The poet Olive Broderick was commissioned to respond to the moving image content of Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive in the creation of new work.

She was asked to create work exploring our profound relationship with the coast and sea – its impact on Northern Irish society and culture, and how the coastal experience continues to shape how we live, work and dream.

Here, Olive discusses the process of researching and writing the poems and the experience, as a poet, of working with archive film. 

Olive Broderick is a recipient of the Hennessy X.O. Literary award and currently featured as one of Lagan Press’s 12Now up-and-coming literary talents.  She is recognised as one of the brightest voices in contemporary Northern Irish poetry.

'Darkhaired', a pamphlet, and her recently launched full collection 'Night Divers' are published by Templar Poetry'.

The film features the following excerpts of archive material, all courtesy of National Museums Northern Ireland:

Angling in Northern Ireland (1959) / Viking Invasion at Kilkeel Festival (1963) /  Beauty to Last (1969) / Bangor Square Dancing (1950) / Lammas Fair (1964) / Prawn Festival (1962) / Boat Trip to Rathlin (1957) / Idyllic Images of Northern Ireland (1957)

Produced, Directed and Edited by TACA

Music composed by Dáithí McGibbon

Audio recording courtesy of Peter Carson, NMNI.

Filmed at the Ulster Folk & Transport Musuem.

Created as part of the BFI's Britain on Film project 

• British Film Institute
• Britain on Film
• BFI Player
• TACA Works
• 12 Now - Lagan Online
• Olive Broderick - Lagan Online
• Night Divers - Templar Poetry