Cork Harbour Open Weekend

The Cork Harbour Open Weekend is on this Saturday & Sunday and there are numerous free events on right across the harbour in Cobh, Spike, Crosshaven & Fort Meagher. A lot of these events will appeal to families with small kids, so if the small ones at home are looking for something to do bring them down to Cobh on any of the days over the weekend.

Cobh Tourism have organised a special Treasure Hunt for all the family to participate in. This is on from 9:30am till 5pm on Saturday and 11am till 5pm on Sunday. The treasure hunt and puzzle can be collected from the ticket desk at Cobh Heritage Centre.

From 11am there is a vintage car rally in the streets of Cobh. The annual Wolseley Car Club of Ireland will see around 50 cars visit Cobh. Many of the cars will be parked at Westbourne Place outside the Commodore Hotel. This rally attracts vintage cars, pre-war cars and post-war cars of all kinds and should be a great sight!

In the afternoon, spectators will get the chance to watch the annual Cobh to Blackrock sailing race. This is a hugely popular race and nearly ever yacht in the harbour participates. Its a fabulous sight to witness and one of the best vantage points is the Promenade, right in the centre of town. The first gun is at 2:30pm, so make sure you've got your spot before then!

....and while you're in the Promenade you could participate in the annual Crab fishing contest. All you need is a bucket, line, and bait....and all of these are supplied by Cobh Tourism. Fishing starts at 3:30pm and finishes at 5pm. Rumour has it that 'claws' is still at large in front of the Prom. Can you catch him?

August Bank Holiday - things happening in Cobh....

Well there's a lot happening in Cobh this weekend. On Sunday the Queen Elizabeth will be docking in port and to coincide with its visit the Cobh & Harbour Chamber have organised one of their series of Summer Swing concerts in the Promenade. This will be the centre piece of yet another Fayre in the Promenade. All day Sunday there will be FREE entertainment for young and old alike. There will be music, face painters, stalls with a variety of goods for sale, a Carousel for the kids and lots more on offer. Its going to be another great day in the 'Prom.' Certainly, the 2,068 passengers that come off the ship will have plenty to do. Let's keep the fingers crossed that the weather plays ball!

Another great event is happening this Saturday. This one is a bit unique and has never been done before. As a fundraiser for this year's Regatta there will be an abseil from the heights of the cathedral by fourteen brave souls. The brainchild of local lass, Kathleen Geary, it sure is an innovative and spectacular way of raising funds. Kathleen roped in fourteen local volunteers who've never done a venture like this before. Hopefully, they've all a head for heights! Mind you they have been doing a bit of training on the cliffs of Ardmore recently so they should manage it. Nevertheless, it should be a great sight. Make sure you're down in Cobh early Saturday morning. Kick off is at 11am!

Last but not least, the Barrack Hill ball run takes place on bank holiday Monday. This is also a fundraising event and is in aid of cancer research charities. Since he started this event a number of years ago, local man, Paddy Histon, has seen support for this event snowball. Last year a massive crowd turned up to witness the thousands of coloured balls roll down the famous steep Barrack Hill. What a sight it is!

The ball run itself will take place at 4pm but from 2.30pm the heats of the hugely entertaining big ball uphill challenge will take place starting from near the bottom of the hill. Teams of three will have to roll a big exercise ball UP THE HILL in a relay. Teams can be of mixed sexes and ages with the aim of having great fun and providing a spectacle for people to enjoy before the main event.

There you go....there's plenty of things happening this weekend in Cobh. On Saturday, Sunday, and Monday there is enough to keep visitors of all ages entertained. If you fancy coming to Cobh this weekend we're doing some special accommodation packages - have a look at our Special Offers for more details.

Summer Liner Visits.....

Saga Ruby

Well if they was ever a time to catch the liner visits to Cobh then next week would be it. Four liners in five days makes this a most opportune time to view some of these magnificent ocean going vessels. 

MV Minerva

Next Wednesday, 25th July, the first of these, the Saga Ruby returns for the second time this year. This is a lovely liner with classic lines and harks back to a golden age of liner travel. She will be carrying 670 passengers who will alight at the Cobh Cruise Terminal and make their way the short distance to the town centre. 

