This film is part of Free

Song of Ulster

Embark on a musical tour of Ulster. Enjoy diving-board hi-jinks and cruise along a sun-dappled Lough Erne. Let song and landscape tell you the story of each county.

Sponsored film 1986 26 mins

From the collection of:

Logo for Northern Ireland Screen

Overview

Eschewing the standard voiceover, this Tourist Board film weaves a story from stunning scenery and song. At Belfast's Victoria Park children show their skipping prowess, whilst a young Gloria Hunniford entertains guests in the Slieve Donard Hotel. Given that the film was made in the midst of ‘The Troubles’, the filmmakers - by adopting this format - avoided addressing the conflict and were instead able to conjure-up images of an idyllic Ulster.

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board produced this film. This government 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 Irish tourism at an intriguing time, as conflict escalated so did the pressure to close the Tourist Board. Resilient staff adapted creatively to the uphill struggle to find ways and places where they could responsibly encourage tourists to visit. Despite these obstacles they continued to create films during the 1970s and 1980s earning the nicked name the ‘Fermanagh Tourist Board’.