This government film gives us one town's take on The Troubles.

Will level headedness triumph? Hear how the peace and good neighbourliness of Downpatrick contrasts with the violence and tension prevalent elsewhere in Northern Ireland. Listen to the opinions of various professional men as they recount their experience of ‘The Troubles’ so far. The town seems relatively unscathed by the conflict and the overall impression is of a largely integrated and harmonious place. Despite the escalation of violence elsewhere, there is still hope that tensions will not disintegrate this community. Downpatrick’s level head approach is not unique. But will it be enough to ‘cool the hot tempers’ in the years to come?

 

Filmed in 1970, just two years before the first recorded fatalities in Downpatrick took place when a premature bomb explosion at the racecourse grandstand killed two members of the Provisional IRA. This material was produced by the Central Office of Information and comes from the BFI collection.

Digitised as part of the BFI's Unlocking Film Heritage project.

• Public Information Films - BFI Player