Do miracles exist? Mickey McGuigan, a 73-year-old Northern Irish farmer-turned-writer, is going to take us on a journey to find out. Miracles may defy logic, but millions around the world believe in them. In Ireland, it's part of the traditional world of folklore and magic that people hang on to. If your cow's got ringworm, you call a man with the 'cure'. He may heal the animal by spitting on it. And if your child won't stop screaming for days, a woman with the 'gift' may silence it with the use of a simple piece of string! You'll meet Father Conlan, a Catholic priest who, though paid as a parish priest, spends all his time healing the sick. There's a six-month waiting list of people desperate to see him. One day, 38 people turned up at his door, unannounced, hoping to be cured. We'll also encounter John Purcell, a romany gypsy, who converted from Catholicism to become a Protestant evangelist. A fire-and-brimstone preacher, who claims to be able to cure anything and hundreds flock to his ministry. Mickey's our guide on this cinematic adventure through a hidden part of rural Northern Ireland, where anything is possible.
Filmed over one year, following the lives of ordinary people living in extraordinary circumstances, The Wall examines the impact of life in the shadow of a forty foot Peace Wall at one of Northern Ireland's most volatile interfaces
This true portrayal of life on Rathlin Island reveals a community of just over 100 residents, where young people are valued as the key to survival for future generations. A busy summer on the island sees the first ever Maritime festival, with currachs, ceilidhs and many visitors. The tourist industry is also getting a boost with the building of a new hostel. The island play is in rehearsal and the primary school, with only nine pupils, has a new headmistress this year. There's no secondary school on the island, so as summer draws to a close, the older children prepare to go to boarding school in Belfast.
Scoop takes an affectionate look at the impact of the G8 political circus arriving in the rural town of Enniskillen, told through the eyes of the journalists of the Impartial Reporter, the local newspaper that broke the story.
Set against the backdrop of the rural sporting tradition, we follow Hunt Master Andy Hamilton, a gifted horse whisperer, as he tries to pass on his talent and traditions to his sons before it is too late.
Patsy Forbes is aiming to be crowned the world's fastest man over 70, and at 91, John McKeag is hoping to restart his running career after recent injury. Amongst a generation of senior athletes, two sporting veterans Patsy and John, explain how their history and attitudes to ageing and life has helped them enjoy many decades of competitive sport.
Viscount Crichton from Crom Castle in Fermanagh sets out to explore the challenges faced by modern aristocracy as they endeavour to maintain and fund their historical homes. Ballywalter Park in County Down, owned by Lord and Lady Dunleath is the focus of Viscount Crichton's visit in this programme. With exclusive and candid access to the Lord and Lady of the house it is a rare opportunity to witness what really goes on behind the closed doors of one of Ulster's finest stately homes and a revealing insight into the huge responsibility that comes with inheriting a family estate.
Receiving the diagnosis that your child is life-limited is devastating for families and they need support. This film follows some of those families whose lives have had to change beyond all recognition as they care for their children's complex needs with the support of the Northern Ireland Children's Hospice. We follow six-year-old Natasha whose visits to the hospice give her mum Natalie a much needed break. We join five-year-old Caelainn Ball and his parents on one of their regular trips to Great Ormond Street Hospital and we meet three-year-old Oisín on his first trip to the Children's Hospice.
A Belfast Jewish Story The Last Minyan tells the story of the disappearing world of the Belfast Jewish community, as seen from the inside. Film-maker Aaron Black observes the ageing community as it struggles to gather the ten men or Minyan needed for a prayer service. The film explores the reasons why keeping the synagogue open and the community going is so important to those who remain. Small Jewish communities are dying all over the UK, this is the story of one of them
More and more of us here in Northern Ireland are choosing to work at night. Over the course of one single night last year, we've followed six people who have turned their back on the normal 9-to-5, in favour of working during the hours of darkness. These include a taxi dispatcher, a homeless shelter worker, a night-time photographer, a street cleanser, a power station manager and two turkey farmers. On the 21st December 2013 the sun set at 15.53 not rising again until 8.04 the next the morning, making it officially the longest night of last year. This is the story of what happened during the course of that night.
