#VerolmeWeekend – As part of the Cork Dockyard Gathering Weekend as previously reported, a lecture seminar is to be held in Cobh's Commodore Hotel this Saturday 24 August.

Former employees of Verolme Cork Dockyard (VCD) in Rushbrooke, Cobh and their families and the public are being invited to take a trip down memory lane to celebrate 150 years of the glory days shipbuilding and repair. For a list of shipping related lectures at the seminar, see below.

At its peak VCD employed over 1200 personnel and closed in 1984 with the last ship built at the yard the L.E. Eithne (P31) completed for the Naval Service. The site currently maintains a ship repair business operated by Cobh Dockyard.

As reported earlier, at the official opening of the Cork Dockyard photograph exhibition in Cobh, Captain Michael McCarthy Commercial Manager Port of Cork commented that he believed that Cork Dockyard has a potentially vibrant future particularly in the offshore oil and gas support role, offshore wind energy and wave and tidal.

He said: "Although it may never return to its former glory days in shipbuilding, I can see its potential in employment for our young people and training prospects. It is still one of the most unique facilities in the country and when we see how Harland and Wolfe capitalised on their asset, it is very important that we keep an open mind on its undoubted potential."

Tomorrow morning an opening ceremony of the Cork Dockyard Weekend will be held at 11 am on Cobh's Promenade. This will be followed by the lecture seminar (1-6pm) hosted in the Cobh waterfront hotel's Jack Doyle Room. Below is a listing and times of the FREE lectures.

13.00hrs: The History of the Irish Navy Service - Cmdr. Steve Walsh, Operations Command, Naval Base, Haulbowline.

14.00hrs: Irish Shipping Ltd: The First Fifteen Ships – Rosslare Maritime Enthusiasts

15.45hrs: Tea-Break

16.00hrs: Launching of a Ship - John Brennan

16.40hrs: Heavy Lifting Platforms - Capt. Pat Murphy, Port of Cork

17.20hrs: History of Port of Cork - Capt. Pat Farnan.

18.00hrs: Close

Immediately after the lectures on the Saturday there will be an informal social evening in the Commodore Hotel, commencing with a performance by local sea shanty group Molgoggers.

For further details of other events organised throughout the weekend, visit this previous report.