Titanic Experience - Project Titanic Cobh

Cobh is inextricably linked with RMS Titanic. On the 10th April 1912 the Titanic left from Southampton on her maiden voyage. Her first port of call was at Cherbourg, France before she left on the start of her transatlantic crossing. The following day the Titanic arrived at Cobh, then known as Queenstown, on the southern coast of Ireland, the final port of call for all liners crossing the Atlantic. Cobh, nestled on the shores of Cork Harbour, one of the largest natural harbours in the World, was the ideal last stop for liners plying the Atlantic. Here the Titanic, like many liners at the time, collected more passengers, provisions and the all important mail. Mail from all corners of the British Isles was collected by the Royal Mail, processed in transit, and shipped to Queenstown to meet the ocean going liners for onward transmission to the New World. With her business concluded at Queenstown, Titanic continued her journey leaving shore, land & civilisation behind her for the final time. Four days later that journey was to end in tragedy in the mid-Atlantic when Titanic struck an iceberg and over 1,500 passengers and crew were lost. The tragedy was the greatest of all maritime tragedies and even today the story of Titanic still captures the public imagination in a way that no other does!

Cobh hasn't changed much over the years and today the town is very much the same as when the passengers of Titanic would have seen it. The town is almost frozen in time and its Georgian and Victorian architecture is both unique and marvellous. Cobh cherishes this uniqueness and proudly exhibits its unique connection to Titanic and its unique maritime history. When you come to Cobh this history comes alive; you almost walk in the footsteps of the passengers of Titanic and those passengers of the liner golden age.

As part of your visit you will experience Cobh as Titanic passengers would have by taking part on the Titanic Trail. Through the Titanic Trail, noted historian and Titanic Trail creator, Dr. Michael Martin, offers a truly authentic Titanic experience. The entertaining and innovative Titanic Trail brings to life the story of Titanic, and the events in the town on the day the Titanic left her last anchorage to sail to her icy fate in the North Atlantic. The walking tour leaves from the steps of the Commodore Hotel every morning at 11:am throughout the year. In the summer months there is an additional tour at 2:pm in the afternoon.

Your stay will also include a visit to the Titanic Experience. This new visitor attraction has just opened in February 2012 and tells the story of those 123 passengers who boarded Titanic from Queenstown. Again, this attraction is open all year round. The Titanic Experience is housed in the original White Star Line offices through which the passengers were processed and behind which is the original pier from which the passengers departed on-board the tenders America and Ireland. It is literally across the road from the hotel and is no more than a minutes walk. The Experience brings the story of Titanic to life using innovative audio visual technology, holographic imagery and touch screen technology.

You can choose between a two or three day visit with accommodation in the Commodore Hotel. The Commodore Hotel is one of the many buildings that existed in Cobh at the time. In fact, the Queens Hotel, as it was then known, was built many years before having been one of the first purpose built hotels in the country. This hotel has witnessed most of the comings and goings of this historic port and is an ideal base for your visit. It overlooks the original White Star Line offices and its famous pier. In fact it boasts spectacular views of the Harbour itself. Modern day ocean going cruise liners, such as the Independence of the Seas and the Queen Elizabeth, pass directly in front of the hotel, almost within touching distance.

....and now all three, the Titanic Trail, the Titanic Experience, and the Commodore Hotel, have come together as Project Titanic Cobh to highlight the fact that Cobh is an exceptional tourism destination with a deep history, and a remarkable collection of visitor attractions that all bring the past to life and are available to the visitor all year round.

April is, however, a special month as this is the month when the tragedy of the Titanic is commemorated. Project Titanic Cobh has launched their first Programme of Events this year in what is to become an annual commemoration of Titanic's visit to Cobh. This series of events will take place during the first two weeks of April. It will also acknowledge the hundreds of thousands of other passengers who embarked from Queenstown in waves of migration during the 19th and 20th Century.

To date, over 50 events have been listed in the Programme with more to come. The Annual Titanic Commemoration, organised by Cobh Tourism, features on the 14th April, with a procession from the Old Town Hall to the Promenade. Here, to the tune of the 'Last Post & Reveille,' flowers will be scattered into the sea to commemorate those lost on the Titanic. A wreath laying ceremony at the Titanic anchorage at Roches Point is also planned for the day, under escort by the Irish Navy.

Other community groups and individuals will be putting on events of historic interest. Dr. Michael Martin, creator of the Titanic Trail, will deliver a lecture entitled 'Titanic - Selection and Survival' which explores some fascinating points about the disaster. Furthermore, O.N.E. (The Organisation of National Ex-servicemen and women) will be presenting the extraordinary story of the Cobh born WW1 aviator and inventor, Neville Florian Usbourne.

