The Carrickfergus Tall Ship Project

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The Carrickfergus Tall Ship Project

Join us on a journey to bring the last Carrickfergus built ship home and create an iconic heritage attraction and community events hub.

The Result has lived many lives from being a workhorse, a film star and a warrior. The Carrickfergus Tall Ship Project aims to bring home and preserve the historic tall ship Result. Once home we have a vision of static adaptive reuse which would see her become a flexible venue for living history experiences, education and events benefiting both visitors and the local community alike. We are curren

tly engaged in discussions with the ship’s owners National Museums Northern Ireland and other potential stakeholders. For much of its history Carrickfergus Harbour would have been described as a forest of masts. This was largely because local commerce was for thousands of years transported around our coasts from community to community by small sailing ships. In the late 19th century, the predominant type of sailing ship in these trades was the schooner. At this time Carrickfergus shipbuilder Paul Rodgers had a great reputation for his schooner designs. His shipyard on the Belfast Road (today the site of Legg Park with Rodgers’ cottage still in existence beside it) was a small but modest business which at its height employed 150 men. In 1893 the yard launched for Barrow owners a schooner named the Result. She could sail fast and without ballast, her hull was specially strengthened for loading and unloading aground in tidal harbours or estuaries. Like all coastal traders, Result was a jack of all trades carrying various cargoes over her long career at sea like bricks, tiles, scrap metal, bauxite, coffins, lime, mistletoe, coal and fertiliser to name a few. She traded to a range of ports around Britain and Ireland and even to a few Continental European ports. The onset of the First World War placed merchant shipping in grave danger with more than 200 British and Irish schooners and small sailing ships lost to enemy action. It was too expensive for German U-boats to use torpedoes on small ships and therefore they would attack by surfacing and then shelling the targeted ship. However, U-boats on the surface were vulnerable, and with this in mind the Royal Navy conceived the idea of the Q-ship. Named as such as the first ships were converted in Queenstown, today Cobh in County Cork. A few inoffensive-looking merchant ships were requisitioned and armed. This armament was camouflaged, so that U-boats would be lured to the surface where they themselves could be attacked. To aid the deception, only five men would appear on deck at any one time, to represent the usual crew compliment of a trading schooner. Result was chosen and converted in Lowestoft for patrols in the North Sea. She had an all-volunteer crew as was usually the case with crowded and uncomfortable small ships. The men were offered extra wages rightly termed ‘danger money’. There were 23 men on board who were keen to serve even though they had been warned that their posting would be “hazardous, at times monotonous, and not free from discomfort”. During 1917 Result fought three different U-boats. In her third and final battle she was hit by a shell midships injuring two crew and nearly sinking her. In 1950 Result was chartered to appear the Carol Reed directed film Outcast of the Islands, adapted from the Joseph Conrad novel. It received a BAFTA nomination for ‘Best British Film’ in 1953. None of the actors ever came aboard Result instead the crew were required to stand in for them by dressing up and wearing make-up to colour their skin. They were paid an extra £2 per day for this. Despite the good pay the crew were grateful once filming was complete as they much preferred their ‘day jobs’. Work was becoming increasingly difficult to find in the 1960s as the coastal trade declined. It was now cheaper to transport goods overland by road with motor lorries. Result had become the last ship of her type still in sailing however by 1967 there was not enough cargo available to keep her in work. With Result’s retirement ended a thousand-year-old tradition of man trading goods along our coastlines by sail. In 1970 she was acquired for preservation by the Ulster Transport Museum and is on open air display there. Her importance is recognised by National Historic Ships UK as part of the ‘National Historic Fleet’ – the collection of the most historically significant ships in the UK.

06/06/2026

It was fantastic to be part of today’s Sails and Tales event in Carrickfergus as part of Industrial Heritage Week.

We gave a talk on Paul Rodgers’ shipyard and the Result, which was followed by a brilliant tour by Adrian from Carrickfergus Tour and Tales of the town’s waterfront heritage.

Great turnout and always a pleasure to share our town’s amazing history with people, while also spreading awareness of the Result and our project to

02/06/2026

Sails & Tales
Saturday 6th June
10.30am – 1.15pm
Carrickfergus Museum

From the natural harbour created by the Rock of Fergus to today’s 5 Gold Anchor Marina, the Carrickfergus foreshore has witnessed centuries of drama and endeavour — invasion and siege, bustling trade, shipbuilding, and the rise of seaborne leisure.

Enjoy talks with Robin Stewart on Kelly’s Coal, Christopher Kenny on the shipbuilding history of Carrickfergus and then join us for a short, guided walking tour of the foreshore area.

The Sails and Tales exhibition, originally developed as a Positive Carrickfergus initiative, is now on display in the civic centre mall, providing the perfect backdrop to this year’s industrial heritage event. Talks will take place in the Town Hall’s Dobbs Room.

Refreshments served on arrival.

Book your FREE ticket here:
https://thebraid.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173672908

26/05/2026

Great image of the Result during her stint as a film star in 1950 when she played the “Flash” in the Carol Reed directed Outcast of the Islands!

Flash at sea.
Anchors aweigh! The crew in view in this picture of the sailing ship Flash is from the Bill Mitchell collection.

