Just one month before the 40th anniversary of the burning of Bombay Street, the incident many historians mark as the start of the Troubles, a series of previously unseen photographs taken at the time have gone on display in a downtown gallery. 

Hundreds of people have been filing through the doors of the Red Barn Gallery in Rosemary Street to see photographs taken in the aftermath of the Bombay Street pogroms.

The exhibition, Bombay St – Taken from the Ashes, recalls the days after August 15, 1969 when Catholics were burnt out of their homes by a loyalist/RUC mob armed with petrol bombs, guns and sticks.

Around 1,500 Catholic families were left homeless as a result of the infamous pogrom which also targeted the nearby streets of Kashmir Road, Conway Street, Clonard Gardens and Cupar Street.

The photographs were taken by Gerry Collins, who lived in the Clonard district at the time.  The morning after August 15, 1969, Gerry went to check on his aunt who was living in Bombay Street, before leaving the house he lifted a camera and three rolls of film.  He snapped 50 photographs in total, 30 from Bombay Street the morning after August 15, and 20 more which captured the scenes of disarray in the streets around the area in the following days.

Now aged in his 80s, Gerry has decided to share his recorded memories ahead of the 40th anniversary of the Bombay Street burning.

Gerry gave the treasured photographs to Frankie Quinn, Director of the Red Barn Gallery, who told the Andersonstown News the casual manner in which the successful exhibition came to fruition.

“Gerry Collins came down here at the start of the year and said he had pictures of the morning after the burning of Bombay Street. I told him to bring them down and never thought any more of it.

“A while later he turned up with this incredible box of history, you can imagine my reaction being a photographer myself.”

Frankie said he couldn’t believe the quality of the photographs both in terms of content and substance.

Camera Club

“I found out that Gerry was a founder member of the Christian Brothers Camera Club and a keen amateur photographer and you could tell because the pictures were great.  Gerry used the medium format, which I would use, and it’s a bit tricky but the pictures were composed so well that nothing had to come out.”

There was no doubt in Frankie’s mind that the photographs had to be exhibited, particularly as the anniversary was drawing close.

“This is the only record of a key pivotal moment in Irish history, an event that was so important it changed the course of Irish history,” he said.

“There was no question about whether or not we were not going to use these, it was like finding hidden treasure.”

The success of the exhibition, which has been only open for one week, has proved phenomenal for the gallery which launched in May 2008.

“The success of the Bombay Street exhibition is incredible and without a doubt our most successful to date,” said Frankie. “We are honoured to be hosting the exhibit.”

The names and comments in the visitors’ book are testament to the success the exhibition is garnering among locals and internationals alike.

The book is jammed full of positive comments and compliments from visitors from Andersonstown to Australia as well as the United States, Scandinavia and, of course, Bombay Street residents past and present.

The exhibition is running at the Red Barn Gallery until July 25, it will then move into the West where the photographs will be on display at St Mary’s University College where it will stay for the duration of Féile an Phobail (July 31-August 9).

Frankie is now urging others who may be in possession of similar photographic compilations to get in touch.

“Gerry had these photographs all these years. We are certain that there must be other people out there with hidden photographic treasures like this. Even if you don’t think it is of interest, we might, so bring it down to us.”

Bombay St – Taken from the Ashes is on show at the Red Barn Gallery, 43b Rosemary Street, Belfast until 25 July.