From Donaghadee visitors can enjoy spectacular views across the Irish Sea, where on a clear day you can see all the way to Scotland, which is only 20 miles away. Indeed, the majority of Ulster-Scots settling in Ireland will have travelled through Donaghadee harbour which was the provinces’s principal port before Belfast became the major City. On the mouth of the harbour stands Donaghadee lighthouse, built in 1836 this was the first lighthouse in Ireland to be lit by electricity unfortunately it isn’t open to the public. The harbour was built in the 1820’s in the design of John Rennie and was partly constructed in limestone from Wales known as “Anglesea Marble”.

The town boast a long seagoing history, the Lifeboat Station housed here played a very important role in rescuing survivors of the MV Princess Victoria when it got into difficulty and tragically sunk in 1953. Today it still maintains its relationship with the sea, inviting the water enthusiasts, anglers and those people who just like to wander around the beautiful harbour.

Just above the harbour stands a large Motte (Moat), this is generally attributed to the Norman invaders in the 12th and 13th centuries during their period in power. On the summit of the motte in 1818 a castellated stone building was erected to house the explosives that were used in the construction of the harbour.

Today it is part of an attractive little park, giving views across the town and seawards to the Copeland Islands and on clear days, to the Scottish and Isle of Man coastlines.

Experience Northern Ireland

Finding Treasure in NI

Donaghadee Harbour and Moat

Donaghadee Harbour and Moat

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