A Jubilant Catholic Youth After Stoning British Soldiers, The Bogside, Londonderry, Northern Ireland
- Artist: Sir Don McCullin CBE
- Date: 1971, printed 2013
- Medium: Photograph, gelatin silver print on paper
- Dimensions: image: 505 x 330 mm
- Museum: Tate Britain
- Collection record: Tate Britain website
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About this artwork
This is the “A Jubilant Catholic Youth After Stoning British Soldiers, The Bogside, Londonderry, Northern Ireland” by Sir Don McCullin CBE. The image is a gelatin‑silver print from 1971, re‑printed in 2013, that captures a raw moment of the Troubles. A young Catholic boy stands, arms raised, in a triumphant pose over the bodies of British soldiers he has just stone‑pushed. The scene is both shocking and oddly celebratory, revealing the fierce joy that can erupt from a community under siege.
McCullin, known for his conflict photography, used this photo to document the social turmoil of Northern Ireland. It’s a stark, documentary snapshot that shows how war can shape the emotions of youth and the everyday street life of the Bogside. The boy’s laughter contrasts with the violence around him, turning a single act into a larger commentary on war, society, and the resilience of people caught in conflict.
The photograph is a powerful reminder of a turbulent era and the role of the camera in exposing the human side of war.
See it in person
A Jubilant Catholic Youth After Stoning British Soldiers, The Bogside, Londonderry, Northern Ireland is in the collection of Tate Britain on Millbank, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
