Cobh to commemorate 112th anniversary of Titanic sinking

THE harbour town of Cobh will next month commemorate the 112th anniversary of one of the most well-known maritime disasters of all time — the sinking of the Titanic.

The town, famously known as the final port of call for the ill-fated ship, will welcome the public to join in honouring the memory of those who lost their lives when the Titanic sank on its maiden voyage to New York in 1912.

Organised by Cobh Tourism, the annual commemorative event will commence at 3pm on Sunday, April 14, at the Titanic Memorial in Pearse Square.

Members of the local branch of Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel — ONE) will march to the memorial, where ceremonies will include prayers, wreath laying, and musical tributes by the Commodore Male Voice Choir.

Following the memorial service, attendees will gather at the promenade to hear the names of the 79 passengers who boarded the Titanic in Cobh on April 11, 1912.

The sinking of the Titanic is one of the world’s most famous catastrophies.

The ill-fated liner famously sank off the coast of Newfoundland in the early hours of April 15, 1912, after hitting an iceberg on her maiden voyage.

Bound for New York, the Titanic was touted as unsinkable when Captain Edward Smith set sail a few days prior on April 10.

“The White Star liner Titanic, the largest ship in the world, left Southampton this morning on her maiden trip to New York,” The Echo noted in the paper that evening.

The Belfast-built ship moored off Roches Point a day later — its last port of call before its tragic end.

When she left Cobh for New York, there were approximately 2,200 passengers and crew on board.

Late at night on April 14, Titanic hit an iceberg.

Ice warnings from other ships earlier in the day were ignored and Titanic did not reduce her speed.

When an iceberg was spotted dead ahead, the crew was able to avoid a head-on collision but ultimately sideswiped the iceberg, causing the fatal tear to the hull.

The ship, which sank bow first, took two hours to descend fully to the depths of the freezing Atlantic.

Some 1,500 people perished that night owing to a woeful shortage of lifeboats.

• For more information on the Titanic commemoration or things to see and do in the historic town of Cobh seewww.visitcobh.com.