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Cork Harbour News and Updates
The start of 'La Solitaire Optimist' at Royal Cork's National Optimist Training Week
We were promised a storm! The only storm that materialised was the arrival of 130 Optimist sailors and their families in Crosshaven for the Annual National Training Week, as Afloat reports here. After two days of training, dodging big gusts…
Yachts racing on day three of Royal Cork Yacht Club's Autumn League 2023 in Cork Harbour
There was plenty of action on the water for the third Sunday of Royal Cork Yacht Club's Autumn League 2023 as a number of different RCYC fleets took advantage of the great autumn breeze and fine weather in Cork Harbour.…
Seven races are planned for the Monkstown Bay Sailing Club October Dinghy League including last Saturday's 'Dash for Cash' fixture
Monkstown Bay Sailing Club in Cork Harbour will resume the running of the October League on Saturday with two races for Class 1 and 2 dinghies. The club says seven races are planned for the October League, with one discard…
Monkstown Bay Sailing Club will stage a ‘Dash for Cash’ race on Saturday
Monkstown Bay Sailing Club will stage a different type of event this Saturday in Cork Harbour – the T Bourke ‘Dash for Cash’. This is a pursuit race open to all clubs, based on the PY (Portsmouth Yardstick) system, for…
Despite the previous week's bad weather, favourable 'summer' weather prevailed on October 1st for an auspicious start to the Royal Cork Yacht Club Autumn League 2023 off Cork Harbour. Scroll down for a photo gallery
Anchor Challenge, Conor Phelan's Quarter-Tonner, won the first two races of the Royal Cork Yacht Club's Autumn League 2023 in the 17-boat IRC Spinnaker division on Sunday. The vintage yacht beat Michael McCann's Etchells 22 Don't Dilly Dally, which secured…
Royal Cork Yacht Club summer 2023 league winners were presented with their perpetual trophies this week. See a full list of winners below
Royal Cork Yacht Club Rear Admiral of Keelboats Paul Tingle led the celebrations at the 2023 Summer League winners' prizegiving in Cork Harbour on Thursday evening (September 28th). There was a great turnout for the Crosshaven event that featured double Olympian…
The bulk carrier cargo ship MV Matthew, which was heading into international waters, did not stop when ordered by Naval Service officers on board the LÉ William Butler Yeats, which led to the offshore patrol vessel (OPV) firing warning shots. The 189m long Matthew was escorted into Cork Harbour and is berthed at the former IFI plant at Marino Point, upriver from Cobh
A bulk carrier cargo ship which sailed from the Caribbean was boarded by members of the Army Ranger Wing and gardaí, as the Panamanian flagged vessel was suspected of containing a large quantity of illegal drugs, berthed at the Port…
Aerial view of the Cork Container Terminal in Ringaskiddy
Over 90,000 containers were loaded and discharged at the Port of Cork Company’s new Cork Container Terminal (CCT) in Ringaskiddy in what was a bumper first year at the state-of-the-art facility. The Cork Harbour terminal, which is the result of…
The App is very easy to use, and you do not need experience or knowledge of river health or environments. You only need a smartphone, the app, and 15 minutes to observe and complete the survey
The Rivers Trust has launched the inventive Big River Watch app to coincide with the upcoming World Rivers Day on September 24, 2023. This online tool aims to unite individuals, organisations, and communities throughout Ireland to protect and conserve the…
The ILCA/Laser fleet passes Blackrock Castle in the Blackrock to Crosshaven passage race run by the Royal Cork Yacht Club
As part of this summer's Royal Cork Yacht Club RCYC 'At Home' regatta, the ILCA/Laser fleet took on the Blackrock to Crosshaven passage race in Cork Harbour. The ILCAs launched at Cork Boat Club and headed downriver with a falling…
George Radley Jnr's Skipper 700 Pat Mustard was second overall in Cove Sailing Club's Friday night IRC cruiser racing
David and Richard Marshall headed the Wednesday night dinghy league series at Cove Sailing Club in Cork Harbour in their Rankin R30. Second was Owen O’Connell in Rankin R61, and third was Maurice and Frances Kidney in their R12. Rankins…
Jimmy Nyhan's young crew onboard Outrigger enjoy the 2023 Royal Cork Yacht Club Naval Race in Cork Harbour
The Royal Cork Yacht Club held its annual Naval Race on a windy day in Cork Harbour, bringing together a fleet of 16 boats. The race course started with a grassy start, followed by a run to the south of Trabolgan…
Michael McCann’s Etchells Don’t Dilly Dally was the Overall league winner in the Royal Cork Yacht Club Thursday August-September league in the IRC Spinnaker Division
The overall Cork Harbour league winner in the Thursday August-September league in the IRC Spinnaker Division was Michael McCann’s Etchells Don’t Dilly Dally, with Sean Hanley’s HB 31, Luas, second and Ria Lyden’s X332 Ellida third. Under ECHO handicap Ellida…
George Radley Jr's Skipper 70 Pat Mustard crew on their way to an overall IRC win of the Moonduster Trophy in Cove Sailing Club's Cobh to Blackrock Race in Cork Harbour
On Saturday, George Radley Jr's Skipper 70 Pat Mustard won the Moonduster Trophy in Cove Sailing Club's Cobh to Blackrock Race in Cork Harbour. Radley finished the 6.5 nautical miles course in a corrected time of one hour, 12 minutes and…
The Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC) in Crosshaven, Cork Harbour has announced the suspension of all club activities until Sunday following the tragic drowning of Emili Roman at Fountainstown Beach on Tuesday evening. The move was confirmed by Club Admiral…
Former Irish Olympic sailing team manager, Michael Wallace, has passed away
Cork Harbour has lost a true legend as former Irish Olympic sailing team manager, Michael Wallace, has passed away. Wallace led the team for 12 years, from the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, where Ireland won its first yachting medal, to…

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