Explore Cork’s maritime heritage at the Cork Harbour Festival
The Cork Harbour Festival will be one of the newest maritime festivals in Ireland and will take place between 30th May and 6th June. The Festivals will comprise the ever popular Ocean to City Race as well as Cork Harbour Open Day and promises to be a truly unique harbour celebration!
Cork Harbour is considered by many to be the world’s second largest natural harbour in the world, and encompasses the city of Cork and many of the islands and harbour towns along Cork’s eastern region including Fota Island, Cobh and Crosshaven. With its many islands both inhabited and not, including Fota Island upon which our luxury 5 star Cork hotel is located, and with its vast expanses of ocean waters, islands and coastal ports and towns in Cork harbour provide the perfect destination for a variety of watersports, activities and sea related festivals and events throughout the summer months.
The Cork Harbour Festival will see both the Ocean to City and Cork Harbour Open Day joining forces to form the exciting new maritime festival. The new Cork Harbour Festival will see Cork Harbour Open Day, which normally takes place in September, move to Ocean to City week to coincide with the Ocean to City Race. Taking place over over the June Bank Holiday Weekend and beyond, 30th May – 6th June, the new partnership will bring a bigger and better maritime festival to Cork City and Harbour.
Ocean to City (An Rás Mór) is a long-distance rowing race attracting hundreds of participants to Ireland annually. Taking place on Saturday 30th May 2015, the race embraces everything from traditional wooden boats, currachs, skiffs, gigs, sloeps, whalers and longboats to contemporary ocean racing shells, kayaks and canoes. The event has become a flagship event for Cork Harbour and attracts thousands of spectators to the region each year.
Whilst this years tenth year running of the Ocean to City Race will run on Saturday 31st May 2014, there is much more to it than rowing races. Over the four days of the festival be prepared to be entertained and drawn into the many ocean related events, celebrations and festivities taking place on land and at sea. From seeing the big races and cheering on the competitors from ones base by the quays on the big day to taking part in special rowing classes for the beginner, taking a special tour of the naval areas, watching sea faring themed films at the Triskel Arts Centre, or taking in the many celebrations occurring well into the night in the many pubs and Cork restaurants and the surrounding areas of Cork Harbour (amongst them on Fota Island), the four days (from Friday to Monday) of the Ocean to City Maritime Festival, make it the perfect a June Bank holiday activity for those considering a well deserved family hotel break in Cork.
To soak up the atmosphere of the many festivities and Ocean to City Race related events, celebrations and activities taking place in Cork City and surrounding towns and islands in Cork Harbour, then why not consider a weekend break in Cork or perhaps holiday rentals at 5 Star Cork hotels with self catering. Situated right in the heart of Cork Harbour, you can’t get much closer to the action and celebrations than at Fota Island Resort.
For further information on hotel deals available throughout the festival, contact our reservation team on +353 (0)21 488 3700 or at reservations@fotaisland.ie.
