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Cork Harbour News and Updates
Traffic at the Port of Cork amounted to 8.3 million tonnes in 2009
The Chairman of the Port of Cork, Mr Dermot O'Mahoney commented on the company's annual results for 2009 stating that the Port of Cork had delivered a resilient performance given the national economic recession. Total traffic at the Port of…
Cork's City Marina Officially Opened
The new Port of Cork City Marina was officially opened yesterday by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin TD in the presence of Mr. Dermot O’Mahoney Chairman of the Port of Cork. Towards the end of 2009, the Port…
Spike Island Will Open to Tourists
The first visitors to Spike Island this summer will be given walking tours of the new tourism attraction Cork County council says. The island in the middle of Cork harbour is the subject of proposals to develop it as a…
New Cork Harbour Park Contract
Cork City Council is inviting interest in the design of a new 32 hectare park for Cork Docklands. The full details of the 'new island district' are here.
Port of Cork Selects Ringaskiddy as Terminal Site
Port of Cork announced yesterday a site in Ringaskiddy in Cork Harbour would be the most suitable site for the development of its shipping container business. The new site will by adjacent to the existing ferry terminal. A full report…
Trad Sailing Fest for Cork
Crosshaven will play host to the annual Crosshaven Traditional Sail event on the weekend of June 18-20, with traditional boat races, currach competitions, and even a 'pirates and wenches' fancy-dress party. Proceedings kick off on Friday June 18 with an…
Work Begins on Cork City Pontoons
Cork Port Company is in the process of installing a 100 metre pontoon facility at the South Custom House Quay which is expected to be in operation from mid- June and this will provide an opportunity for users to overnight…
McWilliam League Starts on Friday
Just as Kinsale's Spring league ends the McWilliam Sailmakers May League takes place at the Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC), Crosshaven, County Cork starting next Friday. All the details are here: 1          RULES 1.1       The Regatta will be sailed under…
Fire at Cork Boatyard Extinguished
Three units of Cork Fire Brigade dealt with a fire that broke out close to a diesel tank in a boatyard in Crosshaven today. No one was hurt in the blaze that broke out at lunch time and there was…
When MV Oriana docked in Cobh this morning she opened Cork harbour's 2010 Cruise liner season, a much need tourism boost for the maritime town. The Bermudan flagged ship with 1900 passengers and 800 crew arrived after 6.00am. Next week…
Cork Harbour Property with Deep Water Jetty Goes On Sale
The Marina Point Complex in Cobh, Cork Harbour is for sale. The 114–acre property includes the former IFI plant that runs on to the waterfront with a deep water jetty. No purchase price is quoted but it is understood that…
Afloat.ie: Plans to Open Spike Island by Summer
Spike Island in Cork Harbour will be open by the summer as the first step towards developing the former prison island as a major tourist attraction, according to Cork county manager Martin Riordan. Barry Roche has the full story here…
Clipper Sailors Fly Cork Flag
25 people from Ireland, UK, and Germany arrived in Cork in advance of the biggest challenge of their lives. They will sail onboard the Cork Clipper boat in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race which starts in Hull…

Cork Harbour Information

It’s one of the largest natural harbours in the world – and those living near Cork Harbour insist that it’s also one of the most interesting.

This was the last port of call for the most famous liner in history, the Titanic, but it has been transformed into a centre for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry.

The harbour has been a working port and a strategic defensive hub for centuries, and it has been one of Ireland's major employment hubs since the early 1900s. Traditional heavy industries have waned since the late 20th century, with the likes of the closure of Irish Steel in Haulbowline and shipbuilding at Verolme. It still has major and strategic significance in energy generation, shipping and refining.

Giraffe wander along its shores, from which tens of thousands of men and women left Ireland, most of them never to return. The harbour is home to the oldest yacht club in the world, and to the Irish Navy. 

This deep waterway has also become a vital cog in the Irish economy.

