Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the Carrickfergus Tall Ship Project all about then?

The last surviving ship to have been built in Carrickfergus’ forgotten Victorian shipyard, the Result is a tall ship like no other. With a ‘three masted schooner’ rig she was launched in 1893 to initially carry cargo in the Irish Sea trades. Despite humble beginnings she went on to have an unusually long and varied career sailing to various various British, Irish and Continental ports with a wide range of different cargoes, star in the 1951 film Outcast of the Islands, and engage in First World War espionage as a secretive Q-Ship used to lure in and attack German U-boats.

In 1970 the Ulster Transport Museum bought her for preservation and following some restoration work she was transported by road to the museum in Cultra for open air display on dry land.

The Carrickfergus Tall Ship Project plans to bring Result home to the town where her unique story began over 130 years ago, complete her restoration and carry out a bold strategy of adaptive reuse - meaning she won’t just be a static museum display but a flexible fun and creative living history attraction, education hub and event venue. It is hoped a rotating schedule of experiences and events could be held on board throughout the year and these will provide the necessary income to ensure the ship’s long-term maintenance.

Who’s behind this project?

Result Carrickfergus Ltd is a non-profit company set up to preserve and relocate the Result to the town of its construction. The Company Directors formed the Company as they are proud of the town’s rich maritime heritage and believe that their aims are fundamentally the last opportunity for the people of Carrickfergus to pay homage to our strong naval roots and to an era when Carrickfergus built ships that supported trade and prosperity across the British Isles. Their objectives with the Carrickfergus Tall Ship Project are strongly linked the town’s beliefs and values, which are underpinned by its motto “Gloria Prisca Novatur” that translates to “Glory of the Old Made New”. We have started discussions with the Result’s current owners, National Museums NI, about our intentions.

Where will the Result be moved to?

Result is currently on open air display at the Ulster Transport Museum in Cultra, County Down. Our project envisages her returning to the town of her birth and being positioned on land at a prominent location beside Carrickfergus Harbour, in the shadow of the Castle. We are in discussions with the landowners Mid & East Antrim Borough Council to determine the exact location best suited for our project.

Why are you not going to put the Result back to sea?

Back in the 1970s when Result was first acquired by the Ulster Transport Museum and brought back to Northern Ireland, the option of using her as a sail training vessel for Northern Ireland was considered however eventually proved to be unfeasible. After this the decision was made to preserve Result ashore at the museum and work took place in Harland & Wolff shipyard in the 1970s to begin returning her to 1893 specifications - crucially the removal of her engine and propeller.

The same conclusions were drawn again in 1990 when the sail training idea was revisited, and today all the maritime conservation experts we have spoken with warn against this option. Ultimately reusing the ship ashore is by far the most feasible route to take to ensure Result has a sustainable future. This also allows us to conserve as much original authentic material as possible.

What exhibits and experiences can we look forward to?

We’re working with the community to find out what they really want to see from this project. So there aren’t any details about specific experiences or events to reveal yet because it is all still in the planning stages. We have a number of ideas for living history events and tours, cultural nights and opening the vessel to the community for hire. However, you can help us unlock the immense potential of the Result by sharing your ideas in our survey. 

There is no guarantee all our collective ideas will be possible but it gives us good starting point as we work on our business case. Certainly we would expect to ensure the feasibility of the project by selecting a few ideas to start off with once opening in Carrickfergus, and ramp up the number of offerings over time as the Tall Ship becomes a successful part of the town.

When will you be opening to the public?

Far too soon to say at this early stage of the project. We of course hope it will be schooner (sooner) rather than later!

Why bother?

We believe this project is a chance to pay tribute to our town’s maritime heritage and preserve a remarkable historic ship, which has been described as “a gem in the world’s collection of preserved sailing ships” *. However, the Result will not just be something for those in Carrickfergus who are interested in history to marvel at. We envisage her hosting a flexible programme of experiences and events to appeal to a wide audience. Tourists and locals alike should find something to benefit them onboard.

*Basil Greenhill, Former Director of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich & Schooner Historian.