WATCH: A rare look at Belfast in the 1920s

The Irish Film Institute has shared this video, entitled simply “Belfast," on its IFI Archive Player.

Of the nearly four-minute silent video, the Irish Film Institute says: “This newsreel is set in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in the early 1920s.

"In contrast to other newsreels from this period, this footage focuses on the more relaxed day-to-day life activities in the area.

“From beautiful scenic views of the nearby countryside to the hustle and bustle of the city markets, this newsreel feels more like a promotional travelogue."

This "Belfast" newsreel is featured in the IFI’s Irish Independence Film Collection, which showcases historic Topical budget and British Pathé newsreels from the period between 1900 and 1930.

The collection was created as part of The Decade of Commemorations with support from Ireland's Department of Culture Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

The project repatriated, safeguarded, and ultimately shared the important visual documents that were “predominantly captured by non-Irish agencies” due to Ireland’s lack of indigenous filmmakers at the time.

After careful restorations, “the quality of the newly digitised footage is remarkable, allowing even those who may be familiar with this material to see it in a whole new light. Details that were previously indistinct are now crystal clear.”

You can learn more about the Irish Film Institute’s Irish Independence Film Collection here.

"Belfast" is published with thanks to the Irish Film Institute (IFI), who IrishCentral have partnered up with to bring you a taste of what their remarkable collection entails. You can find all IrishCentral articles and videos from the IFI here.

To watch more historic Irish footage, visit the IFI Player, the Irish Film Institute’s virtual viewing room that provides audiences around the globe free, instant access to Irish heritage preserved in the IFI Irish Film Archive. Irish Culture from the last century is reflected through documentaries, animation, adverts, amateur footage, feature films, and much more. You can also download the IFI Player Apps for free on iPhone, Android, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku.

IrishCentral has partnered up with the IFI to bring you a taste of what their remarkable collections entail. You can find all IrishCentral articles and videos from the IFI here.

*Originally published in 2020. Last updated in July 2024.