Cork Harbour Open Weekend – Focus on Crosshaven

Try the sport of sailing in RCYC this Open Weekend

There will be an Open Day at the Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC) on Saturday 11AM-4PM where those who have not enjoyed the thrill of sailing before will get a chance to try it out in the company of experienced sailors. Places are limited so contact the club to book your place and avoid disappointment. (email: Miriam@royalcork.com or call 021 4831023). The RCYC look forward to introducing this increasingly popular sport to both adults and children. A welcome addition to this years programme is the opening to the public of Crosshaven’s state-of-the-art Coastguard Station. The station will be open to the public from 11AM to 1PM on both Saturday and Sunday morning. The Crosshaven CGU RIB will be assisting with the sea air rescue demonstration in the Lower Harbour /Cobh Road on Saturday at 1430. Camden Fort Meagher will be open on Saturday and Sunday between 12PM and 5PM with last entry at 4.15PM. There will be over 60 re-enactors on site offering weapon displays and battle re-enactments. There is also a fancy dress theme with prizes for different categories. See the programme for the special admission rates for the Open Weekend. There will be a Farmers Market on Saturday between 10AM and 2PM showcasing local food and crafts. Related links for this article  Camden Fort Meagher website Open Weekend Programme

Cork Harbour Open Weekend – Focus On Cobh

Crab fishing on Cobh promenade during Cork Harbour Open Weekend

Cobh will be one of the main centre of activities during this years Open Weekend celebrations. Most events are FREE, but please consult the programme for full details. An old favourite returns on Saturday on Cobh’s promenade. The ever-popular Crab Fishing event, organized by Cobh Tourism takes place between 3PM and 5 PM and is FREE of charge. Children can fish safely from Kennedy Park (the Promenade) and a fishing line, bait and bucket will be supplied. On Sunday 15th between 2PM and 4PM Cobh historian Jack Gilmartin will attend at the Luisitania graves in the Old Church Cemetery in Cobh and will outline the towns links with the tragedy of the Luisitania. This is a FREE event. Also on Sunday at 3PM the Band of 1 Southern Brigade will perform on the Victorian Bandstand on the Promenade in Cobh. For those more energetic souls, midday Sunday sees the start of the Great Island Row, a 15 Mile charity row, which takes place around the Great Island. The race usually takes about 2 to 3 hours to complete and finishes back in Cobh town centre. This event is FREE to watch. For entry details please consult the Cork Coastal Rowing website linked below. On Saturday and Sunday, Cobh Tourism and John Brennan present the final opportunity to view the magnificent Cork Dockyard Photographic Exhibition in the concourse of the Cobh Heritage Centre. Opening times for Saturday 14th are 9.30AM to 5PM, and on Sunday, 11AM – 5PM. Admission is FREE. The ferries to Spike Island also leave from Cobh at Kennedy Pier. The island will host children’s entertainment and free guided tours. There is also a chance to amble on Cork County Councils new 1.6KM Glacis Walkway, which runs around the perimeter of the fort and provides unique views of the harbour. There are significantly reduced rates on the ferries to help celebrate Cork Harbour Open Weekend. For ferry times and fares, please consult the programme (linked below) Related links for this article  Cork Coastal Rowing website Cork Harbour Open Weekend Programme

FREE Hop-on Hop-off/ Harbour Boat Tour

A free harbour boat tour, with the option to hop-on hop-off at different locations around the harbour will operate from the following locations – Cobh (Kennedy Pier), Lower Aghada and Crosshaven (Hugh Coveney Pier). The boats will also service the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) in Ringaskiddy. Please note this service will operate on a first come first served basis. *** Service operates on Saturday only between 2.15PM and 5.15PM *** Related links for this article  Open Weekend Programme

Crosshaven Coastguard Station joins the Open Weekend Programme

The Coastguard RIB will be assisting with the SAR demonstration on Saturday afternoon.