Pictures from the Collection
As a feature for our page, we'll be frequently uploading photos from our collection. Feel free to 'like' and 'share' any you find particularly interesting! Watch this space for more great images!
Many of these images have been compressed for the internet. If you would like a higher resolution printed copy of any picture, please contact the museum to check availability and prices.

17/05/2026

We’re at the Red Bull Soapbox Race in Belfast today where Martin Hutchinson is taking on the course on Stormont Hill in this fantastic Result soapbox! In tribute to her Q-Ship days in the First World War a U-Boat will chase her down the course too.

Best of luck to Martin and his team, and great big thanks to them helping spread awareness of our town’s heritage and promoting our project to bring Result home!

13/05/2026

We share the concerns of many locals in Carrick regarding the proposed apartments in the Carrickfergus Conservation Area in proximity to the historic Carrickfergus Castle and harbour. While undoubtedly the Swift site needs to be redeveloped; it should something appropriate which will be part of the area’s recreation and public usage.

Especially with further local and tourism development planned for the area with the City Deal Carrickfergus Regeneration Project it would be out of character and potentially have a negative impact on activities and events risking visual and noise complaints from the apartment residents.

This would include a risk for our project to bring the Result home and secure a berth at the waterfront/harbour for her to be set up as a heritage attraction and event venue.

We would encourage everyone to read the shared post and if you share our concerns the link for feedback and objections is also in the post.

𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐀𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 👇🏻

📣 𝐈’𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐮𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞.

🗓️ 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐠𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐦 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲.

❌ 𝐈 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

➡️ I previously (along with many others) opposed an earlier application here back in 2020 and was delighted that common sense finally prevailed following a Planning Appeals Commission adjudication to refuse the application.

Sadly the developers have returned with a slightly amended proposal but their objective remains the same to construct apartments within the Carrickfergus conservation area directly in the eyeline of our historic castle.

➡️ Let me be clear. I am not opposed to development - far from it. However there are times when we must take a stand and this is one of them. This is a prominent and historic site and it is simply not appropriate for apartments that would undoubtedly open the floodgates for further inappropriate proposals.

➡️ The current state of the Swift Complex is unacceptable. It has been allowed to fall into serious disrepair. While I welcome potential new powers of enforcement through new forthcoming dilapidation legislation to address such neglect the poor condition of the building must not be used as justification for approving this development.

➡️ Instead this site represents a significant opportunity. It could be transformed into a valuable community and tourism asset such as a welcome centre, café, family space or cultural hub as part of wider regeneration initiatives such as the City Deal. The possibilities are extensive but apartments are not the answer.

✅ 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐦 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞. 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐨 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.

Please do not accept the argument that it is better than what is there now. That narrative serves only the developers. The current condition is a result of neglect and the council must use every available power to address this failure of responsibility.

✴️ 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 - 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 👇🏻

https://planningregister.planningsystemni.gov.uk/application/694877/add-comment

Please take a moment to click the link above leave a comment and formally object before this application goes to the planning committee.

This proposal cannot be allowed to proceed.

JS

11/02/2026

Today we are working to bring home the last Carrickfergus built ship.

Discover more about our project and support us in preserving and telling Carrickfergus' maritime history here:
https://www.carrickfergustallship.com

09/02/2026

Result started her first patrol as a Q-Ship - 9th February 1917

When the Result served as a Q-Ship in the Royal Navy she was fitted with hidden armament. Like a wolf in sheep's clothing it was hoped looking like an innocent merchant ship would lure in unsuspecting German U-Boats so the Result could then launch a surprise attack.

As a merchant vessel she was designed to have a crew of 5, however during her Q-Ship days she had a crew of 23 men. For this reason during Q-Ship patrols only 5 men were ever allowed up on deck and the rest had to stay below out of sight to keep up appearances. With the war modifications and large crew it was very cramped and uncomfortable yet all the men had volunteered for this role to serve their country during the First World War.

08/02/2026

Carrickfergus Shipyard, under the ownership of Paul Rodgers, at its height employed 150 men.

This photograph was taken in 1885 to celebrate the remarkable move from building wooden to iron ships in Carrickfergus - something few small scale shipbuilding businesses dared do. Today Legg Park occupies the site where the shipyard once stood.

Unfortunately the only list of names we have found for this photograph is incomplete:
"FOREGROUND: Young, McQuitty, Hyndman Bros, Ross, Skelton, Penny, Mayne, Hamilton Bros, McAulay, Wilson, McAtamney, McKinney, Stewart, Alexander, Beggs, Wallace, McKee, Boyd Bros, Robinson, McIlrath, Moore
MIDDLE: Stewart, Hunter, Gray, Simple, Wallace Bros, Clawson, Johnson, English, Creighton, McQuitty Bros, Knowles, Hill
BACKGROUND: Strahan, Patterson, McKinney, Turner, Hill, Stevenson, McMurtry, Donald, Boyd, Alexander, Cooper, Hassan, Bryans, William Rodgers"

If you have any stories or information which could help our research into the men of Carrickfergus Shipyard and its ships please do get in touch!

Address

Carrickfergus

Website

https://www.carrickfergustallship.com/

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