Ballywalter, Co Down

From the collection of

Launched in 2000, Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive spans from 1897 to the present day and currently contains an ever-expanding catalogue of 13,000 items. It comprises material from a variety of depositors including feature films, sport, documentaries, animation, amateur footage, light entertainment, and a significant proportion of broadcast material from the UTV Archive.

Ballywalter, Co Down

Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive
Ballywater
2009-10-27
Sound

Visit the area of Ballywalter and Ballyhalbert in County Down and explore the history and people.

Joe visits the towns of Ballywalter and Ballyhalbert on the northern shore of the Ards Peninsula in County Down. He stands at Burr Point, the most easterly point in Ireland, looking out towards Burial Island.

Joe takes a trip out of Ballyhalbert harbour in a small boat with Ernest Dunbar who tells him stories of historical shipwrecks. On the rocky seashore, Ian Wilson recounts a daring rescue of the large sailing ship, the Wild Deer, and laments the disconnect in modern life from shipping as sea trade has largely moved to larger ports on reclaimed land in the bigger cities. Back out at sea, Ernest shows Joe how he brings in catches of lobsters and prawns.

Professor Valerie Holt then shows Joe a reindeer antler and part of an antler from a great Irish deer, both of which were found on the shore and date to when the sea was much further out at the end of the last Ice Age.

Moving to Ballywalter, Joe tells of the area's involvement with the 1798 United Irishmen Rebellion and then speaks to Jim Fullerton who tells of his career in the merchant navy and captaining the Liverpool ferry. May McAdam invites Joe to her farm and talks of being in the Young Farmers' Association for 67 years.

Joe visits the graves of three Polish airmen from World War II at St Joeseph's church in Ballyoran and of five Commonwealth airmen at St Andrew's in Ballyhalbert. All were killed in accidents at the Ballyhalbert airfield. He discusses the graves with Reverend John Hemphill. Helena McCormick remembers the building of the airfield during the war and the arrival of child evacuees from Belfast. Jim Palmer walks around the derelict remains of the airfield outbuildings talking of his sadness that they have been allowed to decline.

Lesser Spotted Ulster is a long-running and popular programme that visits the places many of us have heard of but never been to. Presenter Joe Mahon gently explores what makes a place what it is.

Lesser Spotted Ulster

Exploring the townlands and hinterlands of Ulster through landscape, history and local traditions as a torch is shone upon the roads less travelled.

Joe Mahon is an engaging host as he catalogues his journeys around towns and villages rarely mentioned in the news but rich in their own stories, legends, and tales of past industries and events. Using local people as his guides, Joe delves into the heritage and customs from yesteryear, documenting many before they pass from human memory. Starting in 1995, Lesser Spotted Ulster chronicled the regional variances of life around the six counties of Northern Ireland which, together with Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan, make up the historic boundaries of Ulster. With gentle panoramas of beautiful Irish countryside, played out under a lilting soundtrack, the series was a staple of the Ulster Television schedules for nearly 20 years. This selection of programmes from the series serves as a testimony to the rural culture of Ulster and a resource for anyone with an interest in the past and disappearing traditions.

38 videos in this collection

Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone

Omagh
2007-09-11

Drumquin, Co Tyrone

Omagh
2008-08-12

Belle Isle, Co Fermanagh

2008-09-26

Loughguile, Co Antrim

2008-10-03

Beragh, Co Tyrone

Beragh
2009-10-13