Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive is a free public access resource for teachers, students, historians and anyone who has an interest in moving images. Spanning from 1897 to the present day, the films in the Digital Film Archive cover all aspects of life in Northern Ireland and includes everything from dramas to documentaries, newsreels and features, animation to amateur footage.
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County Down, A Tourist's Delight
Picturesque scenery and leisurely activities galore, come see what County Down has to offer in this Tourist Board film.
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Overview
As this delightful footage suggests, County Down has long appealed to holidaymakers. The luminous and varied landscapes are but part of its allure, for there are all manner of other attractions on offer. Sheepdog trials at Bangor’s Castle Gardens, the galloping excitement of horse-racing at Down Royal or – for those who prefer a more leisurely pace – a stroll in the idyllic Tollymore Forest Park.
These rushes come from the collection of National Museums Northern Ireland and were originally produced by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. This government department had their own staff that documented the region through stills and moving images and the films they created capture various facets of life in Northern Ireland. The department was particularly busy in the mid-1950s to late 1960s, creating films that aimed to sell Northern Ireland as a holiday destination. This material captures Northern Ireland at an intriguing time, post-World War Two and pre-Troubles.
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