THE first State naval review since 1897 will take place in Cork harbour on July 12th. The details were announced yesterday by Mr T.E. Crosbie, chairman of the Cork Maritime Festival 96. He said the event would revive memories of the arrival in Cork of the Tall Ships Race in 1991.
Mr Crosbie said it was expected the President, Mrs Robinson, would review the international naval fleet, which is expected to include vessels from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden, when it arrived at Cobh. Afterwards, the fleet, with up to 1,600 personnel on board, would sail to the South Jetties in Cork.
The review will coincide with a programme of free family entertainment at the South Jetties including the Saw Doctors, the Cork Pops Orchestra and the Irish Chamber Orchestra.
The last State naval review was in 1897 when Queen Victoria reviewed a fleet in Cork harbour.