The Carol Ship event on the Strangford Ferry is to be even bigger and brighter this year.
Following the phenomenal success of last year’s inaugural ‘Carol Ship on Strangford Lough’, 2015 promises to be even bigger and brighter.
In Canada, the ‘Carol Ships’ Parade of Lights provides a traditional carol ship and shore-side celebration of lights during the holiday season. The idea began over 50 years ago with one boat decorated with Christmas lights in Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada.
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Carol ships in Vancouver, Canada.[/caption]
On peak evenings fifty years later, this holiday tradition has grown to more than 50 decorated boats, with in excess of 100,000 lights, and thousands of people who enjoy the many community-based shore-side celebrations and the Carol Ships’ Parade of Lights. It is a community event – dedicated to the promotion of tourism – that has become one of the premier attractions during the Christmas season.
Elaine Roddy of the Portaferry and Strangford Trust said: “It is a special event which benefits businesses, tourists, charities and the community. Â Last year the members of Portaferry and Strangford Trust realised that this area already has a boat, the Strangford ferry, servicing the oldest continuous ferry crossing in the world. The task was to transform it into a Carol Ship and with the help of many people this became a reality. For two nights Christmas music rang out across Strangford Lough and each fifteen minute sailing from 6 to 9.30 p.m. had a different choir or group providing Christmas music which was heard on the shore.
“The Strangford ferry was decorated with Christmas lights and, in both Portaferry and Strangford, there were Christmas markets, music, food and children’s entertainment. Over 5000 people enjoyed the fabulous event which this year will be even bigger.
“The  Thursday Friday Saturday 10-12 December will be wonderful nights of fun for the whole family in both Portaferry and Strangford. There will be Christmas markets, Christmas music, storytelling, and decorated boats, streets and monuments. As the broadcaster Kim Lenaghan said, ‘Boats, twinkly lights, carols, a great setting on Strangford Lough ….what’s not to love?’”
Portaferry and Strangford Trust is an organisation that was set up two years ago in order to celebrate and promote the maritime and built heritage of Portaferry, Strangford and the surrounding area within the wider community. Our aims are to regenerate buildings and landscapes and at the same time develop a maritime centre to promote the rich maritime past, present and future of the area.
Elaine added: “We have been running a series of events throughout the year to generate interest and promote our maritime heritage and these have been very successful. The Carol Ship on Strangford Lough will be the final event of the year and will involve all ages and all parts of the community.
“In organising this event PAST is indebted to Ards and North Down District Council, Newry, Mourne and Down Council, DRD and the Ferry Service, Peninsula Print, Newtownards, Portaferry Regeneration and the Townscape Heritage Initiative, as well as members of the communities in Portaferry and Strangford.
“Van Morrison’s message of support said: ‘I have many happy memories of this area and anything that can be done to preserve it has my support.’
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