12 February 2015
By Tom Collins
tom@TheCork.ie
The new Cork Harbour Festival will see Cork Harbour Open Day, which
normally takes place in September, move to Ocean to City week to
coincide with the Ocean to City race An Rás Mór. Taking place over the
June Bank Holiday Weekend, May 30th – June 1st, the new partnership
will bring a bigger, stronger and more impactful maritime festival to
Cork City and Harbour.
Ocean to City An Rás Mór, Ireland’s friendliest rowing race, already
attracts thousands of spectators each year. Taking place in Cork
Harbour, one of the largest natural harbours in the world, it has
grown into a true flagship event celebrating Ireland’s unique maritime
culture and heritage.
Cork Harbour Open Day in turn will bring a strong network of harbour
agencies to the festival, as well as a range of successful events
including open days on Spike Island and Camden Fort Meagher, crab
fishing, rescue demos by the Irish Coastguard, kayaking lessons and
lots more including the opportunity to visit an Irish Navy Ship.
Joining forces under the new Cork Harbour Festival promises a
colourful celebration from sea to shore, showcasing all things
maritime that Cork Harbour and Cork City have to offer.
Ocean to City Director, Donagh MacArtain, said ”Ocean to City was
conceived in 2005 as a people’s festival; a community action on the
sea, that highlights the marvellous amenity available on Cork’s
doorstep. Cork Harbour Open Day has always been a great opportunity to
see all that the harbour has to offer, and we are delighted that they
will join forces with us in bringing the new Cork Harbour Festival to
the Irish festival programme.”
Cathal O’Mahony of the Harbour Management Focus Group said ”Moving
Cork Harbour Open Day to the June Bank Holiday Weekend not only means
that we are teaming up with Cork’s largest maritime event, it also
means that it will be a great start to the new harbour season and a
fantastic opportunity to celebrate Cork Harbour both on and off the
water.”
Ocean to City – Cork Harbour Festival are pleased to invite
organisations around Cork City and Harbour to join in the new maritime
festival by organising an event for the programme. Interested
organisations may contact harbourevents@corkharbour.ie to request an
event application form. Included events will be promoted in the lead
up to the weekend through local media, Ocean to City, CorkHarbour.ie,
printed materials and social media.
The new Cork Harbour Festival will see a number of big agencies work
together, including: Meitheal Mara, Port of Cork, Cork City Council,
Cork County Council, Irish Naval Service, UCC, NCMI, IMERC as well as
a range of other organisations in the city and harbour.