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Cork Harbour Festival and Ocean to City this June Weekend

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Pirate Deirdre McCaffrey getting ready for Cork Harbour Festival which is the largest annual event in Cork Harbour featuring 70+ events in a 9-day celebration of maritime culture. The festival will run from June 1 to June 9 with Ocean to City, An Rás Mór taking place this Saturday June 1. See www.corkharbourfestival.com Picture Clare Keogh

Cork Harbour Festival is sure to make a big splash this June Bank Holiday Weekend

The opening weekend of Cork Harbour Festival is going to make a big splash, so get on board for some serious fun. The festivities begin on the June Bank Holiday weekend (1-3 June) and last for 9 days, making it a massive spectacle of all things maritime. But if you don’t have your sea legs, don’t fear because there will be plenty of activities for land lovers too.

Ocean to City – An Rás Mór

The showcase event that draws huge crowds every year is Ocean to City – An Rás Mór. The race is the largest of its kind in Ireland and attracts competitors from all over – including UK, Spain, Luxembourg, Switzerland, USA, Germany and The Netherlands. The 200-strong fleet will give spectators a chance to see an array of vessels – from traditional wooden boats, currachs, gigs, Chinese dragon boats, kayaks and even stand-up paddle boards.

Do not miss your chance to see this phenomenal event, join the festival atmosphere on Saturday, 1 June and make a day of it. The race starts in Crosshaven at 10.30am and there will be free family entertainment, music and food at some of the best viewing points along the race route so get yourself to Cobh, Passage West, Blackrock Pier or City Centre to see this marvellous maritime marathon event. If you’re feeling energetic you can cycle alongside the fleet for part of the racecourse from Fr O’Flynn Park, Passage West or you can get caught in the rhythm at the Port of Cork with a 14ft drum for all to play – no experience of drumming needed! You can take your place at the finish line at Lapp’s Quay, with live race commentary from Cork’s 96FM, food stalls, street performances, balloon artists, DJ, drummers and much more to keep you entertained while you

welcome the participants as they complete this spectacular race. Get all the details, including times and the best picnic locations on corkharbourfestival.com

The long weekend launches the nine-day festival with a packed programme of over 70 maritime events.

Land Lovers

If you prefer to stay on dry land you’ve so much to choose from – with Camden Fort, Elizabeth Fort and Spike Island open for tours every day of the Bank Holiday. As the sun sets there will be some very special performances happening including Johnny Cash Tribute on Spike Island on Saturday evening and a swashbuckling concert performance of The Pirates of Penzance on Sunday at Cork Opera House.

Family Fun

Most of the festival events are family friendly, making this the ideal way to have some great waterside adventures with the kids (and the young at heart!). There’s everything from children’s story telling in Passage West Library to Cobh Harbour tours. Bring your trainee pirates to the Circus Factory on Saturday for some pirate circus training or get the whole family team working together for orienteering on Sunday and Monday with Bishopstown orienteering club. Join the ‘3 For the Sea’ Beach Day in Myrtleville on Sunday 2 June; or for your budding artists Crawford Art Gallery will be running a family friendly art workshop and tour on Monday June 3.

Dive right in

Get out on the water with some fantastic activities on offer as part of Cork Harbour Festival. SailCork in East Ferry have an open day on Bank Holiday Monday, you can try sailing at the world-famous Royal Cork Yacht Club with free tasters on Sunday. With a weekend packed full of water-based

activities you can brave a high-speed harbour tour, paddle, kayak, sail, surf or SUP your way through the weekend.

And so much more

Cork Harbour festival goers get to experience things they’ve never tried before with over 70 events happening. There are exhibitions, storytelling, sea shanty singing, poetry and so much more…. This is a way to experience a side of Cork that’s awash with history, adventure and mystery.

www.corkharbourfestival.com

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