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 exhibitions about our local coastguard stations and the building of Donaghadee Harbour in the 1820s and the stories of the merchant vessels which docked there. Find out about the fishermen, their boats and the trips to the Copeland Islands in the summer.,and our exhibitionOur shop area sells our Sir Samuel Kelly merchandise.
Admission is free, but we welcome donations.
To arrange a private group visit, email s.cochrane@deeheritage.com
Winter opening hours:
Thursday 7-8.30 pm
Friday 2-5 pm
Saturday 2-5 pm
Sunday 2-5pm
Opening hours from 27 Oct -14 Dec 2025
Closed 15 Dec 2025 - 28 Jan 2026
Reopening 29 Jan 2026
If the flag is flying we are open!
Facilities
Parking & Transport
- On site parking