Food and beverage events and musical entertainment are all on the list. The Commodore Hotel will be running Titanic themed restaurant menus and afternoon teas between the 4th and 14th April and other local restaurants will also be presenting themed menus serving culinary delights of all things maritime. The Sirius Arts Centre has additional musical events in their programme and local bars have a great line-up of entertainment.

For younger visitors to Cobh, a special Arts Competition is being run by the Titanic Experience; full details can be found on the Project Titanic Cobh web site. Additionally, the season launch of the Cobh Town Train will take place on Saturday 6th April and is sure to keep the small ones happy.

Irish traditions will be brought to life, with displays of the fine art of crystal cutting at the Tregan Art Centre. Wake nights, traditional set dancing and music events will be taking place at the Commodore Hotel, the later being reminiscent of the below decks scene from the blockbuster movie, Titanic.

Another significant event for the calendar is taking place on Thursday 4th April, when the Sirius Arts Centre celebrates the 175th Anniversary of the SS Sirius crossing, from Cork to New York, the first motorised crossing in history, in 1838. A special exhibition on engineering excellence will be opened on the day. Cobh Museum will be having their season launch on the 8th April with two new exhibitions  'Leaving/Living,' which features stories of some extraordinary lives of Cobh people who left Ireland and 'Yesterdays Child,' an exhibition of toys from the past.

The RNLI also plan to put on a display on Saturday 13th April, with both the Ballycotton and Crosshaven lifeboats taking part. It is hoped that the Air Sea Rescue helicopter will also be able to attend.

Be part of the commemorative activities; visit Cobh in the first two weeks in April. If not you can still avail of our Titanic packages all year round. Two or three nights accommodation, in a seaview room, and one evening meal, to include the Titanic Trail guided walking tour, and entry to the Titanic Experience.

Titanic Centenary Ball

Old World charm and elegance....

The Commodore Hotel exudes Old World charm and elegance. Having being built in the mid-nineteenth century it has a certain ambience that is a throwback to a bygone age. This was captured well by, a guest who stayed with us, posting a, warts and all, review on Google. We've reprinted it here, as we think he has described the hotel to a tee. Have a read.....

“Walking through the corridors of this once majestic hotel conjured visions of Victorian ladies taking afternoon tea and sea Captains with bushy sideburns sipping black rum as they prepared to set sail to exotic destinations within the mighty British Empire. Bell boys would be running up and down the regal staircase with the valises of weary travellers. I could envisage waitresses dressed in the black and white frilly uniform of the day, curtsying to the landed gentry as they gargled Mr Hennesseys finest and barked at their servants to check the horse and carriage outside the main entrance overlooling the harbour view. Filthy rich Americans would be reminiscing about how their ancestors left this battered island without a penny to their magnificent Irish names.

What wonderful times. Well maybe! I'm not sure they were so great for the bell boys servants and waitresses - but staying at this hotel does make you think of what was. Many years have passed through Cobh since then and have been swept out to sea. These years have also taken a little of the splendour of this hotel with them. The expression faded glory comes to mind but that would be a disservice to the diligent and helpful staff working here - friendly and welcoming. But you know - a little splendour still remains and I thoroughly enjoyed my stay here. The room was excellent clean and very comfy - I adored the bowed floor - but you know just think of how many people walked over that floor and indeed who - European royalty maybe - I'm not fussy.

I took a walk onto the roof garden and was taken with the enormous chimney stack with at least seventeen pots. Think of all those buckets of coal being carried to those rooms! Great views as well - particularly on a clear blue sky day.

The Commodore is pretty much a museum piece - but in a good way. A lot of the cornicing and original plaster work is still intact - the telephone booth doors date from beyond the Victorian era but are in working order. These are all great conversation pieces whilst relaxing in the well stocked bar with expensive blends of whiskey - which apparently only filthy rich Americans buy - crikey they're still here!! The breakfast was delicious - with a great choice. Unfortunately the coach party that was staying there all decided to come down for breakfast at the same time. It was all hands on deck including the duty manager who began to have tiny beads of sweat trickle down his neck whilst clearing tables as another group of elderly folk made their way through the throng.

Off street parking is cool and free ( a returnable deposit is required ) further down the street - remember this hotel was not built with the car in mind. On street parking has to be paid for during the day - but the first hour is free. There is also a disabled space outside the entrance of the hotel.

