Seafest

SeaFest, Ireland’s largest free family-friendly maritime celebration, with over 100 events takes place this year from 7 – 9 June. An estimated 100,000 visitors are expected at the Port of Cork in Cork City for the festival.

The festival, which acknowledges everything the ocean has to offer, will be a culmination of a weeklong celebration of Ireland’s rich maritime heritage, as the annual Cork Harbour Festival runs from 1 – 9 June.

SeaFest highlights include Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) and Bord Bia free cookery demonstrations from esteemed chefs Rory O’Connell (Ballymaloe Cookery School), Martin Shanahan (Fishy Fishy Restaurant) and Neven Maguire (MacNean House & Restaurant), along with demos from fishmongers, Pat O’Connell and Hal Dawson.

As well as the cookery demonstrations, there will be free sailing, kayaking, currach and dragon boat trips on the water, with Irish Sailing, Atlantic Sea Kayaking and Meitheal Mara. Tours of the Marine Institute’s research vessel RV Celtic Explorer and the Commissioner of Irish Lights’ ILV Granuaile take place across the weekend. The Defence Forces will provide an equipment and capabilities display.

There will be fun and free activities in the dedicated Kids Zone, along with touch tank displays as part of the Marine Institute’s Explorers Education Programme. This is the first year for BIM’s interactive aquaculture remote classroom (ARC) at SeaFest, with virtual reality headsets for wearers to experience mussel beds up close. Music Generation Cork City will also be performing on the music stage throughout the event.

For all the latest festival information, please check the Festival website at seafest.ie. You can also follow on Facebook or Twitter for the very latest information.