Tall ships to fly flag for veterans at Northern Ireland festival as part of Invictus Games tour
Two tall ships are set to sail into Northern Ireland, as part of a UK tour flying the flag for armed forces veterans.
Starting next month, the schooner ‘Spirit of Falmouth’ and pilot cutter ‘Pellew’ are navigating the entire United Kingdom – and in May, they’re due to arrive at a maritime festival on the coast of Co Down.
Organised by a group set up to help veterans, sailing body Turn To Starboard, the 12-week expedition will transport the Invictus Games flag around all four nations as part of the build-up to the sporting competition for wounded and sick armed forces personnel, which is happening in England in 2027.
As part of the 2,000-nautical-mile journey, the ships are due to arrive at the Sea Bangor festival this May – part of expanded plans for this year’s bash, which for the first time will involve pedestrianising part of the seaside city’s centre for the duration of the event.
Bangor is to be the ships’ only stop in Northern Ireland, and comes as part of a leg of the trip from Tanera Mor in Scotland’s Inner Hebrides to Liverpool in north-west England.
According to Turn To Starboard, the collaboration with the Invictus Games “not only honours the sacrifices of those who have served, but also builds a lasting legacy of hope, healing, and possibility”.
States the organisation: “It is more than a voyage, it’s a powerful story of courage, service, and renewal – a testament to how adventure and the sea can help heal, inspire, and bring people together.”
The Co Down visit is to take place on the same weekend as the annual two-day Sea Bangor maritime festival, which this year is planned to have a refresh after bad weather forced many of 2025’s events to be cancelled or moved to indoor venues at short notice.
According to reports prepared by the festival’s organisers, Ards and North Down Council, the Royal Navy will be “active participants” in the visit of the tall ships, and hope to stage a Royal Marine Band performance as well as an appearance by an Archer Class P2000 fast patrol boat.
Council officials say there will be “opportunities for members of the public to have tours of the ships, and the intention is to host local veterans at a function on board”.
There are also moves to pedestrianise part of the centre of Bangor around Quay Street and Seacliff Road for the duration of the festival.
Sea Bangor is normally housed on a pier and large car park in that area; the pedestrianisation would, say officials, shift food trucks from the pier onto the street, allowing “freer access and less congestion on the pier” plus “the introduction of some authentic maritime activities”.
State officials: “The pedestrianised area would add to the ‘festival’ feel and extend the existing footprint of the event.”
The idea will be put to local businesses, while the wider Sea Bangor event is also to be opened up to include more traders from the district.
Businesses will be “encouraged to join in the maritime theme”, state officials, while the council will create a map guiding visitors around Bangor and marking participating traders.