Once Upon a Place takes a closer look at Portaferry, a small town in County Down, at the Southern end of the Ards Peninsula.
With views of the local landscape and busy sea life surrounding the town, George Holmes, a fisherman, introduces, the at time, treatous waters while pointing out 'Saint Patricks rocks'. The story goes that St Patrick almost ran aground on them, however he calmly "split them with a wave of his wand and the boat sailed between", George jokingly states that they did not have "such a facility today, and so gave them a wide birth".
This, connection between the sea and Portaferry is found everywhere. Paddy Barry, explains how there was plenty of work right up into the 1960's for the sailors as they carried turf out to the Arran Islands, however, eventually, as electricity and bottled gas was added to the island, this work started to dry up.
The big event of the season, is the yachting regattas, where boat lovers gather for a weekend of music, sailing - and what is heavily emphasised - drinking! John McAlea, a frequent competitor in the local tradition states that even before the race, people gather for "a few gargles, and a bit of craic" before heading out to sea the next day. Views of the Yacht club later that evening shows lively music and plenty of singing, with one local in jest, stating that "somehow that goes together, music, and drink and the ol' black fluid"
Also found in the programme are views of Portaferry castle with the graveyard and its history explained, along with a discussion on the abundant wildlife in the area and a story about a boat called 'Tornamona' that went down whilst ferrying Joey Dunlop over to the Isle of Man TT Races.