Australia Day in Cobh

Australia Day in Cobh

Experience “Down under” – right here

Sunday 23rd August is promising to be a unique day for Cobh as 1500 Australians on a World Cruise aboard the Cruise liner Dawn Princess step foot on Irish soil. To celebrate, Cobh Tourism and the See You in Cobh committee have worked together over the past few months to organise the first ever “Australia Day” in Cobh.

The day’s festivities are aimed at enticing people from the entire Cork region to come to Cobh to experience a taste of “Down under” right here. Everything from Australian wine and beer tasting to musical entertainment, art exhibitions and even surfing displays are included in a day that will have something for everyone and give people a taste of life in Australia.

Local businesses have been enthusiastic about entering the shop window display competition and many have devised special promotions to coincide with the event. A number of restaurants are also adding an Australian flavour to their menus. On the streets the aromas and sizzle of barbecues and food stalls will tickle the taste buds and local arts and crafts producers will display their colourful goods. Wine Australia Ireland will have free wine tasting and Cobh’s Carry Out Off Licence will have Australian beer to sample. ForeignAFares Travel agents will be on hand to answer any queries about holidaying in Australia. Tubes Surf shop and Eddie English’s SailCork will ensure that outdoor pursuits enthusiasts are also catered for.

As well as creating an Australian atmosphere throughout the town, local performers will ensure that the Australian visitors will be immersed in Irish music and dance. Aoife Ryan’s Irish dancers, Luasca Trad group, Diarmuid Moroney and Niamh Halligan, Buster Luscombe and Amadáns and Bodhráns will have locals and visitors alike tapping their feet.

The Australian Ambassador Ms Anne Plunkett will be in Cobh throughout the day as a guest of the Port of Cork and will attend a function aboard the Dawn Princess. Cobh Town Council will host a Civic Reception for the Ambassador in Cobh Museum where records of people who emigrated or were transported to Australia are held. The strong links between Spike Island and Australia will be outlined in a brief lecture by Michael Martin followed by a concert by Ryan Morgan. Tickets are available from the Sirius Arts Centre. Jack Gilmartin will give another fascinating tour of the Old Church Cemetery at 2.30 pm and the Waterford based Irish Coastguard helicopter will give an Air Sea Rescue Display.

As well as all these events there are art exhibitions in the Clock Tower Gallery and Sirius Arts Centre, a Carillon recital on the bells of St. Colman’s Cathedral, Harbour tours and all the other attractions that Cobh has to offer.

The Cobh Confraternity Band will play on the quayside as the Dawn Princess sails for Le

Havre to continue its 104 night odyssey around the World. Perhaps the traditional “Anchor’s Aweigh” will be replaced by “Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport” as 1500 happy Australians are given a traditional Cobh farewell with white handkerchiefs and Australian and Irish flags waving.

For full details of all events in Cobh on that day see www.visitcobh.com/australiaday.html.

ENDS



Further information from:

Hendrick Verwey

Chairman Cobh Tourism

087 2593850

Sheree Clem’s Blog on the World Cruise aboard Dawn Princess http://clemsworldcruise.blogspot.com/

Information on the Dawn Princess http://www.linersincobh.com/gpage27.html