How valuable are sources 1,5,6,7,8,9 in explaining the events of bloody Sunday?

Authors Avatar

Bloody Sunday Coursework

Question 1:

How valuable are sources 1,5,6,7,8,9 in explaining the events of bloody Sunday?

On Sunday, 30th January 1972, 13 Nationalist were shot dead by British Paratroopers during a march against internment in Londonderry. A 14th person died later in hospital. The exact events of “Bloody Sunday” are unclear, the enmity between the Nationalists and Unionists is so deep rooted in history that all accounts of the day are, to some extent, biased to either party.

Source 1, a print created in 1587 as catholic propaganda, shows the alleged treatment of catholic bishops by English troops. The bishops are shown solemnly praying, still dressed in ceremonial robes and mitre, while being hanged and tortured. Although it is undeniable catholic priest were subjected to such torture during the British colonisation of Ireland, it is unlikely the specific events depicted in the source ever actually happened. It is far more probable that the print is a generalisation of events in Ireland, a composite of various separate events to alert catholic in England and Ireland of the plight of the Catholic bishops.

Source 1 is an example of the long-term history behind Bloody Sunday. Images like this have been shown to each generation of Catholics at face value, as though the source images show the absolute truth. Propaganda like this, used by both Catholics and Protestants, is used to create hatred towards the other sect. The blind faith people of both sects place in the propaganda, and the hatred this creates, is a key factor in explaining events of Bloody Sunday. With this animosity between English and Irish, and the bloodshed it has created in the past, an event like Bloody Sunday was inevitable. Without the unfounded animosity between the two groups, events like Bloody Sunday would never have the chance to happen.

Join now!

Source 5 is an eyewitness account of Bloody Sunday, made by a Catholic Priest. He claims he saw no-one shooting at the Paratroopers, and that they shot indiscriminately and unprovoked. The statement comes from a Priest, and therefore should have integrity, however the priest is a Catholic and may by biased towards the nationalist perspective.  Whatever his belief, what he saw on the day would have been limited; he was only in one small area on the day and therefore could not have seen everything that happened. Its value in explaining events, however, its strengthened by Source 7.

...

This is a preview of the whole essay