The Naval Service has welcomed a pair of inshore patrol vessels (IPV) to its fleet following the arrival in Cork Harbour of the former Royal New Zealand Navy ships.

The 'Lake' series HMNZS Pukaki and HMNZS Rotoiti which were built in Australia to serve the RNZN until 2019, were purchased last year by the Department of Defence for a total of €26 million.

On Sunday afternoon the 156m cargo ship, Big Lift Happy Dynamic carrying the IPV's had arrived in Cork Harbour following a month long 18,000km journey from Auckland Harbour, New Zealand.

The heavy-lift cargoship passed Roches Point Lighthouse at the mouth of Cork Harbour and berthed at the deep water quay in Ringaskiddy, adjacent to the ferry terminal.

Unloading of the 55m vessels from the Dutch owned cargo vessel is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, once certain preparatory work is done.

The deck-mounted cranes of the Happy Dynamic will lower the IPV's into the water and then they are to be towed to the Naval Service’s HQ at the nearby base on Haulbowline island.

The IPV's each of 55m in length were formally handed over to the Department of Defence at a ceremony in Auckland on March 14th.

Representing the Irish government at the handover ceremony was the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue.

The Irish Times has more on the patrol vessels which are to replace the 1984 built coastal patrol vessels (CPV), L.E. Ciara and L.E. Orla which were decommissioned last year along with the flagship,L.E. Eithne.

The CPV's originally served the UK's Royal Navy as part of the Hong Kong squadron and in 2018 the 'Peacock' class pair marked 30 years of operations for the Naval Service.  

Cork Harbour Festival returns this June with Cork’s largest celebration of maritime culture, heritage and harbour activities taking place across 10 days from Friday 2 to Sunday 11 June 2023.

Highlighting Cork's greatest natural amenities, Cork Harbour and the River Lee, the festival programme includes events around, in and on the harbour and river. The main event Ocean to City - An Rás Mór, Ireland’s most ambitious rowing and paddling race adds plenty of colour and spectacle on Saturday 3 June.

This year’s festival offers over 80 events in a dozen beautiful locations across Cork City and Cork Harbour, including Crosshaven, Fountainstown, Monkstown, Passage West, Cobh, Spike Island, Haulbowline, East Ferry, Rostellan and city locations such as Cork City Marina, Lee Fields, Blackrock, Bishopstown, Marina Park and Nano Nagle Place.

Crews pictured at the Ocean to City Youth Event in Cork in 2021 organised by Meitheal Mara

The festival highlights the incredible choice of attractions and activities there are in Cork Harbour, from maritime and land activities, captivating history, heritage sites and cultural experiences, all situated in a unique natural environment. Adventurers are encouraged to get on the water and up close to the harbour coastline, or take part in a shoreline field trip in Fountainstown. History lovers will be fascinated by the popular Lunchtime Lecture Series covering themes from the Irish of the Caribbean to the Irish Naval Diving Service, with the UCC History Department. Those with a creative flair can take part in a unique drawing workshop on Spike Island with artist Sinéad Barrett.

Throughout the festival there are plenty of opportunities to get out on the water, whether kayaking, SUPing, sailing, powerboating or swimming - and you can join a cycle tour along its shore. Water activities, talks, walks, heritage, music, storytelling, art, family games and even a comedy theatre dinner experience and more, for all ages and activity levels, are presented as part of Cork Harbour Festival this year.

Festival Manager, Joya Kuin said: “We in Meitheal Mara are absolutely thrilled with this year’s Cork Harbour Festival programme. It is a real honour to work with 50 Event Partners in Cork City and County in presenting over 80 events and activities on land and on the water. We can’t wait to welcome thousands of festival visitors to the region this June and encourage everyone to dive right in and enjoy all the maritime fun that is on offer’’.

Lord Mayor of Cork City, Councillor Deirdre Forde, said: “Cork City Council are delighted to be a major sponsor of the 2023 Cork Harbour Festival. This festival showcases the best of what the city has to offer, in particular our fabulous harbour. This festival combines heritage and tradition with promotion of physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. Festivals like this are a key attraction for tourists to any city and I would recommend everyone to engage whether as a participant or a spectator.”

