Titanic memorial garden to open in Cobh

A special memorial garden is to be opened in the Titanic’s last port of call to commemorate the 123 people who boarded tenders onto the ill-fated liner.

At 3pm this Friday, the memorial garden will be officially opened in Cobh, Co Cork — 102 years to the day after the Titanic anchored in the harbour.

“The focal point of the garden is a glass memorial wall overlooking the final anchorage of Titanic onto which the names of the 123 passengers that boarded her in what was then known as at Queenstown are inscribed,” Hendrick Verwey, chairman of Cobh Tourism, said.

A total of 79 of those passengers died when the ship sank after striking an iceberg.

Situated at Cove Fort, on the eastern side of the town. the project is a collaboration between Cobh Town Council, the Cobh Titanic Centenary committee, and Cobh Tourism.

Plans are also in place for a commemoration in the town on Sunday, April 13.

“The ceremony, which is an annual event organised by Cobh Tourism, will start at 3pm at the Old Town Hall at Lynch’s Quay,” Mr Verwey said.

Cobh will commemorate Titanic 102 years after the tragedy: At 3 pm on the afternoon of Friday 11th April 2014,... http://t.co/RehQaBKx4y

— Cobh Tourism (@CobhTourism) April 2, 2014

A colour party from the Cobh Branch ONE (Organisation of National Ex-servicemen) will parade to the Titanic Memorial in Pearse Square.

“Here a ceremony of prayers and wreath laying will have musical honours provided by the Commodore Male Voice Choir and Cobh Confraternity Band,” he said.

Wreaths will be laid at the Titanic Memorial and the proceedings will then move to the promenade where 79 white flowers will be placed in the sea in memory of the “Cobh” passengers lost in the tragedy.

The Mayor of Cobh, Councillor John Mulvihill, will then place a wreath in the sea in honour of all those who lost their lives when the Titanic sank.