“The March of Time – Ireland” (1945) is a black-and-white educational short film made as part of Time Inc.’s American newsreel series March of Time. March of Time was shown in movie theaters from 1935 to 1951 and was based on a radio news series broadcast from 1931 to 1945 that was produced by advertising agency Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn. Through a montage of rich archival footage, this particular film from the series examines Ireland (Eire) and Northern Ireland, at the end of World War II, specifically highlighting economic programs and modernization in the Republic of Ireland.

Film opens (0:07). Scenic views of sprawling green fields, sheep grazing pasture (0:27). Ruins of perhaps old abbey on cliff overlooking ocean (0:34). Ruins of perhaps Puck’s Castle (near Dublin) (0:51). Map showing division between Eire (Republic of Ireland) and Northern Ireland (1:02). Northern Ireland’s capital city, Belfast: Bustling city streets (1:10). Belfast City Hall (1:13). Lord Carson Statue in front of Northern Ireland Parliament (1:18). William Smyth & Co, Belfast famous linen industry (1:30). Shipyard’s in Belfast (1:34). Ulster Protestants, murals of William III (William of Orange) (1:51). Footage of a Twelfth of July parade (also known as the Orange Order parades/ Orangemen’s Day) commemorate the victory of Protestant King William of Orange over Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 (2:07). Carrickarnon Customs Post Northern Ireland -Ireland border (2:32). Contrasting footage to Belfast city scenes, Ireland largely still agricultural and poor comparatively – shots of farmers using horse-draw carts to bring produce to city markets, sheep and donkeys in the city (2:51). Montage scenes of agricultural work: Sheep graze along rolling hills, farm hands cut down stalks of wheat (3:42). Domestic life in Irish countryside: Quaint cottages, woman spins wool on a wheel while young daughter plays in background, man uses loom to weave textile (4:34). St Macculin’s Church & Round Tower in Lusk; Parish priest visits different residents of village (5:00). Alter in Irish Catholic Church (5:40). Maynooth University Seminary, young priests in training walk around campus (5:59). O’Connell Bridge over River Liffey (6:44). Horse racing in Ireland (6:51). Marching band playing bag pipes opens rugby match, crowds pack into stadium (7:30). Main facade of Government Buildings off Merrion Street in Dublin (Department of the Taoiseach) (7:59). Irish PM (“Taoiseach”) Éamon de Valera discusses economic policy with other members of gov (8:02). De Valera land settlement scheme; Man on tractor drives through wheat field (8:38). Pork farm, piglets feed in pen, meat packing industry (9:00). Gov-owned condensed milk plant Limerick (9:11). Dairy industry, scientific studies to improve production and quality, female students churn butter at an agricultural school (9:17). Turf-cutting in Kildare (9:30). Barrels of Guinness organized on harbor port (10:00). Ford assembly plant in Cork, men working on assembly line (10:12). Dunlop rubber factory in Cork, production of rubber boots (10:28). Shannon hydroelectric scheme (10:55). River Shannon (11:04). Map shows power distribution network emanating from Shannon hydroelectric dam (11:25). Women use electric appliances (stand mixer, iron, waffle maker, toaster at home) (11:33). Bustling city scene in Dublin, montage shots of shop windows featuring goods manufactured in Ireland (11:43). New maternity hospitals in Dublin (12:08). National housing scheme: Thatched cottages refurbished and transitioned into modern homes, apartment blocks erected (12:40). Gaelic restored as national language: Close-up bilingual road signs, pages from primary school textbook (13:01). Éamon de Valera at work (13:35). The Mansion House Dublin (13:55). Fianna Fáil party convention (14:00). Fine Gael opposition party meeting, leader W. T. Cosgrave (14:02). Bust of Daniel O’Connell (14:21). Illustration of Hugh O’Neal (14:24). Portrait Michael Collins (14:28). Portrait, Charles Stewart Parnell (14:31). Nelson’s Pillar Sackville St. Dublin (Today O’Connell Street) (14:36). Closing montage of city, rural life; Cliffs of Moher (14:46). End (15:27).

For almost two decades, we’ve worked to collect, scan and preserve the world as it was captured on 35mm, 16mm and 8mm movies — including home movies, industrial films, and other non-fiction.

This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com