On Saturday 3 June, Ireland's premier rowing and paddling event Ocean to City - An Rás Mór welcomes hundreds of national and international participants as they race 28km through the harbour from Crosshaven to the finish line in Cork City. The colourful fleet of 200 boats will include currachs, skiffs, longboats, kayaks, and paddle boards. Many participants travel from places as far as the Netherlands, the United States, and the United Kingdom to compete. There will be spectator vantage points along the harbour, including at Crosshaven, Cobh, Monkstown and Blackrock, with entertainment and festivities both there and at the finish line in Cork City. Registration to take part in Ocean to City – An Rás Mór closes 19 May for rowers and 26 May for paddlers: oceantocity.com.

Welcoming the launch of the festival, Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Danny Collins said, ‘Cork County Council is proud to be a key sponsor of the Cork Harbour Festival, a unique celebration of maritime culture and heritage. This year, Cork County Council’s sponsorship via the Economic Development Fund, has enabled the hosting of a delightful programme featuring a variety of events across the county. The programme caters for all interests and ages in locations such as Cobh, Crosshaven, Passage West and Monkstown, while also showcasing the superb offering of our harbour region. With the festival attracting many visitors, both domestic and international, Cork Harbour Festival generates significant gains for our local economy. If you’re interested in maritime history, or just looking to try a new and fun activity, I would heartily encourage you to view the fantastic programme for this festival and join us.’

Festival Highlights:

On the Water:
There are so many water activities happening during Cork Harbour Festival. Enjoy an exciting 2 hour Evening Rib Tour of Cork Harbour with Cork Harbour Boat Hire (2 & 9 June); Explore the Wildlife & Coast of Cork Harbour with Cork Sea Safari (4 & 5 June). Take an introductory lesson in stand-up paddle boarding at the Lee Fields with Atlantic Offshore Adventures (5 & 11 June); Get behind the wheel of a powerboat with SailCork (3, 6, 7 June). Or, kayak under the bridges of Cork and see the city like you never have before with Atlantic Sea Kayaking (2-11 June).

Family Events:
Join Ireland’s Funnest Family at Marina Park with Let’s Play Cork for free family entertainment. This is a playful twist on ‘fittest families’ presenting a mixture of made-up games for all the family to enjoy (11 June). Come to Haulbowline Amenity Park and enjoy super fun games at Play in the Park with Cork Sports Partnership (10 June). The ever popular Cork Ghost Tour is back this year for more hilarious frights and hysterical delights for all the family (7, 8, 9 June). Or enjoy a high-octane comedic dinner theatre experience unlike anything else in Ireland with Hysterical Histories Cork (6-10 June). As part of the pre-festival event, Make a Model Boat Project, kids are invited to make a model boat at home from recycled materials and bring it to The Lough on 19 May. All prize winning boats are exhibited in Cork City Library during the festival.

Environmental Themes:
Visit a floating classroom with marine biologists on board the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group’s research vessel Celtic Mist and learn about whales and dolphins in Ireland (3, 4, 5 June). Explore the rocky and sandy shoreline of Fountainstown and Minane River estuary on a field trip with Cork Environmental Forum and Coastwatch (9 June). Join subowti and Clean Coasts to clean-up the Lee on your kayak, canoe or paddle board (10 June).

Culture:
Cobh based a-cappella buoy band The Mologoggers will perform both traditional and new sea shanties in the beautiful Goldie Chapel in Nano Nagle Place (3 June). Artist Sinéad Barrett will facilitate a unique drawing workshop on Spike Island, in collaboration with Spike Island Development Company (8 June). Echoes of Isolation, an exhibition of work by Sinéad Barrett will be available to view on Spike Island throughout the festival run. The exhibition explores the emotional and psychological impact of isolation, both in the context of historical punishment and in the modern world.

