CMRC help captain the Cork Harbour Open Weekend
Dolphins, landlubbers and seasoned sailors of all ages are heading to the Cork Harbour Weekend on the 15 and 16 September
Dolphins, landlubbers and seasoned sailors of all ages are heading to the Cork Harbour Weekend on the 15 and 16 September
Cork Harbour Open Weekend has a jam packed programme on offer over two days, with lots of activities for all ages, both on and off the water. The second-largest natural harbour in the world will play host to the annual Cobh to Blackrock sailing race, kayaking on the River Lee, crab fishing in Cobh, and a free open day at the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) in Ringaskiddy.
For those in the city centre, the Irish naval vessel L.E.Ciara will be open to the public for free tours on both Saturday and Sunday.
According to Cathal O’Mahony, a CMRC research scientist working with stakeholders around Cork Harbour, “The Open Weekend is an excellent example of how different organisations can work together to produce something of real impact. The harbour is something that should be promoted as much as possible, its value is clear in terms of natural beauty, amenity and commercial activity.”
The CMRC of University College Cork has long advocated the value of Cork Harbour, facilitating a process that produced a strategy to further promote the promise of the harbour. The idea for an Open Day emerged from discussions between various stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of the strategy, including the CMRC, City and County Councils and the Port of Cork. Such has been the enthusiasm since the first event in 2009, it is now an annual fixture on the high seas around Cork.
This year will also see the return of the hugely popular first ferry shuttle service operated by ‘Whale of a Time’ and sponsored by the Port of Cork and NMCI. The service is free and it will run from the lower harbour, calling at Ringaskiddy, Monkstown, Cobh, Aghada and Crosshaven.
Spike Island will be open to the public, with boat rides operating from Kennedy Pier in Cobh to the island throughout the day. Live music, face painters, clowns and jugglers will be on the island to entertain, with visitors encouraged to bring their own picnic for the day.
In Crosshaven, Camden Fort will host a free open day on both Saturday and Sunday. The fort will host the Airborne 101 re-enactors and a weapons display, face painting, children’s entertainers and lots more.
Blackrock Castle Observatory will present their theatrical tours on Saturday, bringing the colourful story of the castle to life from 400 years ago to the present day.
The Emergency, Voluntary and Statutory Services Exhibition will see demonstrations taking place to showcase the best of the emergency services on Saturday 15 September. Organisers will simulate crash scenes, perform fire-fighting displays, carry out sea manoeuvres and mount a simulated rescue operation in which rescue personnel will abseil from buildings.
For further information visit the Cork Harbour website http://www.corkharbour.ie/ or email harbourevents@corkharbour.ie Further updates are also available on Twitter via @corkharbour