Princess Victoria Disaster

Early in the morning of 31 January 1953, the MV Princess Victoria left Stranraer enroute to Larne. Shortly after leaving the shelter of Loch Ryan, the ferryboat encountered heavy seas which crashed over the ship and forced open the stern doors.

Despite the lower decks being flooded, she continued on for a number of hours before finally sinking off the coast of Co. Down with a loss of 135 souls. Of the 44 survivors, 33 were rescued by the crew of the Sir Samuel Kelly lifeboat and taken to Donaghadee.

In collaboration with Donaghadee Heritage Preservation Company Ltd., this exhibition will recount the terrible events of that day, remembering the passengers and crew of the Princess Victoria, and those who came to their rescue.