Cork to Host Free Maritime Festival Alongside European Conference

Cork City will host a free family-friendly maritime celebration next month to coincide with Europe's premier maritime conference. 'European Maritime Days to Play' will take place on Friday 23 May and Saturday 24 May, offering a packed programme of activities along the city's historic quaysides.

The event celebrates Cork City Council and the Government of Ireland hosting the prestigious European Maritime Day (EMD) conference from 21-23 May, which will welcome up to 1,000 maritime professionals to the city.

Visitors to the two-day festival can enjoy cooking demonstrations by up-and-coming Irish chefs, interactive science exhibitions, and tours of naval, research, patrol and buoy laying vessels docked at the quayside. The programme also includes street performances, live music and children's entertainment.

The Marine Institute will present 'The Wild Atlantic - What lies beneath', featuring interactive displays exploring marine environments from rocky shores to the deep sea. Visitors can learn about ocean floor mapping, deep sea exploration, marine ecosystems and fish anatomy.

Bord Iascaigh Mhara's Taste the Atlantic event will showcase sustainable seafood from Ireland's Atlantic coastline, with cooking demonstrations and nutritional talks. Their Aquaculture Remote Classroom will offer immersive technologies allowing visitors to virtually explore Ireland's mussel, oyster and salmon farms.

On Saturday 24 May, families can tour several vessels including the European Fisheries Control Agency Patrol Vessel, the Naval Service's LÉ Aoibhinn, the Marine Institute's RV Tom Crean and the Commissioners of Irish Lights' ILV Granuaile.

The festival, which takes place across Albert Quay and Kennedy Quay, will also feature games, a food market and street performances. It marks the beginning of the annual Cork Harbour Festival, running from 24 May to 2 June with over 80 events across Cork City and County.

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Dan Boyle, said:

"Cork City is honoured to be hosting European Maritime Day. To celebrate this event and Cork's rich maritime heritage, people of all ages can enjoy the free and fun 'European Maritime Days to Play' which will increase understanding around how our river, harbour, seas and oceans enrich our lives."

The event is funded by several organisations including the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, Cork City Council, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), Eirgrid, and maritime regulator MARA.

The European Maritime Day conference itself will be attended by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, European Fisheries Commissioner Costas Kadis and Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection Commissioner Michael McGrath. Registration for the conference remains open until 10 May.