Try this hotel as I get the feeling that it may not be here in a few years. It is beginning to creak and crumble but thats part of its charm. I can see some young whipper snapper developer claiming that it will cost a fortune to restore and will have to be replaced with one of those dreadful boring so called trendy structures that are on display nowadays in every town in Ireland. May I suggest that you grab a piece of this old world charm and well worn elegance while you still can.”

A great review and description....the only clarification, though, is that we intend to be here for a long time yet, not just a few more years. Some whipper snapper just won't get the chance! The history, the people, the ambience...its just too sacred!!!

Tales from the past....Milvina Dean and the Commodore Hotel

Milvina Dean, the last survivor of the sinking of the Titanic, visited and stayed at the Commodore Hotel on many occasions. She was invited to Cobh first by local lotto millionaire, Vincent Keaney. Vincent is a keen history buff and quite an expert on matters relating to the Titanic. At the time Vincent had set up the Titanic Bar & Grill, an almost complete replica of the Tea Rooms onboard the Titanic. He was quite anxious for Milvina to see his completed work and arranged for her to stay at the Commodore. She was quite taken by the old world style and ambience of the hotel and stayed several times after until ill health no longer allowed her to travel. Unfortunately  Milvina passed away in early 2009 and with her the last living link to the Titanic tragedy. In a subsequent 'Sunday Times' article, the following fitting obituary was given.....

'Milvina Dean, who has died aged 97, was the last survivor from the sinking of the Titanic on 14 April 1912. After decades of obscurity and shunning the increasing worldwide interest in the disaster that claimed more than 1,500 lives, she changed her mind in her mid-70's and, with a wry bemusement, largely enjoyed the sometimes near-hysterical attention she attracted. As one of a small and steadily shrinking number of survivors, she was, throughout the last 30 years, a regular attender at conventions and exhibitions across the world and was much sought-after by the media. Her freely given autograph was prized and increasingly valuable. "I've lost count of the number of things I have put my name to," she said in 1998.

Dean often had to remind the world that the White Star liner's collision with an iceberg in the north Atlantic was first and foremost a human tragedy. Her father was among the dead. She never watched Titanic, James Cameron's £125m blockbuster movie of 1997, saying that it was too upsetting to think about whether her father had leapt into the sea from the stern of the ship or had been one of the hundreds who had died when the boat had finally sank.

Exploiters of the Titanic legend or salvagers from the wreck could expect short shrift from Dean. She was particularly unhappy when a US toy manufacturer made a novelty inflatable slide based on Titanic, with a bouncy iceberg as an optional extra.

She was born Elizabeth Gladys Dean in London, where her parents, Bertram and Georgette (Ettie), ran a pub. At just nine weeks old Milvina, as her family called her, was the youngest passenger on the Titanic when her family set sail as third-class passengers from Southampton bound for New York. They were heading for Wichita, Kansas, where Bertram planned to open a tobacconist's shop. He had originally booked on another White Star liner, but was transferred because of a coal strike.

When the 46,328-ton ship, on its maiden transatlantic voyage, struck the iceberg, Bertram, unlike many who believed that it was unsinkable, immediately realised the seriousness of the situation and got his family quickly on to deck. Milvina, wrapped in a sack, her 23-month-old brother, also called Bertram, and 32-year-old Ettie all got into lifeboats and were picked up by the rescue ship RMS Carpathia. They never saw her father again.

In a mirror image of her fame in later life, Dean was briefly a media celebrity. While on board the SS Adriatic, the boat that brought them back to England from New York, the Daily Mirror on 12 May 1912 reported: "So keen was the rivalry between women to nurse this lovable mite of humanity that one of the officers decreed that first and second-class passengers might hold her in turn for no more than 10 minutes."

She returned with her mother and brother to the family farm at Bartley on the edge of the New Forest and the tragedy was rarely mentioned. She was eight years old before her mother even told her that she had been on the Titanic and what had happened to her father.

She attended local schools, but, after finding out about her past, felt that she was viewed by many as some kind of oddity or freak. She was never married and worked as a secretary in Southampton before retiring from an engineering firm in 1972 and returning to live on the edge of the New Forest. Bert enjoyed media attention until his death, in 1992, aged 82. But in 1987 Dean was persuaded to attend a memorial service in St. Michael's church in Southampton to mark the 75th anniversary of the sinking and discovered a fascination with the ship that never left her.

