Causeway Shantymen to chart new course with release of first album

A group of sea shanty singers from the Causeway Coast, who performed live for the King and Queen, are to sail into new waters when they release their first album of traditional songs.

The Causeway Shantymen were formed three years ago with the aim of reviving an age-old tradition of performing regional maritime songs and have since grown to have 30 members with a dedicated following.

The group was started by Barry Torrens, from Portrush, and is now led by “Captain” Chris Millar.

He said: “It all started with a message went on Facebook from Barry, who felt that the north coast needed, as a coastal location, a proper shanty group.

“The wives pushed all the men out the doors and we found ourselves in Portrush Yacht Club on a chilly March evening with a songbook of 10 songs getting started.

“The material is traditional sea shanties, call and response working songs.”

“These are all songs that have crossed the sea multiple times, they are written on board or sung on board and they add in the news of the day or a joke about a member of the crew, they have travelled maybe from Birmingham over to Trinidad and had verses added on the way.

“We like to say as long as you have seen the sea or have an idea what the sea is you will be alright with the Shantymen.”

The Shantymen also use their rehearsals and performances to promote positive mental health, bringing together men from a range of isolated rural areas to sing together.

Mr Millar said: “Singing in a group is scientifically proven to have wellbeing benefits in terms of helping guys bond together, increasing all the feelgood chemicals in your brain.”

The Shantymen had one of the highlights of their careers when they sang The Drunken Sailor for Charles and Camilla when they visited Belfast in March 2025.

Mr Millar said: “They were dancing a little bit to Drunken Sailor.

“King Charles asked us for an extra verse, which was really good and they were complimenting us on our outfits.

“They were nice to meet and they were really engaged, they knew what we were about so it was a really positive experience for everybody.”

Recently, the group was awarded funding from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland to create Songs Of The Sea, a six-track album of regional sea shanties with accompanying story-telling and visual media.

It is hoped that the album will be recorded at Portrush RNLI Lifeboat Station.

The project will include music videos and a mini-documentary.

Mr Millar said: “We want to use north coast locations to do it.

“We have been chatting with the RNLI about using the Portrush RNLI station, which is an amazing location.

“We are also trying to include some local interest in terms of talking to the lifeboat guys about their experiences or other maritime figures around the north coast about what they do.

“It will be a challenge for us trying to record it and bring the storytelling element together too.”

Fellow Shantyman Roger Newton said he is continually amazed at the reception the group receives when they perform live.

He said: “I keep thinking it is going to wind down, but everywhere we go we are met with such enthusiasm and joy, happiness. It is really quite uplifting for us performing.

“I am not sure where the future lies but I am happy doing what we are doing at the minute.

“It is a high going with a group of guys brought together by one idea. It is something wonderful.

“The fact that we get to sing and make people happy is just wonderful.”