Digital Film Archive

DescriptionDate
thumbnailSuper 8 Stories: 1939 Wedding

Geoff Goldsbrough looks back at footage of his parents' wedding and of their reception at Belfast Castle in 1939. This is followed by scenes of his parents at his own wedding in the 1960s. This clip appeared in Series 1, Programme 1 of Super 8 Stories.
1939
thumbnailSuper 8 Stories: The Start of the Troubles

Filmmaker, Gordon McKnight, remembers the first days of the Troubles in Belfast in 1969 and his attempts to capture what was happening with his camera, unsuspecting that the events would be continung for many years to come. This clip appeared in Series 1, Programme 1 of Super 8 Stories.
1969
thumbnailSuper 8 Stories: 'Dopey Dick' Killer Whale

In the 1970s Londonderry gained a celebrity in the shape of a killer whale nicknamed 'Dopey Dick' who swam up the River Foyle and couldn't get back out to sea. James Kelly remembers shooting his film of the incident and his son, Eddie, talks about how the local children reacted. This clip appeared in Series 1, Programme 2 of Super 8 Stories.
1979
thumbnailSuper 8 Stories: Mary Peters - Olympic Gold Medallist

The story of local girl Mary Peters winning gold at the 1970 Commonwealth Games and 1972 Olympic Games and returning home to a civic reception at Belfast City Hall. This clip appeared in Series 1, Programme 3 of Super 8 Stories.
1972
thumbnailSuper 8 Stories: The Pope in Ireland

Seamus Kelly and his son Eddie recount how their family travelled down from Northern Ireland for the historic visit of the new Pope, John Paul II, on his appearance in Drogheda in 1979. This clip appeared in Series 1, Programme 3 of Super 8 Stories.
1979
thumbnailSuper 8 Stories: Irish Cup Final 1952

The Irish Cup Final of 1952 between Ards and Glentoran with footage of the Ards fans leaving Newtownards and heading to the match, excellent footage from the match itself and the Ards team's triumphant return to Newtownards with the cup. Interviewed for the story are fan and follower, John Martin, and ex-Ards player, Tommy Walker. This clip appeared in Series 1, Programme 4 of Super 8 Stories.
1952
thumbnailSuper 8 Stories: Queen's Students in the 1950s

Ronnie Fails and Maude Harbinson share their memories of student life in Belfast during the 1950s with footage from their Graduation Day at Queen's University as well as of the annual Rag Day Parade through Belfast City Centre. This clip appeared in Series 2, Programme 2 of Super 8 Stories.
1959
thumbnailSuper 8 Stories: The Big Flood in Omagh

Marie O'Neill recounts her efforts to film the Big Flood in Omagh in 1967 with contributions from Dr Haldene Mitchell and footage of bursting rivers and flooded streets from around the town. This clip appeared in Series 2, Programme 2 of Super 8 Stories.
1969
thumbnailSuper 8 Stories: Down win the All-Ireland in 1968

John Mageean remembers following the all-conquering Down Gaelic Football team of 1968 on their journey to All-Ireland glory. As well as match footage, the presentation of the trophy and their return to Downpatrick there are also interviewed contributions from ex-players Danny Kelly and Joe Lennon. This clip appeared in Series 2, Programme 2 of Super 8 Stories.
1968
thumbnailSuper 8 Stories Extra Footage: 1939 Wedding Reception at Belfast Castle

Early colour footage of guests arriving at a wedding on the Malone Road in Belfast and scenes outside the reception at Belfast Castle afterwards. This is the original unedited footage which was used in the making of the Super 8 Story, '1939 Wedding'.
1939
thumbnailSuper 8 Stories: Carney Hill to Bangor

Famed amateur film-maker Gordon McKnight takes us behind the scenes of his life as an architect and also on a journey from his home in Carney Hill to nearby Bangor. Gordon shot this film at a slower frame rate on his camera so that it would appear speeded up when played back at normal speed on his projector. The result is a lively whizz along the route to Bangor from an era before the busy dual carriageways when it was all country roads with very little traffic - a moment in time captured on film which has subsequently changed beyond all recognition. This clip appeared in Series 3, Programme 2 of 'Super 8 Stories'.
1969
thumbnailSuper 8 Stories: West Indies Cricket

In 1968 some local cricket fanatics in the Limavady region pulled off a major coup by securing a game against some of the greatest players from the mighty West Indies team. Such was a good spirit engendered by this game that a return was organised a few years later and a North West select team went on tour to the Caribbean. Players, Ozzie Calhoun and John Hunter, share their memories and John's wife, Sheila, remembers the trip to the West Indies. This clip appeared in Series 3, Programme 1 of 'Super 8 Stories'.
1968
thumbnailSuper 8 Stories: The Big Freeze

In the winter of 1963 Northern Ireland was brought to a standstill under blizzard conditions with the snow playing havoc with daily life for weeks to come. Such was the severity of the conditions that this period would always be henceforth referred to as 'The Big Freeze'. Combining amateur film from a wealth of different sources across the country and interviews with the people who shot it we are able to see how this this event affected the people of Northern Ireland. From the seriousness of the situation in Castlewellen where the whole town was cut off and needed supplies delivered by helicopter to the fun side of things with people driving a Mini across the frozen waters of Lough Erne, as well as hearing the thoughts of Dennis Tuohy who was a television weatherman of the time. This clip appeared in Series 3, Programme 4 of 'Super 8 Stories'.
1963
thumbnailSuper 8 Stories Extra Footage: West Indies XI v North West XI

Sections of this footage were included in the Super 8 Story, 'West Indies Cricket'.
1969
thumbnailSuper 8 Stories Extra Footage: Carney Hill to Bangor in Three Minutes

Sections of this footage were included in the Super 8 Story, 'Carney Hill to Bangor'.
1959
thumbnailSuper 8 Stories: Christmas Special

Special seasonal episode of the Northern Ireland home movies series, Super 8 Stories.
1969
thumbnailSuper 8 Stories Extra Footage: County Down Wedding

Sections of this footage were included in the Super 8 Story, 'Self Build House'.
1979
thumbnailSuper 8 Stories Extra Footage: The Jack McClelland Swim from Rathlin Island to Ballycastle

This is additional archive from Charlie McBride whose footage appeared in the Super 8 Story, 'The McBride Family'.
1959

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