It opened up new experiences. She met thousands of people and visited countries she had never seen before. In 1997, she completed the journey that the disaster had interrupted, by crossing the Atlantic on the QE2 and visiting the house in Kansas that the family had intended to live in. But she declined an invitation to take a submarine trip to see the wreckage as well as a cruise to the spot where the Titanic had sunk.

However, a local street was named in her honour and a memorial unveiled at Southampton docks. She gave numerous talks to schools. In 1997 she said: "People look at me as a sort of celebrity. I certainly don't think of myself as one. But I really do enjoy it. I've always liked meeting people."

Recently, after she had had to sell family possessions in order to pay her nursing home fees, a group of friends set up the Milvina fund to assist her. Contributors included Cameron and the stars of his 1997 movie, Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio.'

(Courtesy of the Sunday Times)

Heaven's Gate - a centennial drama for RMS Titanic

In the centenary year of the sinking of the Titanic its very appropriate that this play is coming to Cobh. The show was written to commemorate the centennial of the RMS Titanic and has been very well received in Southampton, Liverpool and across the Atlantic in New York and Halifax. Its showing in Cobh will complete the circle of Titanic cities. 

Set in the hours following the tragedy, the show focuses on the fate of three people on board. Based on real people, the show tells their story in an emotive and imaginative way. In this forum theatre production, the audience vote to decide how the play will end. 

The show is performed by Quids In Theatre Company who are an innovative new theatre company from Aberdeen, Scotland who are bringing their show 'Heaven's Gate' by Annie James to Ireland on the last part of their tour of Titanic cities. There are four in the cast and the play lasts one hour and fifty minute with a fifteen minute interval.

The play will be held in the Jack Doyle Room of the Commodore Hotel next Saturday 20th October at 7:30pm and admission is free (donations gratefully accepted).

Titanic Tea Party

Oooh,...well here's a bit of a special one. To compliment the festivities on Sunday afternoon, with the Titanic Tea Party in full swing, the Commodore Hotel are providing an Afternoon Tea service....in the best tradition of 'Afternoon Tea' but of course!

The Afternoon Tea Package will consist of tea or coffee, gourmet finger sandwiches and mini pastries. This will be served in the Captains Table Restaurant between 4pm - 6pm on Sunday and is priced at €10. Reservation is essential!!! Contact Eoin, Iona, Nicola, or Ronan on 021 - 4811277.

Summer Accommodation Special Offers.

Summer Liner Visits - MV Minerva

The MV Minerva docked earlier today. She is a relatively small liner compared to most liners that dock at the Cobh Cruise Liner Terminal but she does have beautiful lines. Many of her 352 passengers opted to go on sightseeing bus tours of county Cork and county Kerry but some did stay behind and wandered up through the town exploring the lie of the land, if you will.

The Minerva is the first of a number of liners docking over the next few days. For those liners that are in Cobh over the weekend their passengers will be able to enjoy the festivities of the Cobh Vintage Fair. On Saturday night this will kick off with the 'Vintage Speakeasy Evening.' All patrons are encouraged to wear vintage dress and attire while attending. There will be a drinks and canapé reception followed by live music of the era (1900 - 1950's). Tickets are available at the Titanic 100 Office at Westbourne Place, Cobh (021 - 4855623) and are priced at €10 per person or €15 per couple. It should be a great night!!!

This will be followed on Sunday by the Cobh Vintage Fair proper. A Titanic Tea Party will be held in the Promenade with a spill over into Westbourne Place, in front of the Commodore Hotel. This will feature food stalls, trinkets, gifts, titanic paraphernalia, with music of the era, vintage cars on display, and fashion and beauty in the Commodore Hotel. The ladies of the Cobh Animation Team, led by Claire Cullinane, will be dressed in their fabulous Victorian, Georgian, and Edwardian dresses and outfits and, as has been the case every time they've done so, you'd be forgiven for feeling transported back to a bygone age. Mark this weekend in your diary for a visit to Cobh!!!

On Wednesday 1st August the town hosts the 'Cobh Food and Heritage Day.' All the Cafes and Restaurants in the town will be participating by providing old fashioned menus and fayre. There will also be street theatre in several locations around the town centre. The scripts should be very entertaining and highlight Cobh heritage and strange connections to famous Irish people. A sneak preview indicated that this may feature a walk by Queen Victoria in the Promenade, the 'stoning' of James Connelly in the Square, Fr. Mathew will visit his home at Wilson's Pharmacy, Jack Doyle will rise again on the Commodore steps, and Margaret Rice and her 5 children, victims of the sinking of Titanic, will be at Cobh Heritage Centre.