A heartwarming and uplifting tale about how people set dance through the twists and turns of life in their golden years. This film follows the joy that set dancing brings to some of its oldest and most dedicated dancers - inspirational characters who refuse to allow life to age them. Escaping the pressures of work is Vincent Lewis, an 85-year-old printer who refuses to slow down. Finding solace in dancing after the death of her son, 84-year-old Isabel Woods attends classes every week with her husband Peter. Calling the sets in his early seventies is Paddy Mee, whose knees won't allow him to take the floor as often he would like, but who still can't leave the hall.
Actor Dan Gordon returns to the streets of his native east Belfast to recruit young Protestant bandsmen for a unique theatre project that explores questions about their history, identity - and the flag.
Children aged between six and eleven belt around a racetrack at speeds of up to 50mph just six inches from the tarmac. This film follows Northern Ireland's two best drivers through the twists and turns of a racing season. Motor sport, one of Northern Ireland's most fanatical pastimes, is now open to a brand new set of racers - welcome to the world of Ninja Karts.
The phenomenon of country music has swept rural Northern Ireland off its feet. A whole new audience of teenagers and twentysomethings has been introduced to the art of jiving - and throughout the summer, many of them are on the search for love.
A unique look at County Tyrone's biggest cattle market - Clogher Mart - the beating heart of the Clogher Valley's farming community, where small farmers are somehow surviving against the odds.
Behind the scenes of one of Northern Ireland's most pressurised kitchens. Will Brown has a mission - to turn his rural family B&B into a Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurant. But sometimes his determination and explosive personality can work against him. This True North charts Will's quest over an eventful 18 months, as he battles to create a restaurant that can compete with the best in the country.
David Jeffrey narrates a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to be a successful football referee in Northern Ireland. Featuring both female and male referees, The Whistle Blowers offers a unique insight into the psychology of those at the bottom and those at the top, including one of the local game's biggest names - FIFA Referee Raymond Crangle.
In the summer of 1969 the lives of a group of altar boys were changed forever when they witnessed the outbreak of sectarian violence on the doorstep of Holy Cross church in Ardoyne, north Belfast. These were boys who grew up together, but went on to take radically different paths as men. Nearly 50 years on, they reunite at Holy Cross to discover how much their lives have been shaped by being born in one of the most troubled parts of Northern Ireland.
Our wonder women are surely that - women in jobs traditionally thought of as just for men. They show the lads how to do things - among them a roofer, a plumber, train driver, trawler captain and a joiner. The sisters are doing it for themselves.
During the Troubles, Crossmaglen was seen by many as a place apart. At the heart of what became known as 'bandit country', and despite the pressures, a group of children managed to form one of the most formidable football teams in GAA club history. With unique access to the Crossmaglen GAA club over two seasons, this documentary follows new managers Oisin McConville and John McEntee, both former All-Ireland winners with the club, as they attempt to guide the next generation to victory. This is the story of a remarkable group of people at the heart of a remarkable town.
A female bodybuilder pushes herself to her physical and mental limits in training. What does it take to be a bodybuilder in Northern Ireland, how do they think about the sport, and come showtime, is it worth giving everything for one unforgiving minute on stage?
In 1975 Vance McElhinney was pulled from war-torn Vietnam and transplanted to Northern Ireland. Forty years on he returns east for the first time, but where will he find a place to call home?
Documentary exploring the heartbreak of pet bereavement through the experiences of owners preparing to say goodbye to ill or elderly dogs, as well as bereaved owners still trying to come to terms with the death of a much-loved pet.
Can a person be defined by what they leave behind? Local man Craig Morrison finds a wealth of belongings and personal stories while clearing houses. He doesn't just collect furniture, he collects history.
Gift from Death tells the extraordinary story of how some people from Northern Ireland are donating their bodies to medical science upon their death. In this revealing and intimate film, we try to understand why people choose to do this and learn the value such a gift has for the education of our young doctors at Queens University, Belfast
The Donnelly family from rural County Armagh are thought to be the oldest group of siblings in the world, collectively they add up to an incredible 1,064 years. In a film that looks at what it means to grow older in today's society, we follow the family as they attempt to get a world record. Austin Donnelly (70) and his 13 siblings, Sean (92), Maureen (91), Eileen (89), Peter (86), Mairead (85), Rose (84), Tony (82), Terry (80), Seamus (79), Brian (75), Kathleen (74), Colm (72) and Leo (70), came to the realisation that all their ages added up to a grand total of 1,117 (at the time) after Austin decided, playfully, to do a bit of maths at his oldest sister Maureen's 90th birthday party earlier last year. From then on the seed was planted and Austin was now determined to find out if they really are the oldest group of siblings in the world. Sadly, before being able to complete his world record journey, Austin passed away earlier this year. His twin Leo, has taken up the mantle to complete the family's world record attempt in his brother's honour. Following Leo's efforts, the film weaves a stunning portrait of a large family from rural Northern Ireland growing up in the most turbulent of times. Incredible family archive helps to bring to life personal recollections and experiences. The Donnellys, in all their years, are our guides through a magical historical journey, with they themselves at the centre of it.
