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)

Midsummer capers in Cobh.....

Cunard Liner 'Queen Elizabeth'

 

Jack Doyle

The last two weeks, straddling the August Bank Holiday weekend, have been very busy in Cobh. Despite the weather not playing ball the crowds have been out!!!

The Cobh Vintage Fair finished on the Weds prior to the weekend. One of the highlights was the street theatre coordinated by Claire Cullinane and her team. Once again Claire was ably assisted by the ladies of the animation team dressed in their period costumes. These ladies, dressed in Victorian, Georgian, and Edwardian garb, certainly cut a dash! One of the highlights of the street theatre was the performance of local actor Luke Barry as Jack Doyle. Luke gave a great oration as the great man, the Gorgeous Gael, on the steps of the Commodore Hotel. Other actors performed as other iconic figures associated with chapters in Cobh's rich history. These included Queen Victoria, Father Matthew, and James Connolly amongst others. The group certainly created an impression and Claire has now told us that all the actors and the ladies of the animation team have been invited to perform at Maureen O'Hara's 92nd birthday party in Glengariff. Well done!!!

The Animation Team

Thousands flocked to Cobh on the Sunday of the Bank Holiday weekend to see the Cunard Liner, Queen Elizabeth. This impressive ocean going liner certainly has magnificent lines. She is typical of some of those monstrous ships that have oft visited Cobh this year with the top of her decks towering over the surrounding town. In fact, she is so big you can see her from almost any angle or any place in the town. The ship stands 12 stories out of the water and weighs a massive 91,000 tonnes. Over 2,000 passengers were onboard, many as part of the ship's 107 day World cruise and for which some paid upto $199,995. Wow!!!

Thousands flock the quayside

For all the crowds that came to Cobh on Sunday there was plenty to do. The Cobh & Harbour Chamber had organised one of their series of 'Summer Swing' concerts in the Promenade. The entertainment was great and there was a real carnival atmosphere with all the stalls selling everything from food, to trinkets and other gifts. As the ship left late in the evening, thousands lined the watersedge along the Promenade and gave her a good send off!!!

The Barrack Hill Ball Run

The weekend was rounded off on Bank Holiday Monday with the Barrack Hill ball run. This has now being running a couple of years and is now a firm date in the local calender. It is proving more and more popular with families of young children. This year was no exception as thousands turned out, despite the weather. It is some sight, though, to see the thousands of coloured balls descend down the steep Barrack Hill and no wonder it's so popular. Each ball can be sponsored/purchased for €2 and if your ball comes in first, second, or third you'll be in line for a cash prize!!! Every year substantial money is raised for cancer research and a few related charities so you can be assured that every ball you buy is making a significant contribution. What a great way for raising funds!!!

....and now that we're into August the capers don't just stop. In fact there are many more, particularly with the Cobh Peoples' Regatta just around the corner. However, we'll leave that for another blog post!!!

Special Summer Offers!!!

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 Tea Party and Vintage Fair

Yes, this weekend will certainly be a good weekend to visit Cobh. As part of the year long series of commemorative events to mark the 100th anniversary of Titanic's sinking there will be a vintage fair in Cobh celebrating the Titanic era.


The Cobh Vintage Fair will be five days of vintage and heritage orientated events happening over the weekend of the 28th and 29th July, right through to the 1st August. The Cobh Vintage Fair will, undoubtedly, attract visitors intrigued by the Victorian and Edwardian era and all those who want a great day out with family and friends. To promote the event the local Animation Team, the brainchild of Claire Cullinane, travelled to Belfast and visited the new Titanic centre. These ladies certainly cut a dash, dressed as they do in period costume. They've been dressing in period costume since the Titanic commemorative week in April. When visiting liners dock at the Cobh Liner Cruise Terminal these ladies, dressed in Edwardian, Georgian and Victorian garb, are there to greet the passengers as they come off the ships. Visitors to Cobh could be forgiven for feeling transported back to a bygone age, and that's the desired effect the team want to achieve this weekend. Here are a few selected pics taken of the ladies on their recent promotional trip (many kind thanks to Martin O' Leary of Cobh Camera Club for his kind permission to reproduce these here). 

The weekend will get underway with the Speakeasy at the Commodore Hotel on the 28th July. The Speakeasy will give you a chance to really go back in time and venture into a nightspot of yesteryear. With drinks and canapes flowing and live music of a bygone era, why not dress in outfits of 1900's - 1950's and enjoy a great night out! Tickets are €10 each or €15 per couple and are available at the Titanic100 office at Westbourne Place. You could always ring to book your tickets at 021 - 4855623.

The following day the Titanic Tea Party will take place in the Promenade. There will be plenty of stalls selling their wares from food, trinkets, fashion, gifts, card, and Titanic paraphernalia. There will also be vintage stalls at Westbourne Place, just in front of the Commodore Hotel, along with a vintage car display. In the Commodore there will an exhibition of photographs from the commemoration year so far, along with gifts and fashion items. Of course the ladies from the animation team will be around all weekend to add that special touch to a special weekend.

All in all it should be a great weekend. Why not come and visit Cobh! Avail of our special accommodation packages by visiting our Special Offers.

Ford Model T Rally

Cobh Classic Car Club hosted a Ford Model T Rally on the streets of Cobh today. Fifty Model T cars from all over the World made for a spectacular display of motoring history. Cars were displayed at Westbourne Place, just outside the Hotel, in the adjoining two squares, and outside the Heritage Centre. It made for a spectacular sight indeed.

As part of the rally there were numerous stalls in the Promenade. This is the second Sunday on the trot that the Promenade has been transformed into a venue of arts, crafts, food, music and entertainment. Its a great draw for families and a great facility. Well done to all the organisers!!!

A visit to Cobh is well worth it; not only do you great attractions locally but you just don't know what may be going on from day to day!!! If you'd fancy a visit to Cobh over the Summer months, we've got some great accommodation deals available, read more.....

Victorian Picnic....in the Prom!!!

On the day the Caribbean Princess called to town a great new FREE event took place. As the passengers alighted and strolled up through the town they'd have been forgiven for thinking they were transported to another age. Why were so many people dressed in Victorian & Edwardian costume? As they passed the promenade many were bewildered by the sight of so many in attire of a bygone age.

Well, at the Hotel here, we had a ringside view of the Victorian picnic in the Promenade last Sunday. What a great turnout!!! The numbers who turned out in period costumes looked marvellous. Well done to Claire Cullinane and her animation team!!!

Claire and her team have committed to dressing up in period costume for most liner visits this year and, boy, they certainly bring a touch of elegance to the town! The Victorian picnic in the Prom was Claire's idea and, ably helped by the See You in Cobh committee, she pulled off a great event...and what a great family event it was!!! Families were encouraged to bring their own picnics or buy from the stalls there and they came in their droves. Many brought their blankets with them and laid them out on the grass. What a great sight!

For those that hadn't brought their own picnic baskets there were some excellent food stalls and local food stalls at that; Truly Scrumptious, Peter Kidney, The Crepe Man and Bramley Lodge. The aroma of freshly cooked food wafted along in the breeze and was truly hard to resist.

There was great entertainment aswell. The Cobh Confraternity Brass and Reed Band played for an hour or two and two local young fiddlers also impressed. There was also many competitions with the highlight being Best Dressed Lady, Glamorous Gran, and Children's Victorian Fancy Dress. Much of the attire had been supplied by The Princess Rooms and many thanks to Sarah for having such a range and selection.

What a great afternoon! Many thanks to Claire and her gang...hopefully, we'll see more of these in the future!

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!!!