Yes, the next few days should be a great time to visit Cobh. If you'd like to stay in Cobh we're currently doing some special Summer Accommodation packages; have a look at our Special Offers.

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

Titanic Trail Harbour Tours

How appropriate, in this beautiful sunny, almost Mediterranean like weather, that the Titanic Trail Harbour Tours are starting off once again for the season. The tour is leaving Kennedy Pier, in the centre of Cobh, at 1pm this Saturday and Sunday. Daily tours will be available shortly. Tickets can be obtained from the ticket kiosk at the entrance to the pier.

This is a fabulous tour which recreates the journey that the tenders Ireland and America took when taking passengers out to the ill fated Titanic. The following extract has been taken from the Titanic Trail website....

"The Titanic Trail Harbour Tour - a fascinating harbour tour aboard the 'Bryan J' that retraces the exact journey made by passengers as they made their way from Cobh to the rendezvous point to embark RMS Titanic.

On Thursday morning, the 11th April 1912 two paddle steamers berthed patiently along the White Star Line Pier in Cobh while passengers embarked and mail was loaded. The PS Ireland and PS America slipped their moorings and proceeded with the last 123 passengers bound for Titanic, whom they would rendezvous with, as the great ship arrived at the mouth of Cork Harbour. Along the way, the vessel sailed upriver towards the railway station to pick up more mail from the mail train. From there they left to follow the natural deepwater channel to travel the 4 miles out towards Roches Point and their tragic destiny with Titanic.


Sail from Kennedy Pier to lay off the original White Star Line terminal, follow the route Titanic tenders took from there to the railway station, and finally along the natural channel to where Titanic would arrive, take in the views that they did and listen to the story of their journey related by experienced Titanic Trail guides.


Departures, in season, every day at 1pm Kennedy Pier, Cobh.

Duration: 30 to 40 minutes


Adults €9  Children under 12yrs €6  


Group and private tours available all year. All tours subject to weather and sea conditions."

Bookings can be made directly on the Titanic Trail website here.

Alternatively, you can avail of special accommodation packages at the Commodore Hotel which includes participation on this Harbour tour, read more.....

Queenstown stories - Annie Moore

Annie Moore, immortalised in Brendan Graham's song 'Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears,' was born on this day in 1874.   Annie's story so much symbolises the story of emigration in this country and in many ways symbolises the story of the American dream for many in the US. It is because of this symbolism that a statue of her with her two brothers, pictured above, was erected outside the Heritage Centre many years ago. Her story is summarised in the following extract taken from the Cobh Heritage website:-

"Annie Moore became the first ever emigrant to be processed in Ellis Island when it officially opened on 1st January 1892.   Annie and her brothers sailed from Queenstown on the SS Nevada on the 20th December and arrived after 12 days of travelling in steerage. The statue outside Cobh Heritage Centre was unveiled by President Mary Robinson on the 9th February 1993. A similar statue of Annie can be found in Ellis Island, New York which represents not only the honour of her being the first emigrant to pass through Ellis Island but also stands as a symbol of the many Irish who have embarked on that very same journey."

In many ways Annie's statue immortalises the story of the over 2.5 million Irish people who departed from Cobh (Queenstown) on their journey of emigration to a new life, to new lands. That story is exceptionally well told in 'Cobh the Queenstown Story' and a visit to the Heritage Centre is a must on any visit to Cobh.

As part of a stay at the Commodore Hotel we are currently offering packages that include a visit to 'Cobh the Queenstown Story.' read more.....

Titanic Commemorative Dinner

Pictured above is Marc Anderson, project director of Titanic 100, and his lovely wife Catriona on the red carpet at the Commodore Hotel. Marc and Catriona were attending the Cobh & Harbour Chamber's annual dinner and, boy, don't the two of them cut a dash! 

Given the year we are in, the Chamber themed their dinner as a Titanic commemorative event. It was a great affair; the menu was a recreation of a menu available on-board the Titanic and while guests sat at their tables they were entertained by a string quartet. Many of the guests turned up in period costume and you couldn't help but feel transported back to a bygone age. Guest speaker at the event was Minister Simon Coveney TD who paid tribute to all those who perished but also commented strongly on Cobh's links to Titanic and how out of such a tragedy so much good and positive things have come. Well said!!!

Ireland's oldest band....

Ireland's oldest band, the Graiguenamanagle Brass Band from Kilkenny, perform a recital in the bandstand of the Promenade this afternoon. Afterwards, they were joined by the Cobh Confraternity Brass and Reed Band for a joint performance. Its great to see these bands playing in the bandstand; this is what the bandstand was built for and harks back to an era of grandeur; the Titanic era!