‘Afloat.ie's Cork Harbour page’ is not a history page, nor is it a news focus. It’s simply an exploration of this famous waterway, its colour and its characters.

Cork Harbour Festival

Ocean to City – An Rás Mór and Cork Harbour Open Day formerly existed as two popular one-day events located at different points on Cork’s annual maritime calendar. Both event committees recognised the synergy between the two events and began to work together and share resources. In 2015, Cork Harbour Festival was launched. The festival was shaped on the open day principle, with Ocean to City – An Ras Mór as the flagship event.

Now in its sixth year, the festival has grown from strength to strength. Although the physical 2020 festival was cancelled due to Covid-19, the event normally features nine festival days starting on the first week of June. It is packed full of events; all made possible through collaboration with over 50 different event partners in Cork City, as well as 15 towns and villages along Cork Harbour. The programme grows year by year and highlights Ireland’s rich maritime heritage and culture as well as water and shore-based activities, with Ocean to City – An Rás Mór at the heart of the festival.

Taking place at the centre of Ireland’s maritime paradise, and at the gateway to Ireland’s Ancient East and the Wild Atlantic Way, Cork is perfectly positioned to deliver the largest and most engaging harbour festival in Ireland.

The Cork Harbour Festival Committee includes representatives from Cork City Council, Cork County Council, Port of Cork, UCC MaREI, RCYC, Cobh & Harbour Chamber and Meitheal Mara.

Marinas in Cork Harbour

There are six marinas in Cork Harbour. Three in Crosshaven, one in East Ferry, one in Monkstown Bay and a new facility is opening in 2020 at Cobh. Details below

Port of Cork City Marina

Location – Cork City
Contact – Harbour Masters Dept., Port of Cork Tel: +353 (0)21 4273125 or +353 (0)21 4530466 (out of office hours)

Royal Cork Yacht Club Marina

Location: Crosshaven, Co. Cork
Contact: +353 (0) 21 4831023

Crosshaven Boatyard Marina

Location: Crosshaven, Co. Cork
Contact: +353 (0)21 4831161

Salve Marina Ltd

Location: Crosshaven, Co. Cork
Contact: +353 (0) 21 4831145

Cork Harbour Marina

Location: Monkstown, Co. Cork
Contact: +353 (0)87 3669009

East Ferry Marina

Location: East Ferry, Co. Cork
Contact: +353 (0)21 4813390

New Cove Sailing Club Marina

(to be opened in 2020)

Location: Cobh, Co. Cork
Contact: 087 1178363

Cork Harbour pontoons, slipways and ramps

Cork City Boardwalk Existing pontoon

Port of Cork 100m. pontoon

Cork city – End of Cornmarket St. steps and slip;

Cork city - Proby’s Qy. Existing limited access slip

Quays Bar & Restaurant, Private pontoon and ramp for patrons, suitable for yachts, small craft town and amenities

Cobh harbour [camber] Slip and steps inside quay wall pontoon

Fota (zoo, house, gardens) Derelict pontoon and steps

Haulbowline naval basin; restricted space Naval base; restricted access;

Spike Island pier, steps; slip, pontoon and ramp

Monkstown wooden pier and steps;

Crosshaven town pier, with pontoon & steps

East Ferry Marlogue marina, Slip (Great Island side) visitors’ berths

East Ferry Existing pier and slip; restricted space East Ferry Inn (pub)
(Mainland side)

Blackrock pier and slips

Ballinacurra Quay walls (private)

Aghada pier and slip, pontoon & steps public transport links

Whitegate Slip

Passage West Pontoon

Glenbrook Cross-river ferry

Ringaskiddy Parking with slip and pontoon Ferry terminal; village 1km.

Carrigaloe pier and slip; restricted space; Cross-river ferry;

Fountainstown Slip

White’s Bay beach

Ringabella beach

Glanmire Bridge and tide restrictions

Old Glanmire - Quay