This section contains sources of information on the civil rights march in Derry on 5th October 1968, which was first blocked and then baton-charged by police. Sporadic disturbances continued in Derry for three days. For many historians this event marked the outbreak of 'the Troubles'.

Summary of Events

 

A summary of the events.

 

Background

 

Background information.

 

Organisations

 

Abstracts: DHAC; NICRA; RUC

 

Chronology

 

A chronology of events.

 

Key reading

 

Key texts on CAIN

 

Biographies

 

Biographies of the key persons.

 

Main Events of the Day

 

Main events of the day

 

Public Records

 

Public Records: PRONI; NAI

 

Source Material

 

List of source material

 

Heathwood Collection

 

Database: TV recordings

 

Photograph Collection

 

Eamon Melaugh photographs

 

Personal Accounts

 

Personal accounts

 

Some of the broadcast companies have made news, current affairs and documentary video available on-line. The following links are to some relevant resources. CAIN undertook some work with the BBC Northern Ireland Rewind team which was exploring ways to use its historical news coverage. Some pages drawing on this material was produced by the BBC team in association with CAIN.

RTE Archives

 

RTE original film and audio:
Derry 5 October 1968

 

BBC Northern Ireland

 

BBC NI Rewind: Troubled Times; and
"Ulster Stands at the Crossroads"
BBC NI: 'Day the Troubles Began' (3m:21s)

 

UTV

 

UTV documentary 'Brink of Chaos':
Part 1 (23m:01s; 2 Oct 2018, 2315);
Part 2 (23m:01s; 9 Oct 2018, 2315);
Part 3 (22m:58s; 23 Oct 2018, 2315).