Wearing a wig is still very much taboo, especially for women. In this emotional film, we see first-hand the trauma that's endured by women who have lost their hair through cancer and alopecia, and follow their inspirational stories.
Liam Clarke was one of Northern Ireland's most fearless journalists, in spite of threats and legal battles. Three years ago Liam met his most personal battle of all when he was diagnosed with cancer. But with the support of his wife Kathy and strength from his Buddhist faith, Liam was determined to face up to dying with honesty and courage. Aaron Black's intimate and moving film follows Liam and his family as they come to terms with his life and death.
Nine medics from Northern Ireland put the comfort of their homes and day jobs on hold and travel to Africa for the experience of a lifetime. They have volunteered to help on The Africa Mercy, the world's biggest floating hospital, as it visits the island of Madagascar. They are challenged by extreme medical conditions rarely seen, if ever, in Europe.
On a street corner in the east of the city sits the home of kickboxing in Belfast. Run-down and made out of corrugated iron, it is the gym where five-time world champion Billy Murray has been changing lives for 30 years. Lives like those of the female kickboxers he trains today. Directed by Bafta winner and Oscar nominee Michael Lennox, Kick Me is their story.
There's more than horses that compete at racing festivals. We follow serial competitors Emma, Kirsty and Angela, as they aim for the prize, and the title of Best Dressed Lady.
Belfast and Me tells the stories and experiences of several Muslim families in Northern Ireland, set against the backdrop of their community trying to find a new home to meet and worship in. For many decades, Muslims have been quietly living, studying and working in Northern Ireland, but with events elsewhere in the world and with their numbers growing, this community is increasingly coming under the spotlight. Islam, Belfast and Me meets several families from a range of backgrounds and shows what it means to be Muslim in Northern Ireland. Viewers get an insight into the faith and see Belfast from a different perspective. Belfast Islamic Centre has been home to this community since the 1970s. It's a mosque, a community centre and a social and cultural meeting point. Belfast's mosque is unusual as 42 nationalities pray side by side. Typically mosques are formed according to nationality, but in Belfast it doesn't matter what nationality you are or what branch of Islam you belong to - all are welcome. But their existing home is now too small and the community needs a new home.
At a time when Protestant boys from working-class areas are underachieving in school, this film follows three unemployed young men from east Belfast as they embark on a pioneering educational project which could change the course of their lives. Jobs for the Boys is part of BBC Northern Ireland's Make It project, which aims to build aspiration, confidence, self-belief and expectation amongst boys and young men in urban working class
True North: Crusaders - Keeping the Faith follows a tumultuous year in the life of Crusaders Football Club. With unprecedented access to the inner sanctum of the dressing room, it documents their quest to win the league title for an historic third season in a row. Off the pitch, it reveals the remarkable story of a club with faith at its core.
In 2015, Belfast musician Joby Fox is so horrified at refugees and migrants drowning in the Mediterranean that he goes straight to Greece to help. Amongst the volunteers standing on the Lesvos beach waiting for the boats to arrive, he realises the real need is out at sea. He comes home with a mission - to fund and operate a rescue boat. He calls on the support of an old friend, Jude Bennett, and Rathlin ferry skipper Michael Cecil. In the face of an international crisis can they really make a difference? The Crossing follows their dream.
The men of East Belfast Yacht Club transform old hulks into ocean-going vessels. But before they can get out to the freedom of the open water they have to navigate their boats under the bridge...
With unprecedented access to members of one of Northern Ireland's most marginalised ethnic communities, this documentary explores the experiences of the Roma people living in the Holylands district of Belfast. Following the racist attacks of 2009, it paints a portrait of the challenges faced by those who stayed, and their desire to build a future in Northern Ireland.
Three young women, all Ulster-Scots from the border regions of Tyrone and Donegal, travel to Moscow to perform at the Kremlin Military Tattoo.
