Donaghadee - County Down, Northern Ireland
Donaghadee has a great landmark in the lighthouse over the pier facing into the Irish Sea. There is a beautiful coastal walk here - also into the town where there is an old moat/castle structure and a great view of the surrounding area. Very close to Bangor and Belfast.
There are some small towns scattered around Belfast that open the eyes of the visitors and tourists who are staying in Belfast and give them the chance to think outside the box and go out of the city to any of these towns if they have some spare time to spend and this is usually a good plan because it will give them the chance to explore more parts of Northern Ireland during their trip.
Donaghadee is one of these different options related to small towns which we have to refer to and mention, it is only 18 miles away from Belfast and only 6 miles away from Bangor - which is not a long distance for someone to go. Donaghadee is a small town situated in county Down, Northern Ireland, that lies on the northeast coast of the Ards Peninsula; it is in the civil parish of Donaghadee and the historic barony of Ards Lower. The history of Donaghadee town and the different attractions that could be seen in it add to the encouragement that fills the visitor's heart and mind about going there.
Donaghadee town was actually featured in the Irish Rebellion of 1798; in the morning of Pike Sunday 10 June 1798, a force of United Irishmen mainly from Bangor, Donaghadee, Greyabbey, and Ballywalter attempted to occupy the the town of Newtownards, they met with musket fire from the market house and they were defeated. In addition to this historical part, Donaghadee harbour is also important when it comes to this town since it has its historical part as well; Donaghadee was used in the period between 1759 and 1826 by couples going to Portpatrick, Wigtown, Scotland in order to get married since there was a daily packet boat going there from Donaghadee harbour.
Of course when it comes to any new place you are visiting, the first thing that you will be doing is searching for the different touristic attractions that you could visit there. When it comes to Donaghadee town, there are a couple of things to consider visiting, such as the Moat, the Harbour and the Marina along with the lighthouse, and there are other minor places to consider such as the Parish Church.
The harbour and the lighthouse of Donaghadee town are famous because that harbour almost dates back to the 17th century and this harbour is well known for its lighthouse - it might be one of the most famous attractions related to this town, it has actually been a haven for ships for years and years.
In addition to the harbour and the lighthouse, there is also the Moat - or as it is also known and referred to the Motte - which was actually built to house the explosives used in building the harbour. The Moat is also one of the most prominent features of the town that dates back to 1818 but today it is now part of a park, giving views across the town and seawards towards the Copeland Islands (
These are the most common things to be done in this small town but there are still other activities which one could also include and which might be a walk by the town that includes the marine walk by The Commons: this is a semi-cultivated open space with bowls, tennis, putting, and an adventure playground. There are also those restaurants, hotels, and bars which you could choose from and enjoy sitting at, one of them is the famous Grace Neill's bar which opened back in 1611 as the King's Arms and which is considered the oldest bar to be found in Ireland.
When you are visiting Donaghadee town, you should always check the events that might be taking place there because you could get the chance to enjoy your time attending any of them. There are also those shops and boutiques which might be offering different products that you could go back home with any of them - make your visit count.
There are some other small towns and cities which are close to Donaghadee - and that of course in addition to Belfast the capital city of Northern Ireland and the one mostly visited ( - from these places, there is Bangor which is the closest to Donaghadee and which is mostly known with its harbour ( there is also Portaferry which is mostly known with its Exploris Aquarium ( and there is also Ballywalter which is considered not far away from Donaghadee (
These were the things we managed to visit in Donaghadee, county Down, and this was the trip we went on and enjoyed. Have you ever been there before? Share with us more of your stories and adventures.
Some of the best locations around Ireland / Northern Ireland and further afield. A travel blog/vlog of the hidden treasures that are on our doorstep.
