Author: © William L. Rukeyser
Text: © William L. Rukeyser
The Web page below has been revised and updated with newly available photographs, and new scans of the earlier photographs. All the material can now be found at:
http://cain.ulster.ac.uk/rukeyser/
Series of Colour Photographs and Audio Recordings
by William L. Rukeyser of the Events of 'Bloody Sunday' (30 January 1972)
William L. Rukeyser is an American who was living and working as a freelance reporter, based in Belfast, for periods of time in 1971 and 1972. He was working both as a photographer and a radio reporter for United Press International (a US news agency) on 'Bloody Sunday' (30 January 1972) in Derry.
He took a number of colour photographs of events on that day. Some of these photographs were made available at his personal web page http://members.aol.com/BRuke1/Derry.html or http://www.capweb.com/Derry/. William L. Rukeyser has given his permission for the photographs to be available at the CAIN site. 'Click' on the thumbnail images below for larger photographs.
In his role as radio reporter he recorded the sounds of the initial shooting, an interview with an eyewitness, some of the events surrounding the funerals, and recorded a number of reports. William L. Rukeyser has given his permission for the audio clips to be available at the CAIN site.
At the bottom of the page are some links to other photographs taken by William L. Rukeyser at a Civil Rights demonstration in Newry one week after 'Bloody Sunday'.
All photographs and audio clips are copyright © William L. Rukeyser. William L. Rukeyser can be contacted by email at DCACom@aol.com or at BRuke1@aol.com
Series of Colour Photographs taken by William L. Rukeyser
of the Events of 'Bloody Sunday' (30 January 1972)
British troops search vehicles on the main Belfast-Derry road prior to demonstrations and shooting
[Colour Photograph]
View from behind the British Army barricade prior to the shooting
[Colour Photograph]
View from behind the British Army barricade prior to the shooting
[Colour Photograph]
View from behind the British Army barricade prior to the shooting
[Colour Photograph]
A wounded victim being carried towards an ambulance by bystanders - (i)
[Colour Photograph]
A wounded victim being carried towards an ambulance by bystanders - (ii)
[Colour Photograph]
A shooting victim on a stretcher
[Colour Photograph]
A dead victim soon after the shooting
[Colour Photograph]
A dead victim soon after the shooting
[Colour Photograph]
British troops conduct mass arrest of civilians during a lull in the shooting - (i)
[Colour Photograph]
British troops conduct mass arrest of civilians during a lull in the shooting - (ii)
[Colour Photograph]
British troops conduct mass arrest of civilians during a lull in the shooting - (iii)
[Colour Photograph]
Arrestees are led away
[Colour Photograph]
A civilian ambulance attempts to evacuate dead and/or wounded from the Bogside (Note white flag) - (i)
[Colour Photograph]
A civilian ambulance attempts to evacuate dead and/or wounded from the Bogside (Note white flag) - (ii)
[Colour Photograph]
Blood on the street
[Colour Photograph]
Series of Audio Clips recorded by William L. Rukeyser
of the Events of 'Bloody Sunday' (30 January 1972) and the immediate aftermath
Note: The following audio clips are in MP3 format. To listen to the material 'click' on the links below. If the audio clips do not play as expected then you should first download the file to your computer by 'right-clicking' and choosing "Save Link Target As...". Then use an 'MP3 Player' or a 'RealPlayer' program to play the clip.
Sounds of initial shooting on Bloody Sunday, recorded behind British Army lines
William Street, Derry; Sunday 30 January 1972
MP3 File 1,922KB 1:21Minutes
Experts retained by the British Government's Bloody Sunday Inquiry have reported this is the best audio recording of the shooting: "Rukeyser provides the longest and cleanest 'shot' [audio] sequence." (C.M. Mills; Network International, Forensic Science Division)Interview with Roman Catholic priest (later Bishop of Derry) Rev. Edward Daly soon after shooting ended
Bogside, Derry; Sunday 30 January 1972
MP3 File 1,831KB 1:18MinutesReport on Bloody Sunday killings by William L. Rukeyser for UPI Audio service
Derry; Sunday 30 January 1972MP3 File 792KB 0:33Minutes
Report on Bloody Sunday funeral by William L. Rukeyser for UPI Audio Service (and portion of funeral service)
St Mary's Chapel, Creggan, Derry; Wednesday 2 February 1972
MP3 File 1,825KB 1:17MinutesRoll call of the dead at funeral for 'Bloody Sunday' victims
St Mary's Chapel, Creggan, Derry; Wednesday 2 February 1972
MP3 File 823KB 0:35MinutesHymn, 'Nearer My God To Thee', at funeral for 'Bloody Sunday' victims
St Mary's Chapel, Creggan, Derry; Wednesday 2 February 1972
MP3 File 1,085KB 0:46Minutes
Series of Photographs taken by William L. Rukeyser of a Civil Rights march in Newry on 6 February 1972, one week after 'Bloody Sunday'
British troops prepare for civil rights (NICRA) demonstration in Newry one week after Bloody Sunday - (i) [Colour Photograph 13]
British troops prepare for civil rights (NICRA) demonstration in Newry one week after Bloody Sunday - (ii) [Colour Photograph 14]
British troops prepare for civil rights (NICRA) demonstration in Newry one week after Bloody Sunday - (iii) [Colour Photograph 15]
British troops prepare for civil rights (NICRA) demonstration in Newry one week after Bloody Sunday - (iv) [Colour Photograph 16]
CAIN contains information and source material on the conflict and politics in Northern Ireland.
CAIN is based within Ulster University.