A fabulous addition to the Cork Harbour Open Weekend programme has been announced. The Crosshaven Coastguard station will be open to the public from 1100 to 1300 hrs on both Saturday and Sunday morning. In addition on the Saturday afternoon, the Crosshaven CGU RIB will be assisting with the POC /IRCG SAR Demonstration in the Lower Harbour /Cobh Road. This event starts at 1430 and there will be good vantage points in Ringaskiddy, Whitepoint, Cobh or Monkstown.

Cork Harbour Open Weekend – Focus on Cork City

The Port Of Cork City Marina

Although the ever-popular tours of a Naval vessel have had to be cancelled this year, there is still plenty to enjoy in Cork City. On Saturday Scouting Ireland host a fun raft race at the City Quays at 1PM. Meitheal Mara’s Inter-Firm Dragon Boat Race takes place at Lapps Quay between 3PM and 7PM. The Dragon Boat Race will be followed by a sizzling BBQ on the boardwalk with music and face-painting, topping off a spectacular day’s racing. Also on Saturday there is an Open Day at Cork Boat Club from 11AM, where visitors can view the facilities while enjoying a coffee and home baking in the café. On both Saturday and Sunday at 6.30PM, Atlantic Sea Kayaking will be launching from Lapps Quay and available to take you under the bridges of the river Lee at a special Open Weekend price of €40 per person. Call 028 21058 to book, or for more details see the website linked below. The Kayaks launch from Lapps Quay opposite the Boardwalk Bar and Grill and is suitable for all levels. Related links for this article  Atlantic Sea Kayaking website Open Weekend Programme

*** Important Change to the Open Weekend Programme – Irish Naval Ship tours cancelled****

The Naval Service is unable to provide a ship for tours this Open Weekend

Unfortunately the Irish Naval Service are unable to provide a vessel for tours during this years Open Weekend due to operational reasons. A ship was due to be at the City Quays on both Saturday and Sunday, and over the last number of years has proved to be hugely popular with the public. The Cork Harbour Open Day committee and the Irish Naval Service regret this unavoidable development, and apologise for any disappointment caused. However, there will still be plenty of activity in Cork City. On the Saturday Scouting Ireland host a fun raft race at the City Quays at 1PM and there is an inter-firm Dragon Boat Race at Lapps Quay between 3PM and 7PM. Also on Saturday there is an open day at Cork Boat Clubfrom 11AM where visitors can view the facilities while enjoying a coffee and home baking in the café. On both Saturday and Sunday Atlantic Sea Kayaking will be there to take you under the bridges of the river Lee at a special Open Weekend price of €40 per person. The launch from Lapps Quay opposite the Boardwalk Bar and Grill. See their website, linked below, for more details. Related links for this article  Atlantic Sea Kayaking website

Inter-firm Dragon Boat Challenge returns!

Click below to download the event poster

It's official! Plans for the Inter-firm Dragon Boat Challenge II are underway. Take part in an exhilarating team-building adventure and join the Inter-firm Dragon Boat Challenge for an end of summer showdown as the river Lee comes to life to the beating of drums, the splashing of paddles and the laughter of crews. On Saturday 14th September, as part of the Cork Harbour Open Weekend celebrations, your company is invited to take part in what promises to be a spectacular happening! Hop aboard these impressive 40ft- long boats and unite with a fifteen strong crew on a mission to become this summer’s champion of the Inter-firm Dragon Boat Challenge. Four colourful dragon boats, each with a drummer aboard, will sprint against each other over a distance of 250m, from the iconic R&H Hall to Cork's Lapp's Quay. Featuring 16 companies in a series of heats, semi-finals and a final, the challenge will see companies from the Port of Cork to Musgraves competing for the much coveted Dragon Boat Challenge Trophy. What are you waiting for?! Originally practiced in China over the past 2,000 years, dragon boating has rapidly spread throughout the world, from Vancouver to Cambridge to Hong Kong, with hundreds of thousands of participants in Europe and the Americas alone. Click on the links below for further details, and a promotional poster. Related links for this article  For more details click here Promotional poster