Ordinary Objects, Extraordinary Times

A collection of eight short films that tell the personal stories behind ordinary objects that have been transformed by the conflict in and about Northern Ireland.

Select from the objects below to view each film.

Photograph
Paddy’s father was killed when Paddy was only eight years old but his presence is still felt at proud moments in his life such as his graduation, remembered in this photograph.
Sellotape
Karen was a schoolgirl during the conflict. Her school used sellotape on the windows to prevent the glass from falling into the classroom if there was a bomb blast.
Tape Recorder
During the late sixties Vincent used his tape recorder to record music from the radio, but he began to pick up transmissions from ‘Radio Free Belfast’, a pirate station broadcasting from behind the barricades in the Lower Falls.
Tobacco Tin
Republican socialist prisoner Gerard was jailed in Belfast’s Crumlin Road Prison in 1979. While he was inside Gerard made things from whatever he could find, including a tobacco tin which he made for his father-in-law.