Nostalgia: A wave of excitement for return of Cork Harbour Festival

THE highly-anticipated annual Cork Harbour Festival returns today, with a packed festival programme running across 10 days.

With over 80 events from 50 event partners to explore this year, festival organisers Meitheal Mara have said there is “something for everyone” to enjoy.

Events include a three hour harbour discovery tour with Ocean Escapes on June 9, a wildlife and coastal exploration tour with Cork Sea Safari running across a number of days, and a city otter walk with Cork Nature Network on June 8.

One of the festival highlights every year is the Ocean to City – An Rás Mór which takes place next Saturday, June 8.

This year, almost 500 Irish and international participants will compete in the gruelling race across the harbour.

Participants are travelling from across Ireland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States and will bring some 200 boats to the event.

Established in 2005, Ocean to City has grown from its origin as a race for traditional fixed-seat boats into an all-inclusive rowing and paddling event, embracing everything from traditional wooden working boats, currachs, skiffs, gigs and longboats to contemporary ocean racing shells, kayaks, canoes and even stand-up paddle boards.

From the outset, it was hoped that the race could become an annual event, as one Echo article in March of that inaugural year reported.

“Speaking at the launch of the race last night, Lord Mayor, Cllr Seán Martin called for the race to become an annual event.

“‘There is a great potential to develop this event further. We wish the organisers every success so that we can repeat it," the then Lord Mayor said.

The piece further reported that top Irish rower and Athens Olympian Gearóid Towey from Fermoy also attended the launch, speaking enthusiastically about the event.

“I have been to many venues around the world and it has always stuck out in my mind that Cork Harbour is beautiful, big and safe.

“It is great to see something like this being brought to Cork Harbour," he said, adding that his first race was in the Marina and his second in Monkstown."

As an official Cork 2005 event, that first year saw crewsfrom all over the country and abroad take part - as has been the case in the years that followed. 

Modelled on London’s Great River Race, start times are staggered with the slowest boat types leaving first, and the fastest boat types leaving last.

It includes races over four course distances: the 28km Ocean Course, 22km City Course, 13km Monkstown Course and the 4km Youth Course – all finishing to a warm welcome in Cork city centre.

For more information on Cork Harbour Festival see corkharbourfestival.comcorkharbourfestival.com.