The nine-day Cork Harbour Festival which celebrates our maritime heritage, continues all this week until Sunday June 9th. With over 70 maritime events taking place, there is still time to go on a yacht in Cork Harbour, try a scuba dive in Myrtleville, enjoy a surf lesson with Swell Surf School and take part in Sunset Coasteering where you can experience the thrill of swimming in sea caves.
See Bob Bateman's photo gallery of the Ocean to City race here
Cork is famous for its bridges and Atlantic Sea Kayaking are offering the public the opportunity to see Cork city from the water and to paddle and kayak under the beautiful bridges. On Saturday (June 9) Blackrock Sailing Club will host a special regatta where teams will race against each other around Cork Harbour.
Sailing, motor and rowing boats can join a group of Drascombe boats as they enjoy the natural heritage of Cork Harbour and visit Cobh, Aghada, East Ferry, Ballinacurra, Crosshaven and Passage.
Dr Tom Doyle from the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences in UCC, will give a talk on the dangers of marine plastic pollution (June 5) while the Department of History in UCC will present three lunchtime lectures on maritime history in St Peter’s Cork, on June 4, 5 and 6.
Cork’s maritime heritage and culture will be celebrated through music and prose. The Gab Storytelling Group will recount memorable maritime stories and harbour ditties in the Top Bar in Cork Opera House (June 6). Renowned maritime choral group The Molgoggers will perform sea shanties and sea songs in Nano Nagle Place (June 7) while Songs of the Sea, an evening of song exploring the high seas with the Cork Singers Club will take place in Spailpín Fánach on Sunday June 9. All these events are free.
The Cork Harbour Festival is a wonderful family friendly festival. CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory are hosting a special Children’s Maritime Workshop with Cork Nature Network on Saturday June 9 where children can learn about the ocean. Children and adults can fish for crabs on Cobh Promenade while tasting delicious sea food platters.
Beyond the River which tells the story of Dusi Canoe Marathon, one of the world’s toughest river races will screen in Triskel Arts Centre and guided tours of Elizabeth Fort and Spike Island will take place. Several Cork Harbour Festival events are also taking place during Seafest. On Saturday June 8 join Meitheal Mara and have a go in a traditional currach or a Chinese dragon boat. The Rebel Plunge Swim takes place on Sunday at 1.30pm. Competitors will enter the water at the Port of Cork and will swim 3.8km to Blackrock Village.
