About
Based in Donaghadee, County Down our charity Donaghadee Heritage Preservation Company (NIC 105987) promotes the heritage and culture of our part of the Ards Peninsula in Northern Ireland. We are conserving the Sir Samuel Kelly Lifeboat and keeping alive her story. The 'Kelly's courageous crew rescued 33 people from the worst maritime disaster in the Irish Sea since the Second World War. The MV Princess Victoria car ferry foundered just off the Copeland Islands in 1953. Despite the heroic efforts of several rescue vessels, 136 people lost their lives.
Visit the Sir Samuel Kelly Lifeboat and see our exhibition about Donaghadee lifeboats and the loss of MV Princess Victoria on 31 January 1953 and hear the story from our tour guides who are happy to show you around.
Our cabin houses our exhibition about our local coastguard stations and the shop area sells our Sir Samuel Kelly merchandise.
On visiting you will find out about the building of Donaghadee Harbour in the 1820s, the stories of the merchant vessels which docked there and the fishermen and their boats.
Admission is free, but we welcome donations.
If the flag is flying we are open!
To arrange a private group visit, email s.cochrane@deeheritage.com
Facilities
Parking & Transport
- On site parking
