Rioting on the day of the Apprentice Boys parade in Derry resulted in clashes between residents of the Bogside and the RUC.
Barricades were erected and stones and petrol bombs thrown to keep the RUC out of the Bogside. Rioting spread across Northern Ireland with intense violence in Belfast.
The Taoiseach Jack Lynch ordered army field hospitals to be set up at the border and in a broadcast announced "...that the Irish government can no longer stand by...."
The British Home Secretary James Callaghan agreed to the deployment of British soldiers. Following negotiations between the army and local leaders, it was agreed to pull the RUC and 'B' Specials behind the army outside the Bogside. The violence led to more deaths across Northern Ireland.
The accompanying photograph shows republican graffiti and a poster behind a barricade of barbed wire in Derry in 1969.
This report features the annual Apprentice Boys parade in Derry, including the wreath-laying at the war memorial and the outbreak of riots that would spread across Northern Ireland.
Production Year
1969
AUGUST 1969
Derry Riots and Destruction
This report shows scenes of rioting taking place night and day in Derry. The report shows both injured civilians and injured police.
Production Year
1969
AUGUST 1969
Scenes of Destruction
Watch more scenes of destruction from Derry: fires, petrol bombers, burned vehicles and buildings reduced to rubble.
Production Year
1969
AUGUST 1969
The Taoiseach on the Situation in the North
In a landmark statement broadcast on radio and television, the Taoiseach Jack Lynch asks the British government to request a peace-keeping force from the United Nations.
Production Year
1969
AUGUST 1969
British Troops Set Up Road Blocks
The British Army set up barricades in the streets after being deployed in Derry.
Production Year
1969
AUGUST 1969
"The British Forces Have Occupied the Place"
Reactions from the streets of Derry to the arrival of British troops.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Seán Duignan (Reporter)
AUGUST 1969
British Troops for Bogside
Reporters Tom McCaughren and Pat Sweeney on the arrival of British troops in Derry.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Tom McCaughren (Reporter)
Pat Sweeney (Reporter)
AUGUST 1969
Reaction to Arrival of British Troops
On the streets of Derry, there is confusion as British soldiers take up position. Mike Burns gets the reactions of Eamonn McCann and Eddie McAteer.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Mike Burns (Reporter)
AUGUST 1969
Talking to British Troops
Representatives from the Bogside approach a barricade set up by British soldiers and ask to speak to an officer.
Production Year
1969
AUGUST 1969
Relief as Troops Arrive and RUC Withdraw
RTÉ News reports on the scenes at the end of the day that saw the arrival of British soldiers in Derry city.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Tom McCaughren (Reporter)
Pat Sweeney (Presenter)
AUGUST 1969
Political Reaction to Troops Arrival
It is hoped that the presence of the British Army will help to contain a volatile situation in Northern Ireland.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Martin Wallace (Reporter)
AUGUST 1969
Death on Night of Bloody Violence
On a night when six people died across Northern Ireland, one of the victims was a young boy. In the Falls Road area of Belfast, there were vicious clashes between Protestants and Catholics.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Barry Linnane (Reporter)
Kevin Healy (Reporter)
AUGUST 1969
Night of Shame for Belfast
Kevin Healy reports on a night of violence that saw gunfire on Hooker Street where Protestants joined with the RUC in a fierce attack.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Kevin Healy (Reporter)
Martin Wallace (Reporter)
AUGUST 1969
Bombay Street Destroyed in Belfast Attacks
Barry Linnane speaks with residents of Bombay Street, where homes have been burnt by Loyalist mobs.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Barry Linnane (Reporter)
AUGUST 1969
Belfast Burns
British troops take up positions while many buildings continue to burn.
Production Year
1969
AUGUST 1969
Devlin Calls for Barriers to Remain Manned
Bernadette Devlin urges the people of the Bogside to continue to man the barricades.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Tom McCaughren (Reporter)
AUGUST 1969
Night of Violence in Ardoyne
RTÉ News reports on the damage done to property around Brookfield Street in Belfast.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Barry Linnane (Reporter)
AUGUST 1969
Catholics Cross Border for Refuge
Catholics fleeing from violence arrive south of the border in Dundalk, Co. Louth. The report shows people at the train station where women and nuns provide them with assistance in the form of food and clothing.
Production Year
1969
AUGUST 1969
Chichester-Clark Gives Press Conference
The Northern Ireland Prime Minister, James Chichester-Clark is highly critical of the Irish government's response to the outbreak of violence.
Production Year
1969
AUGUST 1969
More Troops For Derry
Tom McCaughren reports on the arrival of 300 soldiers of the First Battalion, Queen's Regiment, in Derry.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Tom McCaughren (Reporter)
AUGUST 1969
Devlin Rules Out Military Patrols For Bogside
Bernadette Devlin talks to Tom McCaughren on the streets of Derry about the RUC, the British army and the Prime Minister Chichester-Clark.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Tom McCaughren (Reporter)
AUGUST 1969
"Honeymoon Period for Use of Troops Can Be Very Short Lived"
Following days of increasing violence across Northern Ireland, General Officer Commanding Lieutenant Ian Freeland gives a press conference. He warns that the honeymoon period for the army's arrival is coming to an end.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Seán Duignan (Reporter)
AUGUST 1969
Funerals of Victims of Violence
The funerals of two victims of the violence take place in Belfast.
Production Year
1969
AUGUST 1969
"The Arrival Of The British Troops Is Only A Temporary Thing"
Andy O'Mahony speaks to John Hume about all that has happened in Northern Ireland since the civil rights demonstration of 5 October 1968.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Andy O'Mahony (Reporter)
AUGUST 1969
"If We Are Forced to Fight, We Shall Fight"
Aidan Corrigan of the Dungannon Civil Rights Committee justifies a call for British troops to be responsible for law and order in the area.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Barry Linnane (Reporter)
Martin Wallace (Reporter)
AUGUST 1969
Radio Free Derry
Eamonn McCann talks to Tom McCaughren about Radio Free Derry broadcasting again.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Tom McCaughren (Reporter)
AUGUST 1969
Faulkner Denies 'B' Specials To Be Disbanded
Following Lt. General Freeland's announcement that the 'B' Specials were to be withdrawn from riot duty, Minister of Development, Brian Faulkner, holds a press conference to explain his government's position on the Ulster Special Constabulary.
Production Year
1969
AUGUST 1969
British MPs Visit The Bogside
British Labour MPs visit the Bogside and hear the views of local residents about the recent violence and the high rate of unemployment.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Pat Sweeney (Reporter)
AUGUST 1969
James Callaghan in Northern Ireland
James Callaghan, the British Home Secretary, comes to Northern Ireland on a three-day fact-finding mission. Callaghan was greeted by dignitaries, Mr. Chichester-Clarke, Lord Gray, Mr. Oliver Wright, and Lt. Gen. Sir Ian Freeland.