This will be followed by the MV Minerva on Thurs 26th July. This has a passenger compliment of 352 clients and makes it the smallest of the four. 

MV Artania

The next day, Friday 27th, the MV Artania docks. This is a much bigger ship and will be carrying 1,260 passengers. She is over 750 feet in length which makes her almost the same size as Titanic. Ironcially, she weighs almost the same aswell, at 44,000 tonnes. 

Mein Schiff

Finally, on Sunday, the Mein Schiff arrives into port. She is instantly recognisable with her decorative writing emblazoned on the ship's hull, This is bigger again at 76,500 tonnes and with an overall length of 850 feet. Of the four, she carries the most passengers with 2,681 passengers. 

The Promenade

There will be plenty of activity in the town for the passengers to enjoy. The Cobh Chamber have organised a 'Summer Swing' concert in the 'Prom.' This Summer swing session features a traditional Kentucky bluegrass band that do, indeed, hail from the USA. The 'Velvet Blue' band are a contemporary bluegrass band who are accompanied by sixteen American Hoe Downers Clog dancers.  To add to the carnival atmosphere there will also be stalls in the Promenade on Sunday afternoon, selling their wares. So if you do fancy visiting Cobh to catch the Liners next weekend is the best time! 

We are currently doing some great Summer accommodation packages. Have a look at our Special Offers for more details.

For a schedule of remaining Liner visits have a look at Port of Cork.

Summer's here....fingers crossed

Well is it just around the corner? Today was a glorious day. Admittedly, there were a few showers but there was plenty of sunshine; something that has been in short supply of late, and it was quite warm. Temperatures hit the 23 degree mark in the afternoon and it was positively balmy!

The forecast for the next few days and the weekend are very encouraging with a high pressure moving in. What's more its one the Azores highs; one of those highs that when they build and extend to the British Isles they sometimes become blocking highs. For all intents and purposes they get 'stuck' and settle on Ireland and the Uk blocking all the low pressures, with their wind and rain, and deflecting them north.

Dare we hope, well may be there is reason to. Yesterday, BBC news reported that there is evidence that the jet stream is finally on the move north. The jet stream is the reason why we've had low pressures one after the other for the last three months and so the inclement weather. Normally, the jet stream is well north of Ireland and the Uk but this year it has been right over us. Have a look at this link for the full report BBC News - Jet Stream changes may bring warmer weather.

The Commodore Hotel from the sea - Thurs 18 July 2012

Well if you're heading South and hoping to avail of the summery weather why not include Cobh in your itinerary. We're doing special accommodation packages for the Summer that are well worth a look. Check them out on Special Offers.

Cork Week 2012

On the final day of Cork Week the racing took the fleet past the waterfront in Cobh. As the fleet raced upriver, to the turning marker buoy anchored off the Promenade, they made for a spectacular sight.

It was a pity, though, that the breeze was from the north west. In previous Cork Weeks the breeze has been from the eastern quarter and this has resulted in yachts sailing upriver in full spinnaker....this has been an awesome sight! Though, not quite awesome this year it was still some sight to see the yachts tacking from one side of the channel to the other as they clambered for the best position rounding the buoy and racing the downwind beat. Hundreds watched from the Promenade and the quaysides to get the best vantage point.

This year's event has once more been a success, despite the lower numbers. Eddie English of SailCork.com has being giving excellent day to day commentary of the racing on the Irish Examiner and keeping us all in touch. Well done Eddie!!!

Not only is this Ireland's most prestigious yachting regatta but after 20 years in existence it is now firmly established on the international sailing diary as one of Europe's top sailing events. For more details have a look at Cork Week 2012.

A few recent visitors.....

The Arcadia at dock at the Deep Water Quay, Cobh.

Over the last month there have been 10 liner visits with over 11,000 passengers alighting in the Cobh area. The first to arrive was Marina on 16th June with 1,250 passengers; this was followed by the Ocean Countess on 17th June with 884 passengers, the Ocean Countess was back in on the 29th June; on the 24th June the Arcadia visited with 2,388 passengers; the Saga Sapphire on 1st July; on the 10th July the Caribbean Princess visited with 3,592 passengers; the Marco Polo, also on the 10th July with 922 passengers; and finally, the Europa on the 12th July with 408 passengers. 