Donaghadee 2 @ Bangor 2012
Donaghadee 2 @ Bangor 2012
Dredger Lough Foyle in Donaghadee Harbour
The Lough Foyle dredging Donaghadee Harbour Co Down on 7th April 2010 as seen from the North Pier
The Lough Foyle is owned and operated by Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners
Donaghadee By The Sea - Travelogue William Rutherford
My individual Project
Model Boats in Donaghadee Harbour
Model Boats in Donaghadee Harbour
Birdman of Donaghadee 2015
Birdman of Donaghadee 15th of August 2015
Different Heaven - Nekozilla
Wild night time storm, Donaghadee Harbour & Lighthouse
I looked out my window to see it was a very stormy night so I thought it a good idea to grab a camera and see what the Donaghadee Harbour and lighthouse looked like with such a massive storm and this is what I seen!
Video by Omnicoverage, please like & share it on.
Donaghadee Lifeboat Station 1910 onwards
In 1904, after a number of shipwrecks off the North Down coast, it was agreed that a new Lifeboat station was needed. Situated near to the entrance to Belfast Lough and right beside the major shipping lanes, Donaghadee, with its beautiful harbour was deemed the ideal spot.
A team of local businessmen along with many from the fishing industry and other boatmen set up a base and went about financing a Lifeboat station and a Lifeboat. On 10th July 1910 Donaghadee received her first Lifeboat, the “William & Laura”, a Watson Class with sails,10 oars and a 40hp petrol engine. It cost the princely sum of £3599 and during her time with the RNLI, she launched 61 times, saving 65 lives.
Nowadays, Donaghadee is home to one of the most modern Lifeboats in the world, a Trent Class, costing around £1.3m. There are no sails or oars but with a top speed of around 25 knots and an operating distance of over 100 miles, “Saxon” is equipped to carry out sea rescues in even the very worst of conditions, all over the Irish Sea and beyond.
Training takes place in the Boathouse, on the Lifeboat itself and at our superb Lifeboat College in Poole in Dorset. Crews are trained to a very high standard in sea rescue and survival, fire containment, engineering, navigation and boat handling skills.
You can be sure that when a 999 call comes through to Donaghadee that a well trained crew in a modern fast Lifeboat will be on its way to you within minutes.
History
1910
A lifeboat named William and Laura sailed for her station via the east coast and Forth and Clyde Canal.
In September the inauguration ceremony of the new lifeboat was held and Mr Charles Dunbar Butler, President of the branch and Miss Slade representing the late donor, handed the lifeboat over to the branch and named her.
1917 Coxswain William G Nelson drowned whilst out fishing.
1941 Bronze Medal awarded to Coxswain Samuel Nelson for the rescue of seven of the crew of nine of the ss Coastville wrecked on rocks at Ballymacormick Point on 21 November 1940 and nine of the crew of 43 of the steamer Hope Star which went aground at Ballyholme Bay on 6 December 1940.
1949 Coxswain Andrew White retired after serving for nearly 32 years as coxswain during which time over 80 lives were rescued.
1953 Bronze Medal awarded to Coxswain Hugh Nelson for the courage, skill and initiative shown on the occasion of the wreck of the vehicle/passenger ferry Princess Victoria which sank in a raging gale on 31 January 1953 approximately seven miles east of the entrance to Belfast Lough. The disaster to the Princess Victoria, with 176 passenger on board, was the greatest suffered by any British merchant vessel in peace time for a quarter of a century. Coxswain Nelson took 29 survivors from a ships lifeboat, one man from another boat and one from a raft. The British Empire Medal was awarded to Coxswain Hugh Nelson in recognition of this service. The Portpatrick lifeboat also attended this service and the coxswain received the same medals.
1956 Lifeboat stood by the motor vessel Douglas of Bergen from 17 to 19 July and was at sea for over 60 hours.
1981 A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution, the Duke of Atholl, awarded to Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic James Bunting for the rescue of the crew of three and the saving of the yacht Rosita which went aground near the entrance to Copelands Marina in a fresh south westerly breeze and a moderate sea on 21 May.