An intimate portrait of life in a flower shop in west Belfast, telling the personal stories behind the flowers bought to show love, mark loss and celebrate significant occasions in people's lives.
Until 1982, homosexuality was illegal in Northern Ireland. This film tells the story of the men who bravely fought to change the law and strove to find their identity and place in society. Arrested, interrogated and forced to love in secret, it is a story of liberation against the odds. A story which helped change gay rights in Northern Ireland forever.
Paul is a lifelong fisherman in the sleepy village of Ardglass, County Down. His battered old trawler boat makes it hard to attract crew. Barely able to pay the household bills, skipper Paul yearns for a different life, a life in which he 'could have been a chef'. When two enthusiastic workers arrive from Delhi, and his 16-year-old son decides to lend a hand, things begin to look up. Paul decides to take a big gamble and switch the machinery on his boat from prawns to scallops. But they are up against time. The scallop season opens in a few weeks, and his inexperienced crew are unfamiliar with the new, dangerous equipment. The Fishing Trip is an intimate tale of a passionate skipper and his wife, elder brother, children and crew - who are very much all in the same boat, risking everything in a dangerous job for the promise of a better future.
When Tony headed off to Bundoran for the weekend with friends and Christopher got into a car one day, neither knew that their lives - and the lives of their parents - were about to change forever. Both men suffered a life-changing brain injury when Tony fell off a 40-foot-cliff and Christopher's journey ended in a car accident. A brain injury turns lives upside down in an instant. It can have profound lifelong consequences, often more difficult because they are unseen, all in the head. Confidence, mood, behaviour, adaptability and every other aspect of character can be altered, impossible to explain, challenging to live with. As the years pass, a new self is revealed and a new reality is lived.
Big, small, old or new, red, green, black or blue, tractors are not just agricultural workhorses anymore, they have become cool! Jimmy the legend Doherty and his sidekick Ciaran O'Rourke take us behind the mud and slurry to explore the attraction of these beasts. They pull on the wellies, jump into the cabs and show the world that they are proud to be from the country - and there might even be a wedding along the way.
Two women confront breast cancer by getting tattoos on their surgery scars, empowering them to move on with their lives with renewed confidence.
On the quiet backroads of rural Armagh, fierce competition rages in the sport of 'road bowls' - where competitors hurl steel cannonballs down country lanes, trying to compete the course in the least number of shots. But 'throwing bullets' is not merely for personal pride and family honour, there are local and national championships to aim for, and when two throwers go head to head there can be thousands of pounds in cash at stake as spectators bet on the outcome. Thomas Mackle, the current Ulster and All-Ireland champion is the man to beat, and his biggest rival, Cathal Toal, is determined to take his titles off him. Over the course of a road-bowling season, the film follows the rival camps as they vie to outthrow each other on the quiet back roads of the Orchard County.
Nineteen-year-old Kate Grant wants to be a fashion model, but she's a model with a difference. Kate has Down's syndrome. This documentary follows Kate as she pursues her dream and takes her first steps on the catwalk.
The film follows Brendan Holland who suffers from a condition known as gigantism, as he explorers the history and genetic nature of his disease, as well as the extraordinary discovery of a genetic hot spot for gigantism recently found in mid-Ulster.
Angela Rippon, who was the very first host of Top Gear, travels to Northern Ireland to meet the women who live their lives on the open road - behind the wheel of a truck. Not content with just driving for a living, these lorry ladies spend their weekends at truck festivals across the country competing for prizes with their huge vehicles.
Pope Francis will be the second pope to ever visit Ireland when he arrives in August 2018. For tens of thousands of Northern Irish Catholics it will be a once-in-a-lifetime chance - and for some lucky devotees, their second - to see and hear the Holy Father in person. In this warm and uplifting film, we explore people's relationship with the pope and how it has changed over the decades. For most of the 20th century, it would have been difficult to find a Catholic home in Northern Ireland that didn't exhibit a picture of the pope. In fact throughout history, his Holiness has always had a very special place in the hearts of the nation's faithful. From Pope Pius XII in the 1950s through to Pope Francis today, there is no doubt that a picture of the pope has always been a source of great comfort to thousands of dedicated Catholics across the land.
Follows a Belfast strippogram agency and its performers - including the most popular act, Balaclava Woman.