Titanic Commemoration - a week in review

Well what a week! It's almost four weeks since the Titanic Week and it was Titanic in many ways. Firstly, for all of us at the Commodore Hotel, its taken weeks to recover; we were just flat out for the week...and this blogger was just burnt out (that's why there hasn't been a post for some time). The volume of people in the hotel and in the town in general was just phenomenal....and this was sustained for 7 days flat! It had to be seen to be believed. Many of the older staff likened it to the Tall Ships event in 1991, but even that was only over 2 days. The Titanic 100 event co-ordinators reported that over 58,000 people had passed through the marquee on the Deep Water Quay alone. The Tourist Office reported that they had 10,000 enquiries during the week, equivalent to their entire traffic for one year. They also estimate that approximately 5% of tourists to the town visit them. On that basis, estimates of the numbers visiting the town range from 100,000 to 200,000 people. It certainly felt like it!!!

All this activity didn't escape the media attention either. Tv Stations, Radio Stations, and Newspapers were very much in evidence all week. Many of the throngs of people were interviewed by Sky News, BBC, ITV, RTE, TV3, TnaG and many others. Coverage of the week appeared right around the globe. One ex-Navy Officer reported that his brother had watched reports on the activities on TV in Singapore. Other similar reports came in from Portugal, Sweden, Australia, the UK, etc.,.... For one week Cobh was the centre of the World's attention. Wow!!!

....and while Cobh was under so much scrutiny and attention the event co-ordinators and local officials did us proud. Well done to Marc Anderson and his crew at Titanic 100!!! They did a great job! What a great programme of events they put together for the week...and it was all done in great taste and befitting the commemorative nature of the occasion. Well done!!!

Our local Mayor, Jim Quinlan, also did a superb job. What a great orator! Jim's speeches were full of passion, vigour and commanding. In fact, he stole the limelight on the day of the President's visit and even outshone the President himself. In fairness, Jim has great presence and we're all proud of his contribution during the week. It was great to be from Cobh that week and everyone from Cobh felt very proud to be from Cobh. What a great job the town did in general!!!

The whole week kicked off earlier than expected. The official start was on the Wednesday 11th April, the 100th anniversary of Titanic's visit to Queenstown. However, on Easter Bank Holiday Monday crowds appeared in Cobh. 'Appeared' might be the wrong term, 'swamped' might be more like it. Curiosity must have been a big factor; people were just curious to see what was going on in Cobh. In fairness, this was fuelled by such things as the stage constructed for the 'An Irish Connection' series of concerts which was complete then and looked awesome....so awesome, in fact, that even U2 would have been proud of it! The arrival of the cruise liner 'Balmoral' was another factor. The Balmoral was retracing the voyage of the Titanic, but had to arrive in Cobh two days earlier than the Titanic if it was to make it in time to the site of Titanic's sinking on the exact 100th anniversary of Titanic striking the iceberg. Isn't it amazing to think that a ship 100 years ago would be much faster than a ship of today. Of course today's liners are geared more towards leisurely cruises; ocean going liners of yesteryear were the main modes of transatlantic passage, where speed was of the essence.

On Tuesday evening many got a taste of what to expect with the upcoming commemorative concerts. A full dress rehearsal took place and international artists Cara O'Sullivan, Cathy Jordan and Paul Byrom went through their paces. It was awesome! An enthusiastic crowd of several hundred onlookers were blown away. It was then we knew we were in for something special!!!

It just got better and better. On Wednesday the President was due to inaugurate the commemorative series of events. The crowds were out in their thousands. Just prior to his arrival, we at the Commodore Hotel conducted our own commemoration to those who had perished. At 1.55pm, the exact time that Titanic left Queenstown 100 years before, we released 123 white balloons to signify the 123 passengers who boarded at Queenstown. As we did so the Commodore choir sang 'Nearer my God to thee' from the steps of the hotel. It was a very moving and poignant moment. We were just in time, for minutes later, President Michael D. Higgins arrived. He proceeded down to Casement Square where he inspected a Naval Guard of Honour. There wasn't room to move there. The crowds of onlookers must have numbered in their thousands, if not 'tens' of thousands. From there he moved onto the main stage in the promenade and again here there were thousands in the audience. It was here that the President gave a moving and poignant National Tribute to all those who perished onboard Titanic and to those who survived but were marked by the tragedy for the rest of their lives. He was followed by our own Major, Jim Quinlan, who also gave a magnificent and befitting speech. This was followed by a ceremony launching four special commemorative stamps which will be available this year....and after that the President was whisked off to conduct a Fleet Review. This was historic in its own right. A full Naval Fleet Review has only been conducted on rare occasions. Five ships took part, including one from the Royal Navy, HMS Mersey. The President boarded the L.E. Niamh at the Deep Water Quay, and this took him down the line of naval ships anchored parallel to the shore on Cobh and back up again. As the L.E. Niamh neared the final ship in the line, the weather, that had been so kind all day, finally broke....and, ironically, there was a tremendous hailstone shower. How symbolic...and what a way to end proceedings. As one smart observer quipped '.....you even organised the ice!'

