Call for ‘Titanic’ exhibit to come to Cobh

THE LINK between the maritime town of Cobh, Co Cork, and the Titanic is consistently being overlooked, according to the president of the town’s chamber of commerce, who has criticised a decision to host a major exhibition regarding the doomed liner in Dublin.

Michael Martin, who is the operator of the Titanic Trail in Cobh as well as being head of Cobh Chamber of Commerce, said he was disappointed that Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition is due to be hosted in Dublin, as opposed to its “natural home” in Cobh.

The exhibition, which has been seen by over 22 million people worldwide, arrives at the Citywest Event Centre, Dublin, next Saturday, December 19th.

The stories of those who died and those who survived are retold through recreated sets, identical to the rooms aboard the ship, and using more than 300 authentic artefacts recovered from the Titanic ’s wreck site.

Mr Martin said: “The Titanic is an integral part of maritime history in Cobh. I would love if Cobh had been considered for this exhibition. Cobh has the original piers and streets and it is a natural home for the exhibition. In general there is very little assistance down here for promoting the Titanic link with Cobh.

“In Northern Ireland there is huge support. We just don’t have that here.” Mr Martin said funding was vitally needed as the Titanic centenary commemorations for 2012 drew closer.

The sinking of the Titanic is commemorated every April in Cobh. The town was the Titanic ’s last port of call on its fateful journey.