1985 Waveney class lifeboat withdrawn and replaced by an Arun class lifeboat.
1991 Her Majesty The Queen has honoured ex Coxswain William Lennon in her Birthday Honours List for services to the Institution; the award being the British Empire Medal.
1998 Boathouse extension was completed in February.
2002 Her Majesty The Queen has honoured Mr Thomas ‘Walker’ Simpson, Deputy Coxswain/Mechanic, with a MBE in her Birthday Honours.
2003 The new Trent class lifeboat ON1267 Saxon was placed on service 17 April 2003. This lifeboat was funded by the legacy of Mrs Freda Rivers in memory of her late husband. Lifeboat ON1107 City of Belfast has been withdrawn to the relief fleet.
2009 The Trustees voted the award of a Centenary Vellum to the station on 2010.
2010 The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum was accorded to Coxswain Philip McNamara in recognition of his courage, leadership, determination and boat handling when the lifeboat under his command saved the lives of three elderly crew members of the yacht Bentim Buoys on 13 September 2009. The yacht, which was also saved, was aground on rocks near to Craigbrain. The service, during the early hours of the morning, was conducted close to a rock strewn lee shore in shoaling waters and poor weather.
MEDAL RECORD
Two Bronze Medals have been awarded. The last being voted in 1953.
FOREIGN AWARDS
Crew were awarded Silver Medals and Diplomas by French Government re rescue of six men from the lugger Cyrano of Brest in 1915.
Donaghadee Lifeboat Centenary Celebrations June 2010
Donaghadee Lifeboat Station Celebrates 100 years of Service on 10th June 2010
Aerial View of Groomsport, Donaghadee & Crawfordsburn Country Park
Some views from my DJI Phantom 3 Standard drone in and around County Down, Northern Ireland. I firstly go to Groomsport and fly around the harbour showing views of it and the town itself. I then proceed to Donaghadee and plan to fly around the harbour there. Unfortunately the harbour master advised me I would be unable to fly from there. I then proceeded up the road and flew from there knowing with enough height I would get a view of the harbour. Still having a little charge left on my battery I took the drone to Crawfordsburn Country Park and flew from the beach are there. I'm sure you'll agree the area looks great in the sunshine.
Flutes & Drums Donaghadee
5 Millisle Road, Donaghadee
“What an amazing transformation of the Old Police Station in Donaghadee!
Following a complete gut renovation & refurbishment by the current owners, who acquired the property some time ago, we are delighted to provide an exclusive insight as to what has been going on inside over the last 12 months.
Needless to say, there has been amazing interest in the property which has now been SOLD to the lucky new owners by Independent Property Estates Bangor, (P roperty S pecialists N orthern I reland) who are now widely recognised by many as the specialist Estate Agent for such homes.
Congratulations to everyone involved but especially to the lucky new owners - who will enjoy not only this amazing home in Donaghadee, but also a special piece of Northern Ireland history”.
Independent Property Estates further confirmed “that there was so much interest in the property that this was an easy Cell, Cell, Cell”.
Donaghadee Lifeboat Civil Service No 5 ON753
1932 Watson 46 Lifeboat purchased by my grandfather in 1958 seen here on the River Severn and Ilfracombe
Donaghadee Lifeboat Civil Service No 5 ON753
1932 Watson 46 Lifeboat purchased by my grandfather in 1958 seen here on the River Severn and Isles of Scilly
Any bridge from Northern Ireland to Scotland should start in Donaghadee, says councillor
Any bridge from Northern Ireland to Scotland should start in Donaghadee, says councillor
Donaghadee Harbour Proposals for a bridge between Northern Ireland and Scotland have taken another twist after controversy erupted over calls for a historic Co Down port to be considered in the plans....
our robot overlords in donaghadee 05-06-13
Donaghadee Fusiliers practice
A few pics and two tunes from our pratice tonight (11/10/07)