Bat crazy volunteers Robin and Karen are on 24/7 to save their favourite flying mammals. They’ve turned their homes into bat hospitals and their living rooms into test flight runways draped in nets and sheets. With a small team of volunteer ambulance drivers they patrol the country rescuing bats from the most unlikely places. All in aid of getting these little mammals fit to be released back into the wild.
Self-confessed nerd Ed Byrne lands in Northern Ireland to discover a dedicated community of people who enjoy comic books and movies so much they transform themselves into superheroes for fun.
Revealing documentary following a Belfast strippogram agency and its performers – including their most popular act, Balaclava Woman.
In this uplifting True North documentary, Dame Kelly Holmes explores the rise of parkrun and the mental health benefits of running, in the build-up to the launch of a new run in Northern Ireland. Over the last 14 years, the parkrun phenomenon has transformed Saturday mornings around the world. What started out in London as a simple idea to get mates together for a time trial and a coffee has turned into something much, much bigger. Today, parkrun is one of the largest running events on the planet, pulling in more than 235,000 participants around the globe every weekend. Although it started out as a runners’ event, these days it is about improving health and well-being, inspiring people to take exercise, meet neighbours and volunteer. The organisation is now actively targeting areas of social deprivation in the UK, with its focus shifting toward how running can help transform our mental well-being. This film follows the launch of a new event in one of those areas – Strabane in Northern Ireland - and is presented by one of the UK’s most successful athletes, two-time Olympic gold winner Dame Kelly Holmes, whose passion for parkrun sees her make unannounced appearances at runs all over the UK. Dame Kelly reveals that away from the track she has struggled with mental health issues from a young age, including self-harm, anxiety and depression following the death of her mother two years ago. She uses her own personal experiences to help inspire and coach two people using the new run to kick-start their fitness journey. With five weeks to prepare for the event, will they join the running revolution?
Steven McGonigal has abandoned a career in the world of finance to pursue a childhood ambition - to become a professional rabbit catcher.
An intimate glimpse into an East Belfast weight-loss class and the lives of a group of people determined to shed a few pounds.
Is dementia the end? Or can life still be worth living? Bangor barber Lenny White cuts the hair of men with dementia and offers them his unique form of therapy.
The Cullen family have been bringing all the fun of the fair to people's doorsteps since 1860. True North looks at this unique way of life and explores whether it is in danger of becoming extinct or if the next generation of Cullens can keep the family tradition alive.
The inspirational story of two sisters who face their own mortality. Sixty-year-old Shirley sets out on an epic journey to row 3,000 miles unsupported across the Atlantic Ocean while her sister, Evelyn, battles a rare incurable cancer back home in Northern Ireland. If Shirley succeeds she’ll be the oldest woman – and first Irish woman – to row solo across an ocean. In this story of perseverance and the power of the human spirit, Shirley and Evelyn must confront extreme mental and physical challenges in the name of survival.
Actor Matthew Cavan was diagnosed HIV positive ten years ago. Despite the hurtful abuse and negative comments he has received, he is determined to continue talking publicly about his experiences to help other people living with HIV in Northern Ireland. Now Matthew is going on a journey to learn more about the condition that has changed his life, and which has also had a huge impact on his loved ones. He wants to see how much has changed since the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and to find out how far away a cure may be. He also wants to explode a few myths about HIV and help people understand that with the right medical help and support, men and women with HIV can expect to live a normal, healthy, happy life. We follow Matthew in his quest to better understand the complexities of HIV, as he discovers what the future holds for him, and the estimated one thousand people living with HIV in Northern Ireland today. At the start of the documentary, Matthew goes to visit his parents Terry and Kathryne, and they reflect on the impact of Matthew’s diagnosis on family life. He goes to the Royal Victoria Hospital, to discuss a change in his HIV medication with his consultant Dr Carol Emerson, and meets John O’Doherty, director of The Rainbow Centre in Belfast, to find out why the stigma around HIV is so damaging. Matthew also travels to London to meet Professor Sarah Fidler, one of the world’s leading HIV experts, and he talks to Belfast man Greg Owen, who took on the NHS in a high-profile battle to have miracle drug PrEP made available. He also meets one of Northern Ireland’s most famous faces, broadcaster Wendy Austin, who tells Matthew about her only brother David, who died of AIDS in 1994. Along the way we meet Matthew's absolutely-fabulous drag alter-ego - the irrepressible Cherrie Ontop, who brings colour, sparkle and fun into Matthew’s life and helps him cope with the pressure of living with HIV. Viewers get a front row seat at Cherrie's weekly cabaret performan
An intimate portrait of caravan life on the Ards Peninsula, telling the personal stories of those who leave their problems behind in the city and flock to their ‘home from home’ by the seaside. In a revealing depiction of working-class Protestant life, this documentary scratches beneath the stereotype of the affectionately nicknamed ‘Shankill by the Sea’ to understand what really draws people to holiday here.