Heritage:
Cllr. Kieran McCarthy presents two free walking tours which look at Cork’s rich and unique maritime heritage and history: an introduction to Cork City’s historical development (6 June) and the history of the city’s docks (11 June). The popular Lunchtime Lecture series, presented by the UCC History Department returns this year, covering fascinating topics such as Emerald Isles of the Caribbean? (6 June); The National Army’s Amphibious Attack on the Cork Coast, 1922 (7 June) and The Ninth Ship: The Irish Naval Service Diving Section, 1964-2014 (8 June). Cobh Heritage Museum, Spike Island, Titanic Experience Cobh, Passage West Maritime Museum and Elizabeth Fort will also be open for visitors.

Online:
In association with the UCC Civic & Community Engagement Department, there will be a free online roundtable discussion with local and international thought leaders exploring the theme of Arts, Culture & Creativity in Docklands Regeneration (7 June). This is the third in Cork CityLabs ‘Future of Port’ Seminar Series. Join Ó Bhéal, either online or in-person, for their June poetry event with poets John O'Donnell & Sarah Hymas (12 June).

See the full festival programme of events at corkharbourfestival.com

Cocaine with an estimated value of €3.85m has been seized by Revenue officers at Ringaskiddy Port in Cork Harbour.

The intelligence-led operation seized 55kgs of “suspected cocaine” with the assistance of Revenue’s Maritime Unit, drug detector dog Merlin and Revenues Mobile X-Ray Scanner.

The drugs were concealed in the refrigeration unit of a maritime container which originated in Ecuador, the Garda Press Office said.

The seizure was made as a result of a joint operation conducted by Revenue’s Customs Service and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, it said.

Investigations are “ongoing”.

“This operation was part of Revenue’s ongoing joint investigations targeting transnational organised crime and the importation, sale and supply of illegal drugs,” the Garda Press Office said.

“If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding drug smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295,” it said.

Following a voyage from Belfast Lough, The Ambience sailed past Roches Point this morning, becoming the first cruise line visitor to Cork Harbour of 2023.

Anticipating a strong year, the Port of Cork has seen bookings return to pre-pandemic levels, with 113 vessels expected in 2023, compared to 100 vessels in 2019.

The 245-metre Ambience docked quayside in Cobh Cruise Terminal at 12:00 pm and departed at 19:00 hours for Cherbourg in France.

The video below is by Mary Malone.

Speaking about the 2023 Cruise Schedule, Conor Mowlds, Chief Commercial Officer at the Port of Cork Company stated, “Last year, we were delighted to welcome over 115,000 passengers on 90 cruise ships to Cork following a two-year pause as a result of the pandemic. Now, we look forward to what is expected to be a thriving year in the cruise liner industry as bookings return to pre-pandemic levels, which will positively impact the local region’s tourism and trade. All of us here at the Port of Cork look forward to welcoming the cruise liners, passengers and crew in the coming months.”

The Ambience cruise-call to the south coast of Ireland chimes with other early bird arrivals around the coast, such as the 227-metre long Norwegian flagged Viking Venus anchored at Dun Laoghaire Harbour, on the east coast on April 5th, as Afloat reported here.

Cork Harbour's Ocean to City race is taking entries from February 15th for its 19th annual event on June 3rd.

Over 500 people participated in last year’s event, which returned after a two-year break due to Covid-19.

The all-inclusive rowing event welcomes traditional wooden working boats, gigs, skiffs, sloops, lifeboats, longboats, cutters and currachs, to kayaks, canoes, ocean sliding-seat boats and stand-up paddle boards.

Ocean to City has four-course distances to choose from, 2nm, 7nm, 12nm and 15nm - all finishing to “a jubilant welcome in Cork’s city centre”, the organisers state.

The race or row is an integral part of Cork Harbour Festival, which takes place from June 2nd to 11th with over 50 events in 15 locations across Cork city and harbour.

The ten-day “celebration of maritime culture” promises a programme of on-the-water activities, history, music, art, workshops, talks and walking tours and family events.

Early bird deals and ferry discounts will be available for registering from February 15th.

Full details here

Yet again we’ve had a journalist in Ireland’s “Paper of Record” ventilating at the weekend about the widely-held belief that not only are world sea levels rising – which we all accept – but that these absolute sea level rises are happening twice as quickly in Dublin and Cork as they are elsewhere, which is hydrographic nonsense.

