SS Ellan Vannin (1854) the £14,000 reputed to have been available in 1856) a sum which the directors and shareholders present would not accept. Again the "Ellan Vannin" resumed revenue service whilst further attempts were made to find a buyer. The "Ellan Vannin's" final excursion took her across to the coast lines of County Louth and County Down via Carlingford Lough on 25 June, before she left the Isle of Man for good. Finally the Directors of the Castletown Steam Navigation Company (by now in serious financial difficulties) managed to find a buyer. "Ellan Vannin" was sold to Cunard & Wilson who were acting
SS Ellan Vannin (1854) by the steam tug "Sampson". Once aboard the party witnessed the launch of the steamer "Ethiope", the "Ellan Vannin" then steamed up the river as far as the Ince Lighthouse to meet the "Countess of Ellesmere". The "Countess" operating under the command of Captain Street, was brought up alongside the "Ellan Vannin", at that point full steam was given and both vessels raced away towards Garston. For a short time the "Countess" gained on the "Ellan Vannin" but soon both vessels came exactly abreast of each other. The race took twelve minutes to cover the 5 nautical miles to Garston,