifford. a nurse who tended to the dead and injured on Bloody Sunday.
It is very strong and will help generations of young people to understand the depths of what the families of all the victims went through over the years.
- Jimmy Duddy, the nephew of John Johnston who was shot in the leg and shoulder when going to the aid of another victim and who died four months later.
So powerful to hear from the families.
- Ann Hehir.
This is brilliant, very interesting and captivating.
- Angela Halpin.
This is brilliant, very interesting and captivating.
- Angela Halpin.
The portraits were inspired by the iconic photograph of Fr. Edward Daly waving a bloodied white handkerchief as he attempted to lead a dying teenager Jackie Daddy to safety after he was shot by the British army’s Parachute Regiment. The photograph became one of the enduring images of Northern Ireland’s Troubles. The portraits of the relatives are merged onto the actual handkerchief Fr. Edward Daly was waving on Bloody Sunday. The background is a view of Chamberlain Street where Jackie was carried by thea group of people trying to save his life.In the podcast you will hear from Kay Duddy, the sister of Jackie. Charlie Glenn, the Order of Malta volunteer who is helping to carry Jackie in the photograph. And from Fulvio Grimaldi, the Italian photojournalist who took the photograph.
Listen on Spotify and all podcast platforms.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3TRHUUmatoO4CXHrPIHRww?si=hh5x4v4kTeO7IZxWlts8Tg&nd=1
Listen on Apple and all podcast platforms.
https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/my-bloody-sunday/id1667925801?i=1000596593885
The portraits were selected for American Photography 38.
The annual juried book of what is considered the best of photography during the year.