We also had a noted TV architect musing in print on how sensible it would be to “re-claim” land along Dublin’s secondary Tolka Estuary - presumably on its south side - in order to provide housing of a popular kind instead of the generally-loathed apartment blocks. This would thereby provide highly-desirable yet affordable family living beside the seaside.

In all, both pieces provided a fascinating insight into how words can be used in a secondary way to set the tone of any opinion piece. For instance, there’s the persistent bandying about of “re-claiming land from the sea”. That’s off target. Once upon a time, the world was all sea. So if we create new land, it’s infill, indeed it’s arguably theft against nature. But it’s certainly not “re-claiming”, even if that’s a difficult position to maintain when we’re up against the Biblical imperative of St John the Divine with his anticipatory Book of Revelations assertion that “there would be no more sea”. 

MAINTAINING EXISTING WATERFRONT SUBURBS

Be that as it may, the idea of some infill along the south side of the Tolka Estuary is attractive, as it would be a completely new parcel of land which interferes with no-one else’s established seafront access. As it is, many of the schemes for infill in Dublin Bay have blithely claimed over many years that they would provide people with “new seaside homes”. But the proposed locations of these new homes would mean that some long-established waterfront suburbs are no longer beside the sea at all, which rather negates the good intentions of the basic projects.

A proposed infill for new housing along Dublin’s Tolka Estuary (right) might be acceptable if it were on the south side, thereby avoiding the sea access infringement of established waterfront suburbs in Clontarf. But it has to be remembered that the daily tidal draining of the extensive Clontarf Basin provides a useful scour-dredging effect for the entrance to Dublin Port via the River Liffey Photo: courtesy Dublin Port

But, that said, it has to be borne in mind that the twice daily exit of the tide from the currently extensive “Clontarf Basin” in the Tolka Estuary plays a significant role in the scouring of the entrance of the sea channel into the Liffey – in other words, it’s a freely available dredging process to facilitate the continuing and vital activity of our largest port.

The other point about the relative sea levels in Dublin and Cork has been allowed to pass unchallenged so many times that we wonder if anyone bothers to read these newspaper think pieces with any real attention at all. For sure, the global sea level at the Equator does come in a bit higher than on the rest of the planet, an effect of the world’s daily rotation. So I suppose we should be grateful that it doesn’t spin off the waters of the Pacific Ocean in their entirety into Outer Space. But it does mean that global sea level rising is a much more acute problem in low-lying Polynesian island nations.

SEA LEVEL IS AN ABSOLUTE IN IRELAND

However, within an island the size of Ireland, there is no significant difference between the absolute heights of the sea north and south, east and west. So when it’s recorded that the sea has risen globally by 70ml during the past 20 years, but that in Dublin and Cork tide recorders are showing a 20 year rise of 130ml, then it can only mean that Dublin and Cork have been quietly sinking by 60ml since 2002.

As has been demonstrated in recent years, Cork Harbour flooding is influenced by many factors, but this projection for 2050 is simply based on rising sea level. 

The relative rise and fall of land masses is a geological and hydrographic fact. As the most recent ice age retreated to take away the ice-sheet weight from Ireland, some areas of land popped up almost visibly to gives us raised beaches and suchlike. And it’s reckoned that the geography of Greenland will need significant re-drawing as the weight of its enormous, many-miles-deep ice fields disappears - that is, if there’s anyone still around to take the necessary readings.

But meanwhile, in Ireland, we have to accept the implications of the fact that our Official Capital City and our Real Capital City are quietly going under. Knowing that it was the weight of ice which pushed down many parts of Ireland in times past, perhaps these modern localized tendencies could be blamed on the weight of self-importance in Dublin, and the weight of assumed superiority in Cork.

While admitting the vast civic and human problems which it would bring, rising sea levels in the Dublin area may provide some interesting opportunities – for instance, it might be useful to own the location of a potential fortress/customs station for the re-born Duchy of Howth beside the new watery frontier at Sutton Cross. 

