Images of Ulster conflict go on web

A local amateur photographer's unique images of Londonderry's experience of the Troubles are now available on the internet through the University of Ulster.

The photographs are part of a larger collection taken by Eamon Melaugh from the late 1960s to the 1970s. The archive will be available through the Cain (Conflict Archive on the Internet) website, hosted at the Magee College campus. Martin Melaugh, Cain project manager and Mr Melaugh's son, said:

"These photographs represent an important visual record of events in Derry during the early period of the conflict. This is particularly important for people outside Northern Ireland."

He said that in making the latest collection available the Cain site wants to encourage other photographers to select any relevant images available on the site. Eamon Melaugh said: "Only a few of these photographs have been published before, while the majority have been stored away for 30 years. I felt the images would be of use to those studying the conflict. I hope the photographs will give people an impression of what life was like. The photographs of heavily armoured British Army vehicles patrolling civilian areas of Derry are a clear indication of the nature of the conflict at that time.