Religious Ceremony

Vivid scenes at Catholic religious ceremony

It is believed this film captures the ordaining of a Bishop in the Newry and Mourne area. Priests, choir boys and various other clerical figures participate in an event that is marked with a high degree of religious solemnity.

These 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 intriguing time, post-World War Two and pre-Troubles.