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Cork Harbour to Remember Glory Days of Shipbuilding At Verolme Dockyard

20th August 2013
Cork Harbour to Remember Glory Days of Shipbuilding At Verolme Dockyard

#Members of the public, former employees of Verolme Cork Dockyard in Cobh, Cork Harbour, their families are being invited to take a trip down memory lane and to remember the glory days of shipbuilding in Cork on 24th and 25th August 2013. Verolme Cork Dockyard employed over 1200 at its peak and closed in 1984, although ship repair is still carried out on the site. Cobh Tourism Ltd and a small committee have been planning this Gathering Ireland 2013 event for several months and have put together a comprehensive programme of events.

An opening ceremony will be held on Saturday 24th August at 11 am in the Promenade in Cobh followed by a series of shipping related lectures in the Commodore Hotel from 1 pm to 6 pm that are sponsored by Cobh Town Council and the Commodore Hotel.

The lectures will be on the Irish Naval Service by Cmdr. Steve Walsh, Irish Shipping Ltd – The First Fifteen Ships by the Rosslare Maritime Enthusiasts, Launching of a Ship by John Brennan, Heavy Lifting Platforms by Capt. Pat Murphy, Port of Cork and the History of Port of Cork by Capt. Pat Farnan.

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

Also on Saturday there will be free tours of the VCD built Naval Patrol Vessel LE Aoife from 2 until 5 pm at the deepwater quay.

A photographic exhibition of close to 200 photographs covering all aspects of the development of the yard, the ships built and repaired, the many other projects completed and the people working there will be staged at Cobh Heritage Centre. This exhibition is generously sponsored by the Port of Cork and will run until 15th September. Admission is free.

Former dockyard workers and their families are invited to the official opening by Capt. Michael McCarthy on Thursday 22nd August at 6 pm.

On Sunday morning at 10 am there will be a remembrance mass in St. Colman's Cathedral and the baptismal font that was made by dockyard workers in 1970 and recently refurbished by former dockyard workers will be rededicated.

The unveiling of a Memorial at Cork Dockyard to all those who worked in the yard will take place at 11.45 am and this is open to everyone. From 12.15 until 4 pm there will be ongoing free guided tours of the yard and this will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for former workers and their families to take a trip down memory lane.

As parking in the vicinity of the yard is limited, people are encouraged to take the train to Rushbrooke from either Cobh or Cork as so many employees did in the past. On Sunday trains from Cobh leave at 11.30, 12.30, 13.30, 15.00, 16.30, 17.30 and 18.30.

Trains from Kent station, Cork depart at 11.00, 12.00, 13.00 and 14.30.

The cruise liner Balmoral will be berthed in Cobh from lunchtime on Sunday, adding another family friendly activity to a town that is packed with things to see and do.

Published in Cork Harbour
Afloat.ie Team

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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