PORTAFERRY SAILS & SOUNDS MARITIME HERITAGE SEA SHANTY & ULSTER-SCOTS PROGRAMME OF EVENTS 2026
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Portaferry Sails & Sounds 2026 
  • HIGHLIGHTS ON THE WATER 
  • ​SAIL RACING - ALL TYPES BOATS
  • Early evening on Strangford Lough in the St Brendan with Paddy Montaque entertainer, food, music and drinks 
  • Boat Cruise on Strangford Lough (includes alcoholic beverages, minerals for duration of trip individual cheeseboard and entertainment from our "Shantymen Performers" songs from the seas  
  • Water activities with Mobile Team Adventure - pirates and vikings and lots family challenges and fun
  • Boat Tours (1hr for all ages)

  • HIGHLIGHTS ON THE LAND 
LIVE MUSIC 
  • Traditional & Scottish Bands 
  • Ukuleles 
  • Shanty groups from Ireland Scotland England 
  • Marching Band and Solo Bagpiper
DANCE 
  • McKenna School of Dance
  • Kilted Dance Company 
  • Michelle Johnston Highland Dance 
  • Sollus Dance Group 
DRAMA
  • Lived experience - Valhalla Street Theatre 
  • The Johnny & Molly Street Show 
  • Pirates and Vikings reinactment
  • A night with Paddy Montaque - wee yarns/seachai/storyteller hilarious stories, poetry and audience engagement

Pilates by the Sea £12 (with Orla Lawson refreshments and small gift bag) 
Ceramic and Sip workshops 

Ulster Scots and Maritime Talks and Exhibitions FREE
Family activities, bouncy castles, face painting, kids crafts
Highland dance  displays with Michelle Johnston School of Dance and the Kilted Dance Company
Irish Dancing Display McKenna School of Dancing

Sea Shanties - Molgoggers from Cork - and Portaferry's own women's sea shanty group "The Selkies"  from Waterford the Hooks and Crookes"  from Ballycastle the "Causeway Shantymen"  
Bespoke ULSTER-SCOTS Guided Walking Tour with
re-enactment, poetry reading, singing, rope making, soda bread demonstration light refreshments and a gift bag , with Guided Walking Tours maritime and local heritage and bespoke Ulster Scots Tour 

PAST Maritime Museum exhibitions 250yrs of Maritime Heritage 12-4pm each day
Open day @ QUB and RNLI for families lots of interactions and fun learning 10am - 3pm 

SATURDAY Market on the Square "Peninsula Artisan Market" 10am - 1. 30pm (includes live music and kids activities)
Kids Activities disco bouncy castles crafts and more!

Lots of local food outlets specials festival offers
Live music and entertainment throughout the village in local pubs 

Alternative Weather venue St Patrick's Community Centre 














 



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