Minister Coveney Lends His Support for Cork Harbour Open Day 2011

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Mr Simon Coveney T.D was in Ringaskiddy at the National Maritime College of Ireland today to help promote Cork Harbour Open Day 2011. The event which takes place on Saturday 10^th September is aimed at embracing and showcasing what Cork Harbour has to offer.

This is the third year of Cork Harbour Open Day and organisers are hopeful that the wide range of events, such as, concerts on Spike Island, photographic Exhibition in Camden Fort, guided tours of an Irish naval ship and an open day at the National Maritime College of Ireland, will attract many people.  A programme of events to date can be found on www.corkharbour.ie

The idea for a Harbour Open Day emerged three years ago following discussions between various stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of the Integrated Strategy for Cork Harbour. A group comprising of representatives from UCC, City and County Councils, Irish Navy and the Port of Cork set about working together to engage with users of the Harbour and to organise the Open Day. 

Cork Harbour is the second largest natural harbour in the world, next to Sydney Harbour, offering beautiful locations for enjoying the outdoors, dramatic coastlines, and excellent leisure facilities, and is home to some very talented artists, sportsmen and women, and people who are passionate about the history, heritage and cultural value of Cork Harbour.

If you would like to be involved in Cork Harbour Open Day or organise an event on the day, please contact Sara Mackeown at harbourevents@corkharbour.ie or 021-4625375.

Cork is set to be home to world`s largest marine energy centre

Dr. Valerie Cummins interviewed by Marine Times Special Correspondent, Tom MacSweeney July 2011

"The World`s largest marine energy research institution will be built it Cork" Out side the office window of Dr. Valerie Cummins is an empty three - acre site on the edge of Cork Harbour. Through the Window I can see across the harbour to Whitegate oil refinery and the ESB`s Aghada Power Station. Towards Cobh there is the Naval base on Haulbowline Island which also once housed Irish Steel. Her office is on the upper floor of the National maritime College at Ringaskiddy. On the floor below students are studying in the College library. Valerie tells me what is going to happen on that empty site: "It will be the worlds largest marine energy research institution" She makes that statement with a positive determination, telling me that it is a 16m investment for which planning permission is being sought and that 135 researchers will work there."

Read more:    http://www.merc3.ie/pages/MarineTimesJuly11.pdf

Destination Interpretation Workshop: Spike Island

June 24^th - Destination Interpretation Workshop: Spike Island

The need for quality tourism interpretation products has been widely acknowledged by a number of groups concerned with the future development of Cork Harbour, including the Spike Island Development Committee, Port of Cork and Failte Ireland.  Further to this a comprehensive workshop took place on Spike Island which included people from various backgrounds to participate in a brainstorming session which proved to be a great success, great ideas were generated from the allocated groups.  At the same time, the Maritime and Energy Research Campus and Commercial Cluster (MERC3) technical working group on maritime operations, has identified marine recreation as an area for applied, industry-led R&D capacity building.

Welcome to the Maritime Energy Research Campus (MERC3)

Welcome to the Maritime Energy Research Campus (MERC3) based in Ringaskiddy Co Cork. Check out our new website and see what we are about, www.merc3.ie