Enjoy a drive along the picturesque Ards Peninsula to Grey Abbey, founded in 1193 by Affreca, daughter of Godred Olafsson (King of the Isles) and the wife of John de Courcy, the Anglo-Norman invader. Visit the ruins of the ancient Cistercian Abbey. Turning north, admire sweeping views across the Irish Sea toward Scotland as you pass through the town of Millisle en route to Donaghadee, with its picturesque harbor and 1836 lighthouse. Founded in 1910, the lifeboat station at Donaghadee harbor has a special significance on the wild Irish coast. The crew of the lifeboat Sir Samuel Kelly, based here, saved 33 passengers from the imperiled car ferry, MV Princess Victoria, in 1953 (sadly, 130 people perished as the ferry sank in one of the most ferocious gales ever to roil the Irish Sea). Sip an Irish coffee here, and reflect on tales of the sea, ships, and the courageous spirit of those who dwell here.