When an anxious wife forbade her professional photographer husband from coming to Belfast, it led to a productive coincidence for local photographer Bill Kirk. The photographer worked for the English developers Building Design Partnership, who wanted to record the area as part of the restructuring process. Kirk was already involved in a personal project to document the area in 1974, having heard (while in college) that it was to be entirely redeveloped. The two projects found a natural fit, and the result is a series of irreplaceable images of a community in the throes of conflict and on the brink of major transformation.
Kirk says of his frequently moving images: “Social photographers are often accused of exploitation, but I see it as acknowledging people’s lives; of documenting our common humanity. That was a sense that I brought to all my projects, whether it was the events of Bombay Street in 1969 or the final days of the old Sandy Row. I felt it was important to have this record, that these lives were important. And that life here was not just about conflict.”
“I naively believed,” he adds, “that photography could make a difference.” This commitment is evident in the frequently moving, always captivating images, which are not only of vital historical significance, but also show a creative vision that is technically flawless and informed by empathy.
Bill Kirk UDA letter
SR1974 – 1 Hector McMillan’s shop, Primitive Street
SR1974 – 10 Housewife
SR1974 – 11 Widow
SR1974 – 12 Rowland Street
SR1974 – 13 Scott family, Blythe Street
SR1974 – 14 James Milligan and son
SR1974 – 15. Muriel Nelson, Blakely Street
SR1974 – 16 Maisie Cupples and neighbour, City Street
SR1974 – 17 Harry Creighton, Charles Street South
SR1974 – 18 last dweller in Rowland Street
SR1974 – 19 Pierce family
SR1974 – 2 From the roof of the Orange Hall
SR1974 – 20 Hazelly family, Linfield Road
SR1974 – 21 Bathtime
SR1974 – 22 Sylvia Butler, Charles Street South
SR1974 – 23 Cassie Bradshaw and husband Bill, Britannic Street
SR1974 – 24 Husband and wife
SR1974 – 25 Backyard 02
SR1974 – 26 Backyard Rowland Street
SR1974 – 27 Window decoration
SR1974 – 28 Backyard
SR1974 – 29 Backyard greenhouse
SR1974 – 3 Harry Creighton’s living room, Charles Street South
SR1974 – 30 June Hutchinson, Boyne Square
SR1974 – 31 Backyard 03
SR1974 – 32 Backyard 04
SR1974 – 33 Mrs Elliot with son Alan and husband Rolly
SR1974 – 34 Sandra Callagher, Boyne Square
SR1974 – 35 During the ‘flit’. 1
SR1974 – 36 During the ‘flit’ 2
SR1974 – 37 Hazelly child, Linfield Road
SR1974 – 38 Hope Court
SR1974 – 39 Lovers at Napier Street bonfire
SR1974 – 4 Living room, Rowland Street
SR1974 – 40 Shoppers
SR1974 – 41 Walter Curry, Maranatha Mission Hall, Linfield Road
SR1974 – 42 Jubilee Cafe
SR1974 – 43 Klondyke Bar 01
SR1974 – 44 Klondyke Bar
SR1974 – 45 Klondyke Bar
SR1974 – 46 Klondyke Bar
SR1974 – 47 Walter Curry clears up, Klondyke Bar
SR1974 – 48 Walter McMullan, John Smylie and Klondyke Bar
SR1974 – 49 William Hewitt, Lambeg drum maker, Charles Street South.
SR1974 – 5 Livingroom
SR1974 – 50 Jim Fryers, Lambeg drummer, outside the Boyne Tavern, Moore’s Place
SR1974 – 51 12th July, Glenalpin Street
SR1974 – 52 Girls accordian band.
SR1974 – 53 Cathy Milligan, Miss Sand Row 1974.
SR1974 – 54 Hugh Murtagh, Glenalpin Street
SR1974 – 55 Agnes shop
SR1974 – 56 Monaghan True Blues.
SR1974 – 57 12th July bonfire night.
SR1974 – 58 Dance night, Orange Hall.
SR1974 – 59 Stilt race
SR1974 – 6 Mantlepiece
SR1974 – 60 Nessy Robinson, Ice cream vendor
SR1974 – 61 Glamourous Grannies
SR1974 – 62 Go-cart race
SR1974 – 63 Billy Mahood, Tug-o-war
SR1974 – 64 Fancy dress
SR1974 – 65 Evelyn’s fruit shop
SR1974 – 66 Tom Perry at Nellie’s Perry’s shop
SR1974 – 67 Donegall Road
SR1974 – 68 Sandy Row
SR1974 – 69 John Brown’s shop
SR1974 – 7 Bedroom, Rowland Street
SR1974 – 70. Washeteria
SR1974 – 71 Walter McMullan’s living room
SR1974 – 72 Warwick’s shop
SR1974 – 73 Proud of Ulster
SR1974 – 74 Orange Hall
SR1974 – 75 Sleeptime at Blythefield infant school
SR1974 – 76 Outdoor market stall, City Street
SR1974 – 77 James Johnston’s (world famous opera singer) Butchers
SR1974 – 78 Bobby Smyth’s shop
SR1974 – 79 Off licence
SR1974 – 8 Kitchen
SR1974 – 80 TV rental shop
SR1974 – 81 Grocers shop
SR1974 – 82 Violet McFarland’s fruit shop
SR1974 – 83 Mrs Simpsons shop, 59 Sandy Row
SR1974 – 84 Newsagents
SR1974 – 9 Nipper Wilson at door, Rowland Way
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