Whatever, it might help the debate and the planning in some way if it could be accepted that almost half of the relative sea level rise in Dublin and Cork is due to area subsidence, while the other half is due to absolute global sea level rises. Thus it really is time that we brought in Dutch experts to advise in Dublin and Cork on how best to deal with the fact that the apparent tide level in these cities is rising twice as quickly as anywhere else.

The Dutch approached the problem of most of their country being increasingly below sea levels by many means, not least in ensuring that they have the tallest population in all Europe. If we’re going to keep our heads above water in Cork and Dublin, a selective breeding programme should be introduced immediately to raise the national height. That said, having been with some of the grandsons at the weekend, I think it may have already been quietly under way for the past sixteen years. There’s evolution for you.

President Michael D. Higgins was among the 160 guests at an event held in Cork Harbour on Friday to launch the European Union’s Mission to protect and restore ocean and inland waters in the Atlantic and Arctic regions by 2030. The National Maritime College of Ireland was the venue for the gathering which brought together Ministers and high-level representatives from Atlantic and Arctic countries, the Lord Mayors of Cork city and county and actors and stakeholders from government, academia, business and civil society.

The Mission to Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030 is one of five such missions being funded and supported by the €97bn EU Horizon Europe Programme. But while research will be a key part of the mission, success will depend on action and buy-in from citizens, businesses and decision makers. According to Dr. John Bell, Director of Healthy Planet at the European Commission’s DG Research & Innovation directorate, which manages the Horizon Europe Programme, ‘we need to make peace with nature using all the means at our disposal using laws and programmes, science & innovation, and the will of the people to make things happen on the ground.”

The Mission is designed to deal with the severe threat to our ocean, coastal and inland waters that has been brought about by decades of pollution and human activity. At the Cork event, concrete measures and actions in the Atlantic-Arctic were highlighted to address the ambitious targets for the restoration of our ocean and seas by 2030, namely to:

• Protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030;
• Prevent and eliminate pollution of our ocean, seas and waters, in line with the EU Action Plan Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil;
• Make the sustainable blue economy carbon-neutral and circular, in line with the proposed European Climate Law and the holistic vision enshrined in the Sustainable Blue Economy Strategy.
• Broad public mobilisation and engagement and a digital ocean and water knowledge system, known as Digital Twin Ocean, are cross-cutting enabling actions that will support these objectives.

In hosting this event, Ireland is hoping to lead the way in advancing the goals of the mission. Step one is to sign the Mission Charter, a commitment of intent that can be signed by any entity, from a small company to a university, a city council or a public authority.

Speaking at the event, Dr Paul Connolly, Chief Executive of the Marine Institute, said, “the mission Charter has been signed by the Marine Institute and the Mission is strongly supported by our Government. As a public organisation, the Marine Institute is committed to protect and restore biodiversity, prevent and eliminate pollution in our oceans and make the blue economy circular and carbon-neutral.”

The event in Cork marks the start of an accelerating programme of activities across the Atlantic and Arctic bordering countries and Europe that will be critical to deliver a healthier and more productive ocean upon which our current and future societies will depend.

More from Tom MaCSweeny on the conference and an interview with the European Commission's Dr. John Bell

A long-running question over the authenticity of a coastal dolmen in Cork harbour has been resolved by archaeologist Michael Gibbons.

As the Irish Examiner reports, experts had been split over whether a tomb-like monument in the harbour’s inter-tidal zone was prehistoric or a more recent 19th-century “folly”.

Gibbons now says there is conclusive evidence that the Carraig á Mhaistin stone structure at Rostellan in Cork harbour is a megalithic dolmen.

Gibbons has also discovered a previously unrecognised cairn close to the dolmen, which would have been concealed by rising sea levels, and which he is reporting to the National Monuments Service.

The Carraig á Mhaistin dolmen at Rostellan is listed by some guides as Ireland’s only inter-tidal portal tomb.

In fact, there are two such inter-tidal tombs, Gibbons says.

