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
County Antrim
Enjoy the early signs of spring from the lambs gambolling in the fields to the rally cars tearing round the Circuit of Ireland.
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Overview
Expectant crowds in colourful flares wait to see who will make it to the finish line on the final day of Ireland’s gruelling road race. Meanwhile lambs frolic in the vibrant green fields surrounded by fresh buds. The sparkling sea glitter signals that it’s time for the international drivers to head home. As we wave goodbye we share a final view of the Chaine Memorial Round Tower lighthouse. A 27m turret of Annalong granite that has greeted visitors to these shores since 1888.
Archie Reid was a History teacher and prolific film maker. You can find some more of his gems on the Britain on Film map ranging from the delightfully absurd to intimate portraits of his home county. The Circuit of Ireland is an exhilarating 1,500 mile dash around Ireland over five days. Starting in 1931 it is the third oldest international rally in the world. In a year dominated by ford escorts the 1971 winners were Adrian Boyd and Beatty Crawford, delighted to be victorious again after an 11 year wait. If you glimpse an unmarked orange car in this film, it is a camera car driven by former champion Paddy Hopkirk, making a film about the rally called ‘A Dash of the Irish’.
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