True North: Lagan Dragons tells the personal stories behind the women who paddle their way to health after having had breast cancer. Based in Belfast, the Lagan Dragons are passionate participants in the growing sport of dragon boat racing. The film follows the team’s training and preparation for the annual Dublin Regatta, in a bid to retain their title as champions in the Breast Cancer category. For over 30 years dragon boat racing has been a popular sport among women who have had breast cancer. The repetitive upper body paddling action is believed to help rebuild upper body strength and prevent the reoccurrence of breast cancer. Throughout the film we meet some of the Dragons, including newbie Nina who has recently joined the team after recent surgery. We also meet Joanne as she undergoes scar therapy following her surgery and Sharon as she visits the cancer centre for a regular check-up.
Bingo halls are a hidden world of mysterious rituals and unfamiliar jargon: singles, doubles, checks and sweating. They are also places of tight friendships spanning lifetimes and the women who are regulars there have known each other through thick and thin. Big Night at the Bingo takes us to the Westway bingo hall on the Falls Road in the heart of West Belfast for one of its busiest nights of the year as the prize money is bumped up into four figures. Filmed with unprecedented access, we see the dramas of winning and losing up close as the day unfolds. While the world outside is a place of tough working lives and demanding family commitments, inside the Westway all is calm as numbers are drawn at random for the captive audience. We meet the regular players who come back day after day in hope of that elusive win. Serenely composed Eilish was taught how to play by her granny when she was in her teens. Hard-working Margaret juggles her bingo alongside working in Asda, a college course, school pick-ups and supporting her husband as he deals with health problems. The irrepressible Kate says she never wins – so instead she prepares an impromptu birthday party for her friend. Finally, Eileen is long in the tooth and casts a cold eye on the numbers as they come up – she knows this is all a game of chance in which you can do nothing to affect the outcome: “If it’s for you it’s for you”. But tonight, among the hundreds of players squeezing into the hall, a lucky two will go home with a thousand pounds in cash.
Janine Howard prepares to fulfil her dream of getting married. Her life has been a struggle as one side of her face has been disfigured by a flesh-eating bacterial infection. After suffering frequent verbal insults, does she feel that beauty is only skin deep?
Soul Singers follows the journey of members of the Belfast Community Gospel Choir as they prepare for their annual winter concert. For ten years the Belfast Community Gospel Choir has been spreading joy across Northern Ireland one show at a time, and this documentary exposes what being a part of such a diverse and creative group of singers is like. The first of its kind in the country, BCGC was the brainchild of Marie Lacey, ‘the choir mummy’ who has added her own Northern Irish flair to the choir's soul and gospel music. Throughout the film we meet a few of the choir members, including Bongi, Jill and Jenny. Each has a story to tell, and a reason to sing with Marie and the BCGC.
As hit show Riverdance prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary with a special gala performance at Dublin’s 3Arena, its cast of Irish dancers from all over the world are locked in intense rehearsals. Billed as one of the biggest nights in Irish dance in living memory, audience expectations have never been higher, and nothing can be left to chance.
Fighters make the ultimate sacrifices to pursue their dream of becoming champions. As their careers come to an end, they face their toughest fight - stepping away from the ring and adjusting to life after boxing. This documentary takes an in-depth look at the successful careers of several of Northern Ireland's world champions - Ryan Burnett, Brian Magee and Eamonn Magee - and how they made the tough step transitioning into retirement.
Ormiston House in East Belfast is one of the city’s most historic buildings. Built in 1867 for a local mill owner, it was once home to distinguished businessmen Edward Harland and Lord Pirrie. But after years of neglect the house had fallen into a state of total disrepair – and was at risk of collapse. In 2014, it was bought by local entrepreneur Pete Boyle and wife Ciara. After decades of decline, the couple were faced with one the one of the most challenging and ambitious private restoration projects this island has ever seen - from dealing with dry rot to restoring Ormiston’s overgrown 13-acre gardens.
