In Slemish Shadow (1998) | Braid Valley Sheep Farming Documentary | Northern Ireland VHS

Some great memories and old familiar faces from "In Slemish Shadow" VHS tape made by the Braid Sheddings Blackface Sheep Association. This tape was made by the Association in 1998/99, and documents the different seasons from the breeders perspective. The tape includes some market scenes with local auctioneer Shaun Irvine, and some clips from the local Ballymena Show. Moore's Animal Feeds, a local supplier of livestock feeds and related farm nutrition products, based at the foot of Slemish also feature. Description from the tape cover... Slemish Mountain has a unique place in history. St Patrick, is said to have tended sheep on these slopes some 1500 years ago. This historic site is situated outside Ballymena on the edge of the famous Glens of Antrim. Slemish stands proudly above the Braid valley, a stone’s throw from Broughshane. “In Slemish Shadow” is about rural life in this area of Co Antrim. It shows vividly the work of this generation and of their ancestors who lived and farmed this same land in the shadow of Slemish. Theirs is the tradition; a shared interest and a passion for Scottish Blackface and Greyface sheep to whom these Antrim hills are home. The Shedding means crossroads and for the community of the Braid valley all roads lead to the annual sheep sale. Experience the journey with them, past each milestone in the shepherd’s year – a year in the life of the Braid valley. Here man and nature exist in harmony. The landscape is living testimony to the toil of their ancestors. These are people respectful of the past, making their contribution to the present and building a secure future for their community. Their dedication to the breeding of sheep stretches back in time. Breeding Scottish Blackface is in their blood. This is Slemish, this is the Braid, this is sheep country. This is a community in Co Antrim in Northern Ireland. This was 1998 and its realities. ········ 📼👇 𝐖𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐓𝐀𝐏𝐄𝐒 👇📼 ········ 🎥 Got tapes of farming, machinery, country life, or old rally footage lying around? We’re bringing the camcorder era back to life — one tape at a time. 🔍 Search those attics, sheds, and garages — there might be footage worth rediscovering. If you’ve got something to share, we’d love to hear from you. 🎥 Facebook — https://bit.ly/3uES3Zl ✉️ Email — oldschoolni[at]outlook.com ℹ️ This footage is shared for historical documentation and educational interest. We do not own the copyright, and despite efforts to identify the rights holder, none is currently known. If you are the copyright owner or have information about ownership, please get in touch so we can update our records or adjust usage accordingly. Permission granted from the tape owner to publish on this channel only.