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.
This film is part of Free
Tommy Orr Blacksmith
Immerse yourself in the magical light and sounds of the forge as Tommy Orr continues the family tradition of shoeing horses.
In partnership with:
Overview
Tommy Orr welcomes you into his forge to share his 40 years’ experience as he takes you through the craft of shoeing horses. Watch as Tommy emerges through the smoke like a premonition of the portrait painted four years later by Basil Blackshaw. He speaks about the happy pride he takes in his work and his care for the horses’ welfare. The rhythmic ringing of metal and billowing plumes of smoke are just some of the beautiful moments captured by Roy Spence for the Ulster Folk Museum.
As rural ways of life were engulfed by an ever more industrialised North the Ulster Folk Museum was born from a 1958 act of parliament. It continues to create a lively world of artefacts to preserve disappearing traditions for future generations. Visitors can experience the buildings, tools and crafts of the past from the weaver’s loom to the blacksmith's forge. Twin brothers Roy and Noel Spence have been making films for over fifty years; with subjects including crafty leprechauns, creatures from outer space, and the undead. You can enjoy many of these fantastical creations and more of Roy’s craft documentaries on BFI Player. This film is courtesy of Roy Spence and is held in the Irish Film Archive.
Related
Watch for free
Pattern for Progress Pattern for Progress
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1948 42 mins Location: Ebbw Vale/Glyn Ebwy
The drama and spectacle of steelmaking at Ebbw Vale.
Watch for free
Steel Windows Steel Windows
Documentary 1970 7 mins
A window on to a futuristic vision of concrete, glass and steel.
Watch for free
Project Spear Project Spear
Industry sponsored film 1964 31 mins
At Rotherham a revolution in steelmaking has human consequences.
Watch for free
Consett Steel Consett Steel
Industry sponsored film 1967 26 mins Location: Consett
Sparks fly in an industrial film that captures the exciting visual drama of steel production in Consett.
Watch for free
The First Four Years The First Four Years
Industry sponsored film 1951 42 mins Silent
An industrial epic plays out in steelmaking South Wales.
Watch for free
End of a Line End of a Line
1975 13 mins Silent Location: Swindon
After a glorious history, Baldwin's iron and steelworks in Swindon, Staffordshire, faces closure.
Watch for free
Cluck Cluck
Comedy 1998 11 mins Location: Belfast
Black comedy about a teenage idealist who builds a bomb, hijacks a lorry and sets off on a most peculiar mission.
Watch for free
Boating on the Bann Boating on the Bann
Amateur film 1960 15 mins Location: River Bann
All welcome who are interested in boating, angling, wild-fowling, botany, countryside preservation, or just fun!
Watch for free
Ulster Magazine No. 1 Ulster Magazine No. 1
Sponsored film 1966 15 mins Location: Aldergrove
Packed with celebrities and royal occasions could this be Ulster's answer to Hello! magazine on film?
Watch for free
Dalriada and Harbour Rail Tours Dalriada and Harbour Rail Tours
Amateur film 1967 11 mins Silent Location: Belfast
Swarms of train enthusiasts steal the show as we steam round Northern Ireland.
Watch for free
Land of Ulster Land of Ulster
Government sponsored film 1950 29 mins Location: Belfast
Even in Belfast, people are only a generation away from the soil. Explore the changing fortunes of Ulster and its farmers in this charming government film.
Watch for free
Governor's Notebook 3 Governor's Notebook 3
Amateur film 1953 4 mins Silent Location: Coleraine
Delight in this rare colour footage of the Queen as she tours the scenic north coast on the Royal Train.
Watch for free
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Watch for free
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Dan George of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Trixie Parkin-Christie of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.