Wednesday night was the first night of the concerts, and what superb concerts they turned out to be. What a setting the promenade had been transformed into with a magnificent stage and seating capacity for 1000 people....but its the concerts themselves that left an abiding memory with all who attended. If you were one of the lucky ones who attended over the four nights you'll know what I mean. The concerts were very well put together, extremely moving, poignant and befitting the commemorative nature of the entire occasion. The artists were superb! The orchestra were superb! The MC was superb! Many remarked that it is the one memory of the Titanic week that they will probably remember for the rest of their life and they were extremely glad they made the choice to attend. I know I was!

On Thursday the cruise liner Marco Polo arrived into Cobh on its Titanic Memorial Cruise. As with the Balmoral on Monday, many of the passengers alighted in period costume. As the ship was overnighting in Cobh the passengers had plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere in the town and take in the many activities.



Many took time to visit the stands and stalls of local artisans that were housed in the marquee on the Deep Water Quay. Indeed, this proved to be a very popular attraction with all visitors to the town, all week. 

What proved very popular with Marco Polo passengers was the giant mural of Titanic painted on the main retaining wall on the Low Road. This could be seen from the ship and many ventured down the quay, made their way to the first bridge, crossed over the railway lines and had their picture taken with the mural in the background. This fabulous painting was only completed the weekend before and was the work of local artist, Jack Hickey. He did a superb job and the detail in the painting was exact! This was one of the main projects undertaken by Cobh Tidy Towns to ready the town for the Titanic commemorations, and is one that will last for many years to come.

....and the pace of activities continued unabated until by Saturday it became almost information overload! One of the main events on Saturday was a search and rescue display by the Irish Coast Guard. This involved the Ballycotton lifeboat, the RNLI, coastguard helicopters, etc.,... One of the key displays was of equipment used in rescues at the time of the Titanic. This was compared to modern day techniques to highlight the difference. This proved very popular with families, who thronged all the viewing points in the promenade for the best vantage point. Luckily, it was a fairly sunny and warm afternoon!


Saturday afternoon also saw the final of the best dressed lady in the vintage dress competition. This event was a great success and was well supported. Many local ladies, and a few from further afield, went to great lengths to dress up in period costume, and it wasn't just on Saturday but on every day during the week. As they strolled through the town they certainly added to the atmosphere and sense of occasion. In fact, one couple from the Balmoral when interviewed on BBC News remarked that they were so taken by the costumes on arrival to Cobh and by the sense of occasion that they returned to the ship and donned their own period dress. Much credit is due to local Cobh Tourism director, Claire Cullinane, whose brainchild this project was and whose enthusiasm for the concept was infectious. Claire hopes to keep it going and has encouraged our participating ladies to don their period costume for all the liner visits for the remainder of the year. The winner of the event was from Dublin and was on her holidays with her family in West Cork but who was so taken by the event she travelled up every day to Cobh to participate. Well done!

Also, adding to the sense of occasion was the vintage car rally organised by Cobh Classic Car Club. Many of the cars on display along the full stretch of Westbourne Place were cars from the Titanic era. What a magnificent sight! They certainly proved very popular with the throngs of visitors. This was the inaugural Cobh Classical Car Show and it is hoped to maintain this as an annual event from here on in.

That night the Irish Titanic Historical Society hosted a commemorative dinner in the Commodore Hotel to mark the final dinner in the Titanic. The menu on the night was based entirely on menus used on the Titanic. At exactly 11.40pm, a bell was rung throughout the Hotel to mark the exact moment that the Titanic struck the iceberg 100 years ago and, despite the fact that being a Saturday night the Hotel was extremely busy, a minutes silence was respectively observed throughout (including in the Nightclub)!

