Over 80 events across Cork City and County with Cork Harbour Festival 2024 from the 1st to the 10th June

Cork Harbour Festival starts this week to celebrate Cork’s greatest natural amenities, Cork Harbour and the River Lee, through a packed festival programme across 10 days from 1 – 10 June.

The festival highlights the incredible choice of attractions and activities, heritage sites, cultural experiences and stories there are to discover in Cork City and Harbour. With over 80 events from 50 event partners to explore in this year’s festival programme, there is something for everyone.

Cork Harbour is one of the largest natural harbours in the world and Cork Harbour Festival offers countless ways to explore it. Embark on a 3 hour harbour discovery tour with Ocean Escapes (June 9th) or take a wildlife & Coastal exploration tour with Cork Sea Safari (1st, 2nd, 8th & 9th). Kayak under the bridges of Cork (9th June), learn how to scuba dive in Myrtleville (3rd-7th June) or join Swell Surf School in East Cork for surfing and coasteering (1st June).  If you prefer to keep your feet on solid ground, visit Cobh and take a tour of Hederman's smoke house and taste his famous smoked fish (1st-10th bar Sundays), join ORCA Ireland for a Land-based Sea-Life Watch (2nd June), check out The Molgoggers Sea Shanty concert at Nano Nagle (8th June) or have a laugh at a comedic dinner theatre experience with Hysterical Histories (1st, 6th, 7th & 8th June).

Pic: Clare Keogh

Throughout the 10 days, we have loads of family activities and entertainment.  Take part in a day of orienteering fun, learning basic map reading and navigation while exploring Cruachain Woods and Crosshaven town (2nd June) or check out the Currach Olympics on dry land in Marina Park where the whole family can play together and enjoy a series of serious or nonsensical games! (9th June). We also have many free events throughout the festival such as a City Otter walk with Cork Nature Network (8th June), a harbour cycle with the Lee to Sea committee (9th June) and a whole series of educational talks and lectures. 

Ocean to City – An Rás Mór, Saturday 8 June:

Excitement is building ahead of the return of Ocean to City – An Rás Mór on Saturday June 8th. The race is one of the most ambitious rowing and paddling spectacles in Ireland. Cork Harbour comes alive with colour and activity as almost 500 Irish and international participants compete in a 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.

On the day, there will be family friendly entertainment at various vantage points along Cork Harbour, including Cobh, Monkstown, Blackrock and Cork City. At 1:30pm, at The Promenade in Cobh, in association with Cobh Tourism, spectators can cheer on race participants as they power by while enjoying music and live commentary. At 2:15pm, soak up the action in Monkstown and cheer on all the participants starting their Ocean to City ‘half marathon’. In Blackrock, spectators can encourage the Youth Race crews from 3:00pm as they row their colourful currachs over the 4km course to the finish line. The Youth Race is organised by Meitheal Mara as part of their Bádóireacht programme. At the finish line at Lapp’s Quay in Cork City, enjoy the big spectacle with entertainment, music, live commentary, and food from 3.30pm onwards.

Ocean to City – An Rás Mór, Cork Harbour Festival’s flagship event, attracts hundreds of participants and thousands of spectators to the Cork region each year. Festival and Events Officer of Fáilte Ireland Nicola Fitzgerald said: “Fáilte Ireland is pleased to support Ocean to City, Cork which creates a unique and exciting reason for participants and their supporters to experience our world class outdoor activity offering. Developing participative festivals like this really helps boost the appeal of a destination and encourages the spread of tourism across the country. This is essential for driving footfall for local businesses and bringing social and economic benefits to the local community.”

For a full programme of festival events see corkharbourfestival.com.

Cork Harbour Festival is organised by Meitheal Mara, the community boatyard, training centre and charity located in the heart of Cork City. The festival is funded by Cork City Council, Cork County Council and Fáilte Ireland, and made possible with the help of 50 Event Partners and many volunteers. Meitheal Mara would like to thank our Media Sponsors Cork’s 96FM and C103FM as well as our Gold Sponsor Ardmore Shipping.