The Chronicles of Strangford

Colin Morgan provides the voice‑over for a documentary that spends a year tracking life on and around Strangford Lough, the biggest sea inlet in the UK. Over the course of twelve months, his narration guides viewers through the changing seasons, the ebb and flow of the water, and the daily rhythms of the surrounding landscape. Morgan’s calm delivery ties together the footage, offering a steady thread as the camera moves from the lough’s open waters to its hidden coves. The film therefore presents a year‑long portrait of the area, with Morgan’s commentary linking each scene into a continuous story together.

In this brief segment, retired ferryman John Murray sits with his grandson Tom and produces a piece of family memorabilia – a home‑movie reel he filmed many years ago. The footage captures the official opening of the Strangford car ferry in 1969, presenting a personal glimpse of that historic occasion. As the grainy images play, John points out details of the ferry’s arrival and the surrounding crowd, while Tom watches attentively, absorbing a slice of local heritage passed down from his grandfather. John pauses to explain what he sees, pointing out the ferry’s design and the significance of the day for the community. Tom asks quiet questions, his curiosity evident as he watches the old images flicker on the screen.

The episode spends a summer day on the lough, following Katy Bell as she searches the waterside for barn‑owl chicks that appear healthy and thriving. She moves quietly through the reeds, hopeful that the fledglings will be thriving, offering a glimpse of the region’s wildlife at its peak. At the same time, a man coping with post‑traumatic stress disorder discovers a measure of peace by taking part in a dawn‑chorus survey for the RSPB. He records the early‑morning songs of birds, finding the routine and the sounds of nature to be a calming practice that helps him manage his recovery.

Colin Morgan provides the voice‑over for a documentary that spends a year tracking life on and around Strangford Lough, the biggest sea inlet in the UK. Over the course of twelve months, his narration guides viewers through the changing seasons, the ebb and flow of the water, and the daily rhythms of the surrounding landscape. Morgan’s calm delivery ties together the footage, offering a steady thread as the camera moves from the lough’s open waters to its hidden coves. The film therefore presents a year‑long portrait of the area, with Morgan’s commentary linking each scene into a continuous story together.