Sunday was probably the most symbolic day. It started off early with a wreath laying ceremony on-board the L.E. Eithne at the exact site that the Titanic anchored at the mouth of the Harbour. Members of the public, the Irish Titanic Historical Society, local councillors, etc.,... were ferried to the spot by the naval vessel where wreaths were laid and a short service took place.

This was followed by an ecumenical church service at the Cathedral and following this the congregation gathered in a procession from the Cathedral to the closing ecumenical service in the promenade. By the time it had reached there several thousand people numbered in the crowd. After the formalities and service were complete from the stage members of the public were invited to throw 1500 white flowers from the promenade seafront into the sea to symbolise all those who perished in Titanic. This was probably the most symbolic act all week. As each of the audience stepped forward and threw their flower into the sea a steady procession of white flowers drifted down stream in the ebbing tide towards the Harbour mouth. How fitting an end to a most extraordinary week!

Well now that its all over what can we say. Well done to the crew of Titanic 100! Well done to Cobh! Well done to the people of Cobh! It was a very special week; a week that may never be repeated (although, we certainly hope it will), but a week that will always remain in the memories of those who were there. It was a week that will be remembered in a 100 years time and for that alone it served as a fitting tribute and commemoration of that terrible tragedy 100 years ago. On that count alone one would have to be very proud of Cobh; indeed, I for one was very proud to be from Cobh! Well done to all!!!

Titanic Conference - The Titanic and other aspects of the maritime history of Cork Harbour

This weekend there is a very interesting and informative conference on the Titanic, its links with Queenstown, and other aspects of the maritime history of Cork Harbour. The following extract from Cobh Edition gives a taste of what to expect: "On Friday 20th and Saturday 21st of April a conference on the Titanic and other aspects of the Maritime history of Cork Harbour will take place in the Jack Doyle Room, Commodore Hotel. On Friday at 7:30pm the keynote lecture will be delivered by Professor John Wilson Foster, Professor Emeritus at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, and honorary research fellow at Queen's University, Belfast. Professor Wilson Foster has published three books on RMS Titanic and twelve other books on Irish, English, and American literature, natural history and culture. His lecture on Friday evening is entitled 'RMS Titanic - History or Heritage?' An engaging and informative speaker, this lecture is a must for anyone with an interest in Titanic.

On Saturday from 10am the attention will shift to focus on a range of other topics related to the maritime history of the harbour with lectures on the Royal Cork Yacht Club, ship building in Passage, Cork Harbour in art, the wreck of the Celtic, the Great Famine and the US naval ship Jamestown, the Lusitania, U-boats, and the American Navy in Cork Harbour.

If you want to learn more about the maritime history in Cork Harbour this is a conference not to be missed. Bookings can be made by contacting Marita Foster at 086 0667529 or by registering at the Commodore Hotel on Friday evening or Saturday morning. Conference fee is €15 (standard), and €10 (unwaged, senior citizen, student)."

For those who would like to stay in Cobh overnight the Commodore Hotel are doing the following special rates:

Standard B&B: €37pps per night

Seaview B&B: €44.50pps per night

2BB+1D Standard: €89pps

2BB+1D Seaview: €104pps

To book ring Mary on 021-4811277 or book online at www.commodorehotel.ie

PROGRAMME OF EVENTS:

Friday 20th April

7:30pm Keynote: Professor John Wilson Foster, 'RMS Titanic - History or Heritage?'

Saturday 21st April

10:00am: Dr. Alicia St. Leger, 'The Royal Cork Yacht Club: sailing across the centuries'

10:45am: Peter Murray, 'Statio Bene: Cork Harbour in Art'

11:30am: Dr. Colman O'Mahony, 'A Lost Industry - Ship Building in Passage West from 1830s to the 1920s'

12:30pm: Lunch

1:15pm: Optional Titanic Trail walking tour with Dr. Michael Martin, departing from the Commodore Hotel (separate fee of €9.50 payable on the day).

2:30pm: Dr. Larry Geary, 'The Great Famine and the American relief ship Jamestown, Cork Harbour, April 1847'

3:15pm: Marita Foster, 'The wreck of the Celtic, Cork Harbour, December 1928'

4:00pm: Dr. John Borgonovo, 'Lusitania, U-Boats, and the American Navy in Co. Cork'

5:00pm: Those attending the conference have the option of visiting Cobh Museum to view an exhibition entitled 'Titanic - Reflections and Reactions - Queenstown 1912'

Titanic Menus

These menus are available in our Restaurants, the Captains Table Restaurant and O'Sheas Bar & Bistro, for the remainder of the Titanic commemorative year. Why not pop in and try them out....we're certain that you'll enjoy them!!!