The Rostellan dolmen with a 25-metre cairn extending from it below the estuary surface Photo: Michael Gibbons

He says that doubt about Carraig á Mhaistin’s age meant that it was not included in the State’s survey of megalithic tombs of Ireland conducted by Prof Ruaidhrí De Valera and Seán Ó Nualláin over 40 years ago.

“At that time, it was suggested that it could have a folly or type of ornamental structure commissioned by local gentry at the nearby Rostellan Castle estate, and dating from the 19th century,” Gibbons says.

A recent field trip by him to Rostellan has thrown up additional details, including discovery that the small chamber at the tomb stands at the western end of the cairn, which is 25 metres long and 4.5 metres wide.

This is significant as portal and court tombs “occasionally have intact long cairns which are both intended to provide structural support to the chamber itself, and to enhance visual presence in the landscape,”he says.

The cairn is “partially entombed in estuarine mud”, and it is probable that a great deal more of the structure is concealed below the surface, Gibbons says in a report he has written on the monument.

He notes it is not known for certain when the area was inundated by rising sea levels, but levels at this part of the Cork harbour shoreline are believed to have been stable for 2,000 years.

Gibbons says that the island's only other known inter-tidal portal tomb is at “the Lag” on the river Ilen, between Skibbereen and Baltimore in west Cork.

Portal tombs or dolmens were often known as “Diarmuid and Gráinne’s bed”, being associated in folklore as resting places for the fugitive couple who were pursued by Fionn MacCumhaill, Gráinne’s husband.

Gibbons also says that recent extreme weather has destroyed Sherkin island’s sole megalithic tomb on Slievemore townland, just three to four metres above the high water mark.

Read more in The Irish Examiner here

Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat Pagers were activated at 6.25 pm on Tuesday evening (11 October) to attend to a person cut off by the tide at White Bay, Cork Harbour.

The high tide was fast approaching and the casualty was soaked by the incoming waves.

The lifeboat under the command of Alan Venner, with Claire Morgan, Jonny Bermingham and James Fegan arrived on scene shortly before dusk.

In what was a challenging rescue, the crew had to anchor the lifeboat and veer down into a rock-strewn gulley whilst being buffeted by 3 to 4-foot waves.

Jonny Bermingham, and Alan Venner went ashore to help the very cold patient onto the lifeboat. As the casualty was showing signs of hypothermia, an ambulance met the lifeboat at the station and the casualty was handed into the care of the National Ambulance Service.

Guileen Coast Guard unit was also tasked and provided much-needed illumination of the area from the cliff tops. Lifeboat Doctor, Dr John Murphy also attended the casualty at the station.

Shore Crew: Jon Meany, Jakub Bednarsky, Aisling Ryan, Jen Grey and Hugh Tully DLA.

The Lifeboat Lunch, a fundraising event which will see proceeds raised go to Crosshaven RNLI in Cork Harbour, will take place next month as the station prepares to mark 22 years of saving lives at sea.

Tickets for the lunch which will take place in the Carrigaline Court Hotel at 12 noon on Friday 11 November and will include a three-course meal, are now on sale, priced €85.

KC from Cork’s 96FM will MC the lunch and music will be provided by the Loungeman.

Speaking ahead of the event, Annamarie Fagan, Crosshaven RNLI Fundraising Chairperson, said: ‘Crosshaven RNLI celebrated its 20th anniversary during the pandemic but unfortunately, due to restrictions at the time, we couldn’t mark the occasion. Now two years on and in 2022 as we mark 22 years of saving lives at sea, we are delighted through this lunch that we are finally able to celebrate a wonderful lifesaving milestone while raising much-needed funds.

‘Last year, Crosshaven RNLI launched its inshore lifeboat 32 times with our volunteer crew bringing 54 people to safety. That is a great achievement for the station team, who selflessly dedicate so much time to training and responding to call-outs. Proceeds raised from the sale of tickets and the raffle for the lunch will ensure the crew are provided with the best of kit and equipment so they can continue to save lives at sea.’

Tickets for the event sponsored by Astra Construction can be booked through Eventbrite by clicking thelifeboatlunchcrosshaven.eventbrite or by emailing [email protected]