Arcadia

Summer Swing in the Prom

Summer swing in the Prom

One of the highlights was the visit of the Arcadia. This is a majestic liner and is one of a number of the P.&O. Cruise Liner Fleet. To coincide with the visit the Cobh & Harbour Chamber organised one of the series of their Summer Swings in the Promenade....and so it was that this was the fourth Sunday on the trot that there was plenty of activity in the 'Prom' with music, food stalls, arts and crafts, and local entertainers. A carnival atmosphere once more prevailed. Not only was it a great attraction for passengers coming off the ship but it was also a great draw for local families with young kids in tow. Well done to all involved!!!

Marco Polo

Caribbean Princess

On the 10th July both the Caribbean Princess and the Marco Polo were in and between the two of them they brought almost 5,000 passengers to the port. This was the Princess's third visit to the port and her last visit was just over a month ago on June 9th. She has one more visit and that is on the 11th Aug. If you haven't seen her already call down to Cobh. She is one of the true gigantic ocean going liners and is a magnificent sight...well worth seeing!!!

Europa

The most recent visitor has been the Europa, which was in port this Thursday just gone. Unfortunately, the weather was taboo, and was very much typical of what we've had so far this summer. It lashed rain and many of the passengers coming off were certain to get a bit wet. This weather can't last and we're most certainly due a dry and sunny spell. Long range forecasters are predicting of good things to come....let's keep our fingers crossed!!!

In the meantime follow this link for the schedule of remaining cruise liner visits to Cobh....Cruise Liner Schedule.

If you'd like to visit Cobh to see one of these ships we're doing special packages to coincide with their visits. Follow this link for further details...Accommodation Packages.

Seven Seas Voyager

A recent visitor, after the June Bank Holiday weekend, was the Seven Seas Voyager. This was one of the smaller cruise liners calling this year, but still she was quite a beautiful ship. Apparently, what she lacks in size she makes up in luxury. Every cabin on board is a suite with a balcony and on a recent Asia leg of a World cruise it was quoted that it was the most expensive cruise in Asia...ever!

On the day the liner berthed at the Deep Water Quay the weather wasn't typically summery. A bit like it is today, in fact. The grey skies and spitting rain didn't, however, dampen the passengers spirits and many took the opportunity to get off the ship and explore Cobh thoroughly. Hopefully, the Seven Seas Voyager will be back again but, unfortunately, it won't be this year.

The ship's vital statistics are:

Tonnage: 42,363 gross tonnes

Length: 650 feet

Decks: 12

Capacity: 700 passengers

Crew: 447 officers and crew

Check out the Port of Cork's website here for a full schedule of remaining liner visits.

We've also some great value accommodation packages available if you want to plan a visit to Cobh to coincide with the visit of one of these ships, read more.....

Seabourn Pride

Another of the Seabourn Cruise Line ships was in on Saturday. This one was the Seabourn Pride. Her sister ship the Seabourn Sojourn was already in Cobh earlier in the month.

These smaller liners have beautiful lines and are in complete contrast to the awesome size of some of the other liners that call into port. These liners are all about luxury. In fact, the Seabourn Cruise Line boast that it's fleet of ships are the most luxurious liners in the World. All of it's 208 passengers on-board can expect a level of service and pampering unparalleled to that experienced on other liners.

The Seabourn Pride will be in once more this season, towards the end of September. Check out the Port of Cork's website here for a full schedule of remaining liner visits.

We've also some great value accommodation packages available if you want to plan a visit to Cobh to coincide with the visit of one of these ships, read more.....

TITANIC COMMEMORATION WED 11TH APRIL

The Commodore Hotel, formerly known in 1912 as The Queens Hotel and probably where some passengers stayed before they boarded the tenders in Queenstown for Titanic, is the only operating Cobh hotel in 2012 from that time.
So, it is only fitting that todays residents, employees and their families will join with hotel owner Patrick O'Shea in front of the Hotel at 1.45pm Wednesday 11th April to commemorate the 123 passengers that left Queenstown that date 100 years ago.
123 balloons will be released at 1.55pm the same time Titanic set sail from Cork Harbour.
The Commodore Male Voice Choir will also be in attendance and will perform a fitting tribute.
Why not join us?