With its yellow cranes framing the Belfast skyline, Harland and Wolff is one of Northern Ireland’s most iconic companies. Famous for building the ill-fated Titanic, the legendary yard dominated global shipbuilding during the twentieth century and at its height employed more than 30,000 people. But like much of the UK’s shipbuilding industry, Harland and Wolff suffered a steady decline in recent years. In the summer of 2019, it entered administration - appearing to spell the end of the company after almost 160 years. While many lamented the end of an era, the workers were convinced it still had a future and seized control of the shipyard. Their plan? To buy enough time for a new buyer to be found – or pressure the government into re-nationalising it. Saving the Shipyard captures the dramatic events of last year as they unfolded, with intimate access to the workers, union reps, administrators and bosses at the heart of the struggle.
When a group of painters and decorators from Northern Ireland arrived in Baghdad 30 years ago to paint Saddam Hussein’s palace, they found themselves at the centre of an international crisis. Held as human shields it was five months before they managed to get home. Now they come together to share their story for the first time. Using incredible footage shot at the time, photos and mementoes from their trip, and first hand testimony from the men and their families, we see a group of men from Northern Ireland living at the centre of one of the world’s most recent international crises - the Gulf War - Operation Desert Shield. As 35 nations, led by the United States, took a stand against Saddam Hussein and Iraq, these men from Banbridge, Craigavon, Lurgan and Portadown were living on their nerves in the centre of Baghdad. Cut off from their families, their only thoughts were of getting home. Somehow. This extraordinary film tells their story - what they were doing out there, what happened to them, and eventually how they managed to get home.
In this heartwarming programme, Stephen Walker encounters four women and one man born in 1921: Aileen Pollock, Martin Charters, Isobel Lavery, Eileen Sweeney and Mairead Liddy. Through conversations with them, he discovers how they all witnessed great social, economic and political change over the decades. With its stories of childhood, the world of work, the life-changing impact of war and of love and marriage, The First Generation is a timely reminder of the challenges this generation faced across the decades - and what we can learn from their long lives.
38-year-old film-maker Chris Lynch has been in a wheelchair from the age of six. On this very personal journey, he explores whether it’s possible to be truly happy if you're disabled.
A new BBC True North documentary has explored the lengths some people will go to to achieve the tan look as they meet three self-confessed tanning addicts to explore what makes them want to mask their pale complexion and the connection between bronzed skin and body confidence.
Primary school teacher Tricia Mailey is mum to Cara, twelve, Noah, five, and one-year-old Bethany. Tricia and husband Sean run a home filled with laughter and love but what makes this everyday family so unique is that Tricia and her two elder children have the height-restricting condition achondroplasia, while Sean and Bethany are average-height.
The Moycraig Young Farmers prepare to tour their famous three-act play across the country before returning to Mosside for their homecoming show.
Documentary about an LGBTQ+ community planning the first rural Pride parade in Mid Ulster.
Fast-paced documentary looking at the lives of the children who dream of becoming the next generation of motorcycle stars, and the families who juggle nerves and excitement as they support these young riders. Featuring children aged 6-14 racing at speeds of up to 135mph, this action-packed film gives a personal insight into a sporting culture that is unique to Northern Ireland. At the centre of the action is eight-year-old Max, son of racing superstar Paul Robinson, one of Ireland’s most decorated racers. Max takes part in the Bam Bam class for children aged 6-10. His determination on the track and fearless attitude has meant that despite his age, some people are already comparing him to his great-uncle, the legendary Joey Dunlop.
Top Dog looks under the fur of Northern Ireland’s competitive dog show circuit. We meet some of the country’s most fanatical pet owners and find out what it takes to turn a pampered pup into a prize pooch.
Passion for all things four-wheeled as told through the eyes of five car-crazy young women. From ‘drifting' to showing and spending thousands on pimping and modifying their motors, we show how these cars are an extension of the women's freedom, independence and personality. We meet some of them preparing for the biggest motoring show in the country, while one of the women faces a tough emotional career decision about returning to competition driving.
In an East Belfast bridal shop that caters exclusively for plus-size brides, Rebecca Bryson is on a mission to promote body positivity as she helps brides overcome their nerves and find their dream wedding dress. Rebecca and her mum Lynn came up with the idea for the boutique after Rebecca struggled to find a dress she liked in her size when shopping for her own wedding dress. It was an experience that left her feeling embarrassed, and she decided that other women should not have to face the same dilemma. This inspired Rebecca to launch her Belfast-based bridal shop. As a plus-size woman, Rebecca understands just how her customers feel. Wedding dress shopping should be a joyful experience, but for larger women it can be an ordeal, and Rebecca knows how nerve-wracking it is to get undressed in front of a stranger and try on dresses that hold so much potential emotional value.
