Urney, Co Tyrone

From the collection of

Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive
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.

Urney, Co Tyrone

This video can only be viewed in libraries

Find your nearest library

Visit the area of Urney in County Tyrone and explore the history and people.

Presenter Joe Mahon visits the parish of Urney which straddles the counties of Tyrone and Donegal. He gives us something of the history of the area and Williamite War battle fought for Clady Bridge over the River Finn. He visits an abandoned church graveyard and mentions that the most notorious export from Urney was the murderer/graverobber William Burke, of Burke and Hare infamy. He then talks to John and William Haire (no relation to the graverobber) about the history of the local sweet factory which produced Urney Chocolate before burning down and relocating to Dublin.

Joe tells the story of how local parishoners buried a church bell during the war when they feared it would be melted down for the war effort and then couldn't find it again. He then speaks to Eve Stafford who tells of her life with horse racing based at Carricklee House. Gloria Perry shows Joe a miniature diary written by a teenage girl in 1879 which she found when moving into Urney Park. She then demonstrates how to make ornamental figures from wire, fabric and clay.

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.


Tags

From the collection

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

1

Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone

2

Drumquin, Co Tyrone

3

Belle Isle, Co Fermanagh

4

Loughguile, Co Antrim

5

Beragh, Co Tyrone

6

Ballywalter, Co Down

7

Sixmilecross, Co Tyrone

8

Lough Swilly, Co Donegal

9

Rathlin, Co Antrim

10

Bailieborough, Co Cavan

11

Ardkeen, Co Down

12

Mullaghbawn, Co Armagh

13

Ardara, Co Donegal

14

Ballygawley, Co Tyrone

15

Galloon, Co Fermanagh

16

Kircubbin, Co Down

17

Arranmore, Co Donegal

18

Virginia, Co Cavan

19

Virginia, Co Cavan

20

Warrenpoint, Co Down

21

Ballybay, Co Monaghan

22

Killeeshil, Co Tyrone

23

Rostrevor, Co Down

24

Park, Co Derry

25

Hilltown, Co Down

26

Glenavy, Co Antrim

27

Urney, Co Tyrone

28

Ballykelly, Co Derry

29

Ballykelly, Co Derry

30

Ramelton, Co Donegal

31

Annaclone, Co Down

32

Donaghmore, Co Tyrone

33

Belturbet, Co Cavan

34

Monea, Co Fermanagh

35

Dromintee, Co Armagh

36

Kingscourt, Co Cavan

37

Muff Fair, Co Cavan

38

Cushendun, Co Antrim

View full collection