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
The Ruffian
Northern Ireland takes great pride in its boat building heritage, watch masters at work in Portaferry with news rushes from Ulster Television
From the collection of:
Overview
Portaferry is a home of Weatherly Yachts renowned for their quality fibreglass boats that go by the name of Ruffian. The original Ruffian was a 33ft Ocean Racer designed and built by brothers Dickie and Billy Brown in 1969-70. Most of Billy’s designs were born in creative bursts around 3am. “When I can think most clearly as at that time the ether isn’t clustered with other people’s ideas”. Ruffian was an immense success that started the remarkable family business in this film.
Billy describes her first voyage “In the first week of May 1971 Ruffian took to the sea in a lovely coat of deep royal blue paint. She was in her element. She floated to her water lines to an extent I could only have hoped for. I steered her out to a moorings under engine and was amazed at how responsive she was to the tiller. She is magic.” Weatherly Yachts built over 200 yachts during 1970’s and 1980’s. This had a great impact on the local sailing scene and fleets of Ruffians can be found in Ireland, Hong Kong and scattered around the globe. Dickie, who turned Billy’s designs into reality, devoted his career towards increasing the prosperity and quality of life in Portaferry. This material is courtesy of the UTV Archive.
Related
Currently unavailable
Turn-Up for Tony Turn-Up for Tony
Comedy 1968 29 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
A Tyne Tees Television comedy romance is a forgotten gem from a 1960s decade of radical urban change in Newcastle.
Watch for free
The Body Beautiful The Body Beautiful
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1990 24 mins
Autobiographical account of a mother-daughter relationship, exploring beauty standards and female sexuality.
Watch for free
The Finishing Line The Finishing Line
Instructional 1977 21 mins
In this surrealist short, John Krish and Michael Gilmour tell a perilous tale at the railway station. Mind the gap - this is going to get scary.
Watch for free
Walsall Market Walsall Market
News 1973 6 mins Location: Walsall
The sights and sounds of Walsall Market
Watch for free
Llanddwyn Island Llanddwyn Island
Home movie 1955 8 mins Silent Location: Llanddwyn Island/Ynys Llanddwyn
Sea pinks and samphire, lighthouses and church ruins – Llanddwyn’s charms are many and varied.
Watch for free
A Dog Called Discord A Dog Called Discord
Documentary 2023 23 mins
BAFTA-winning director Mark Jenkin (BAIT, Enys Men) explores his fascination with the magic of film.
Watch for free
Along the Brandy Pad Along the Brandy Pad
Amateur film 1964 19 mins Silent Location: Mourne Mountains
A smugglers route becomes a jolly holiday hike in this home movie from the Mourne country.
Watch for free
Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion
Short documentary 2026 22 mins
Filmmaker Andrea Luka Zimmerman and curator Matthew Barrington discuss Frederick Wiseman’s High School with Sandra Hebron.
Watch for free
Hard, Cracked the Wind Hard, Cracked the Wind
Horror 2019 17 mins
A haunting with words is the lure between life and death for a young Cornish poet.
Watch for free
A Last Resort A Last Resort
Comedy 2022 17 mins
Rose is desperate to celebrate her 60th birthday in style, but her daughter Genevieve is struggling to ignore some recent tragic news about her mum.
Watch for free
The Walk The Walk
Drama 2023 12 mins
Adeel Akhtar portrays a man on a weekly trek to his nearest JobCentre, entering a state of purgatory through barriers put in place by the system.
Watch for free
Seagull Seagull
Horror 2022 6 mins
Seagull is a recovering drug addict who is about to have a very strange night on The English Riviera.
Watch for free
Octopus Octopus
2021 13 mins
Upon returning to her home town for a funeral, a young woman reconnects with the friends she left behind.