Building the Titanic Connection for Cobh into the Future

12 Feb 2013

Elga Ryan

Following the world-wide commemoration in 2012 of the 100th Anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, and the considerable exposure that Cobh achieved in the international media because of this event, a number of local businesses in Cobh have taken on a new initiative to develop and enhance the Cobh/Titanic connection on an on-going basis. This will be called ‘Project Titanic, Cobh.’
Cobh is synonymous with not only the Titanic, but also the Lusitania. In fact, it is central to the whole story of Irish emigration, as well as the maritime heritage and military history of Ireland. Plans are in hand to create a launch pad for this each season, by developing a two week ‘Calendar of Events.’ The programme will include existing initiatives, and encourage new ones, in the period preceding Titanic’s Anniversary on the 15th April.
“In order to develop the tourism product in Cobh, and to build for the future, groups who already organise Titanic commemoration occasions in this period will be encouraged to embellish and build on their existing events,” noted local historian and author of The Titanic Trail, Dr Michael Martin. “In addition, other individuals, businesses, community groups, schools and sporting clubs, who may have new ideas for suitable events in this time-frame, will be supported and promoted under this new umbrella project.”
Importantly, this is not seen as a type of festival that encourages a street carnival atmosphere. Instead its aim is 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.
The Annual Titanic Commemoration will be incorporated into the calendar, along with other memorial occasions that take place in Cobh at venues such as the Titanic Experience, the Cobh Museum, the Cathedral and the Cobh Heritage Centre. The types of events that will be developed for the programme will include exhibitions, lecture series, movie nights, wake nights and gathering events connected to emigration. “We have a new development lined up at the Titanic Experience that we plan to launch during this period,” noted Gillen Joyce, Managing Director of Cobh’s latest visitor attraction. “Additionally, we would hope to see the inclusion of a charity event in the programme that would raise funds for an organisation connected with the sea, such as the RNLI.”
This programme will also highlight and encompass the emigration story of Cobh, to include the hundreds of thousands of other passengers who embarked from these shores. The scheme of ‘Honorary Citizenship of Cobh’ will be further utilised and developed into a conferring event. This is aimed at the family descendants of individuals who emigrated through the town, and also for their relations still living in Ireland.
Patrick O’Shea, Managing Director of the Commodore Hotel, noted, “for the available time frame between now and April, we have asked Margot Mulcahy (Tel.086 8045468) to act as the facilitator for ‘Project Titanic, Cobh.’ Margot will be contacting businesses and organisations over the next week in this regard – so please help encourage everyone in Cobh to get involved.”
For further information on Project Titanic Cobh, or to include your event in the programme, please contact Margot Mulcahy on 021 4812382/086 8045468 or email: info@mdmpr.com

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