Observational documentary following Patricia Page, Rat Woman, who is on a mission to rid the homes, businesses and streets of Northern Ireland of the ratty rodents, cocky cockroaches and whacky wasps. For many this a man's job, but Patricia, one of the only female pest controllers in the country, is unfazed by this work – in fact she is the daughter of the legendary Rat Man.
This documentary follows 23-year-old world-class gymnast Rhys McClenaghan in what turns out to be the toughest year of his career.
Coming off the back of a loss in her last fight, Northern Ireland's premier mixed martial artist Leah McCourt embarks on an intense training camp in a quest to return to winning ways. This documentary follows Leah from the outset of fight-camp, as she manages the pressures of a gruelling training regime, media commitments, and the physical and mental aspects of competing at the highest level of mixed martial arts.
Jobby Crossan's trophy shop has seen better days – its gold and silver trophies are just waiting to be won, the bespoke medals, pins and badges all need to be engraved – a place of hope and aspiration where sporting dreams can come true or be dashed. But what makes this sports shop all the more remarkable is that despite its rundown demeanour, its owner is none other than Jobby Crossan - a living soccer legend who's shared a pitch with George Best, Eusebio, di Stefano, Brian Clough and many more footballing greats.
Throughout the rural heartlands of Northern Ireland, an ancient sport is kept alive by small groups of dedicated competitors. It is a test of strength, endurance and strategy: two teams, one rope, one winner, this is tug-of-war. We follow the team from the Ulster-Scots community of Garvagh across a competitive season. Under experienced coach Kenny Moore, the Garvagh team first convenes in early spring. An early marker is laid down, as the eight-man team learn they must shed a collective 90kg to make weight and qualify for the prestigious Northern Ireland championships. To succeed, the team will have to lean on the experience of Garvagh veterans Nelson Hanna and Steven Speers, who between them share half a century’s worth of experience on the rope.
How art saves lives, told through the eyes of former prisoner Stephen Greer and current inmates at Magilligan Prison in Northern Ireland. Stephen Greer served many years in prison for drugs, firearm and paramilitary offences. During his last sentence, Stephen started taking art classes. It changed his life. Stephen returns to Magilligan for the first time since his release to trial a new pilot scheme teaching art to prisoners. Will art transform their lives as it did his? As we watch their work evolve, the prisoners reveal their own stories. Robert Rusek is serving two years for criminal damage, assault and breaching a restraining order. Piaras Heatley is serving five years for actual bodily harm, grievous bodily harm and assault. Stephen shares the moving story of how art saved his life and why he's on a crusade to spread the healing benefits of art.
Friday night is darts night in Newry and a new True North film follows the fortunes of four players aiming to hit the top spot in one of Europe’s biggest darts league. The Newry City Darts League is the oldest on the island of Ireland and the stakes are high as these players attempt to make it all the way to finals night, the most important event in the league calendar.
The story of a hum that has been keeping the people of Omagh awake for months. With the town exhausted and exasperated, local journalist Emmet McElhatton wants to get to the bottom of a mystery fast making headlines around the world. In the journalist’s search for answers, he meets local repairman Jamie Ryan, who has started his own investigation into the elusive sound. Together, they make their way around Omagh and try to solve the mystery.
Family pets with a special calling. These specially trained search and rescue dogs and their volunteer handlers risk everything to help find Northern Ireland’s missing people.
The Fountain area of Londonderry was once home to more than 1,000 people with a thriving community. Today the population is around 250. It is the only working class Protestant/unionist estate on the mainly Catholic/nationalist ‘Cityside’. During the Troubles, scores of people left to live elsewhere and there are now only seven of the original streets left in The Fountain. Even though many have moved away, The Fountain is still a place that unionists in the city return to and the area is experiencing a time of change with residents proud of their place, their culture and identity. Viewers are given an insight into people’s lives in the area - a place surrounded by a peace wall and, on three sides, by mainly nationalist populated areas. The programme hears from community leaders and people who grew up in The Fountain about what they consider to be their place in the city and how they feel their story is often forgotten in the telling of Derry’s past and present. The programme follows
