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

Rat Racing
Are champions made with a diet of cereal and Guinness? See the world recording breaking rat in his prime before he gets eaten by his owner’s cat.
From the collection of:

Overview
A Northern Irish town becomes an unlikely centre of 1969’s sporting craze. Should you put your money on Mohammad Mustang Alley or Tully Tornado? Or will the Mad Barber overcome his bad luck and beat the favorites? Join Gordon Burns in Crumlin to meet the rats, check the form and watch the race. See if you can spot the gerbils amongst the rats or perhaps you’ll see a familiar face in the crowd. Then join Leslie Daws in Bangor as the local hopefuls prepare for the world championships.
This material is Courtesy of the UTV Archive.
Related

The Flaming Tar Barrels of Ottery St Mary The Flaming Tar Barrels of Ottery St Mary
Current affairs 1978 2 mins Silent Location: Ottery St Mary
Unique tradition of Ottery St Mary’s flaming tar barrels rolls on

Haggis Hurling Haggis Hurling
News 1980 6 mins Location: Belfast
Meet the president leading the haggis hurling revival and learn how delivering lunch became a sport for kilted gentlemen.

Pipe Smoking Contest Pipe Smoking Contest
News 1963 3 mins Silent Location: Rathfriland
A piano player, a magician or sandwiches, which would motivate you to smoke the longest?

Stuntwoman Human Cannonball Stuntwoman Human Cannonball
News 1975 3 mins Location: Knebworth Ho
Human Cannonball Mary Connors has the guts and determination of any Olympian, proving she really is a she performing at Knebworth House, 1975.

Cheese Rolling Cheese Rolling
News 1960 1 mins Silent Location: Cooper's Hill
Injuries abound as the annual cheese rolling at Cooper's Hill near Brockworth claims its usual victims.

Tug of War Tug of War
News 1975 5 mins Location: Leicester
Their training regime includes lifting a lump of concrete into a tree - meet the Leicester tug-of-war team preparing to take on the world.

Owen Humberstone Prosser - Ebbw Vale Owen Humberstone Prosser - Ebbw Vale
Amateur film 1959 16 mins Silent Location: Crumlin
Owen Humberstone Prosser, an expert on railways and canals, captured the Crumlin Viaduct on film in 1959, before its demolition in 1967, a victim of the Beeching rail cuts.

Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass) Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2011 33 mins
Over 30 years and 150 projects, the composer shares, with humour and passion, the intricacies of making film music.

Ian Neil (Masterclass) Ian Neil (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2012 74 mins
Neil selected soundtracks for 127 Hours, Shame, Kick Ass, Control and many more. He discusses the job and its complexities, referencing his own work.

Barry Ackroyd (Masterclass) Barry Ackroyd (Masterclass)
2013 61 mins
British cinematographer of The Hurt Locker, Captain Phillips, Hillsborough and Riff Raff reviews the art of the moving image.

Lois Burwell on movie makeup Lois Burwell on movie makeup
Inside Film 2013 17 mins
Lincoln, Braveheart and Magnolia make-up artist Lois Burwell explains how she created some of her most iconic looks, as part of a BAFTA Masterclass.

Gabriel Yared on composing for film Gabriel Yared on composing for film
Inside Film 2013 11 mins
Composer of The Lives of Others, The English Patient and Betty Blue on intimacy and experimentation.

Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan
Inside Film 2012 mins
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy's adapter reveals his quest for "the poem of the book" and the importance of simplicity: 'Drain the pond to find the fish'.