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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Dwight Eisenhower in Hillsborough and assorted other scenes
Fishermen enjoy a tranquil day out, motorbikes race on a grass track, Dwight D. Eisenhower visits Hillsborough and much fun is had on a ferry trip.
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Overview
Tranquil scenes of fishermen on edge of the River Erne. The excitement of motorbike racing at Lisahilly, Enniskillen, as bikes thunder around the muddy grass track. Dwight D. Eisenhower, formerly the 34th President of the USA, begins a four-day visit to Northern Ireland on the 21st of August. He's greeted in Hillsborough by assorted dignitaries. Vivid scenes of ferry journey from Warrenpoint.
These colourful rushes are amongst a wealth of footage that was generated by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. This government department had their own staff who 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 interesting time, post-World War Two and pre-Troubles.
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