THREE THOUSAND Australians on board a cruise ship scheduled to dock in Cobh, Co Cork, tomorrow are set to receive a welcome worthy of royalty as the town is hosting its own “Australia Day” in their honour.
Cobh Tourism and the See You in Cobh committee have worked together over the past few months to organise their first day dedicated to people with Australian heritage.
The day’s festivities are aimed at enticing people from the Cork region to come to Cobh to experience a taste of “down under”.
Everything from Australian wine and beer tasting to musical entertainment, art exhibitions and even surfing displays have been organised in the town. Local businesses have been enthusiastic about entering the shop-window display competition and many have devised special promotions to coincide with the event.
Local performers will guarantee the Australian visitors immersion in Irish music and dance. Aoife Ryan’s Irish dancers, Luasca trad group and amadáns and bodhráns will be on hand to give the tourists a taste of Irish culture.
Australian ambassador 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 cruise ship.
Cobh Town Council will also host a civic welcome for the ambassador in Cobh museum, where records of people who emigrated or were transported to Australia are held.
Meanwhile, a two-day initiative designed to attract punters back to Cork city pubs gets under way this evening.
The Decades Festival is taking place in 40 pubs in Cork city this weekend. Festival-goers are being asked to dress in fancy dress from the decade of their choice.