Visit of RMS Caronia to Bangor

Luxury cruise ship anchors off Bangor and those onboard come ashore to tour Northern Irish sites.

The RMS Caronia - nicknamed 'The Green Goddess' - was a Cunard White Star vessel and, ostensibly, a cruising ship. These pictures detail the events of July 29, 1955, when it visited Bangor. Passengers disembark to be ferried away by Ulster Transport Authority bus to explore Ulster. Shots on-board and from shore let us see the vessel from multiple perspectives. That evening while the ship leaves Ulster, the passengers dance or watch Joan Crawford in 'Female on the Beach'.

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