Cork Harbour Festival returns with maritime activities and cultural events — here's what's on

A celebration Cork’s unique maritime heritage as the second largest natural harbour in the world, Cork Harbour Festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary

Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Dan Boyle, pictured with crew members of El Galeón, including Captain Miguel Cuesta and Communications Officer Lupo Bathke, during a welcome ceremony on board the Spanish training vessel. Docked at Custom House Quay as part of the Cork Harbour Festival, El Galeón is open to visitors all weekend. Picture Chani Anderson.

Cork Harbour Festival has returned with a selection of on-the-water maritime activities and music, art, poetry, workshops, talks and seminars.

A celebration Cork’s unique maritime heritage as the second largest natural harbour in the world, the festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

Visitors can explore the history, heritage, and landscapes of Cork Harbour until Monday, June 2.

Ireland’s premier long-distance rowing race Ocean to City – An Rás Mór will also take place as part of the festival on Saturday, May 31.

The festival has collaborated with over 60 event partners from across the region to deliver a more diverse programme than ever before, with festivities in locations including Cobh, Crosshaven, Myrtleville, Monkstown, Ringaskiddy, Whitegate, East Ferry, Passage West, and Cork City sites such as University College Cork, Lapp’s Quay, Blackrock, Lee Fields, Crawford Art Gallery and Nano Nagle Place.

Here are just some of the events and activities on offer:

On the Water 

Cork Sea Safari is offering a harbour and coastline tour which departs Crosshaven at 2pm frpm May 24 to June 2.

Price: €40 for adults & €30 for children - use discount code CHF2025 for 20% off.

A wildlife and coastal exploration tour will also depart from Crosshaven at 10.30am from May 24 to June 2.

Price: €55 for adults and €40 for children - Use discount code CHF2025 for 20% off 

Niamh Glavin celebrates the launch of this year’s Cork Harbour Festival, marking its 10-year anniversary and the flagship event, Ocean to City – An Rás Mór marking its 20th anniversary. Picture: Clare Keogh

Cork Harbour Cruises is running a two-hour scenic boat trip around Cork Harbour, departing Custom House Quay at 10.30am and 2pm from May 24 to June 2.

Price: Adults €28, children €12.50 family rates available 

Cork Harbour Boat Hire is running evening harbour rib tours departing from Cobh at 6pm on May 25 and May 30.

Price: €40 

Cork Dive Centre is holding introductory scuba diving sessions that will entail some theory, followed by a 45-minute practice in sheltered water from 7pm to 8pm on May 27 and May 30.

Price: €95 

Phoenix Kayak Club is hosting an introduction to kayaking session from 6pm to 9pm on May 30.

Price: €15 

Heritage 

For a taste of local history and maritime heritage, people are invited to explore the Galeon Andalucia, a full-size Spanish galleon with ship tours running until Monday, June 1.

Price: €14, adult. €7, chidren aged five to 10 years. Free, children under five years. Visit:tickets.velacuadra.es.

The Passage West Maritime Museum will be open for guided tours on several dates between May 24 and June 1.

Price: €4 and children under 12 go free 

People are invited to step back in time at Camden Fort Meagher in Crosshaven daily from May 24 to June 2.

Price: €8, adult. €5, child/Student/OAP €5.

A guided tour of Elizabeth Fort with Cork City Council will take place at 3pm on Sunday, May 25, Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1.

Price: €3 

Spike Island is always a favourite for guided tours, and this year, festival goers can also visit Titanic Experience Cobh and the Cobh Heritage Centre from 12pm to 3.30pn from now until June 2.

Price: tickets from €27.95 

Aerial view of Spike Island. Picture: John Crotty, Spike Island Manager.

There are digital self-guided walking trails available from Travella Solutions which allow people to explore the Cultural and Natural Heritage of Cork City and Harbour.

Price: Free, use QR code available on corkharbourfestival.com.

For something a bit more active, people can join Beyond the Glass Adventure Tours on their Cork City cycle tours, which take place daily at 10am except on Sundays.

Price: €50 - use discount code CHF2025 for 10% off 

Foodies can get behind the scenes at Hederman Smoke House Lunch Tours in Cobh on May 26, 28 and 30 from 2pm.

Price: €85 per person 

There’s also a fun Comedic Dinner Theatre by Hysterical Histories Cork on May 29, 30 and 31 from 7pm 

Price: €32 – €55 - avail of our special Cork Harbour Festival €5 discount by using the code CHFEST25 when booking 

Arts 

On the cultural side of the festival, there’s plenty to see and do for everyone.

Harry Moore’s Celebration of Currach Construction will take place at the Quay Co-op until June 15 and the Tools of the Trade Exhibition at City Hall will run from May 30 to June 13.

Price: Free 

For music lovers, there are three Songs of the Sea sessions taking place — with Cork Singers Club on May 25, Éamonn Ó Ceallaigh on May 26, and another at the Rory Gallagher Music Library on May 29.

Price: Free 

Over at Spike Island, the ‘Each Name, a Story’ exhibition runs throughout the festival.

Price: Included as part of Spike Island Guided Tour (tickets from €27.95) 

Family Events The Model Boat Project Exhibition at Cork City Library, a collaboration between Cllr Kieran McCarthy and Meitheal Mara, will open until June 11.

Price: Free 

Blackrock Sailing Club will host a fun Harbour Regatta on May 25, and the Circus Factory is offering a cool Knot Tying Workshop on May 30.

Price: Free 

The Cork Cycling Campaign invites people to take part in the Lee to Sea Jamboree from 4pm to 8pm on May 31

Price: Free 

Education 

The National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) will host a maritime education and training day on May 28.

Price: Free event - visitors are asked to consider making a donation at the door to L.A.S.T. (Lost At Sea Tragedies), a charity dedicated to supporting those affected by tragedies at sea.

Blackrock Castle Observatory overlooking the River Lee and Loughmahon Estuary at Cork. Picture: Larry Cummin.

Blackrock Castle Observatory will have an engaging ‘Stellar Seas’ event on May 31.

Price: Included as part of general admission – booking is essential.

The Glucksman is running a street photography masterclass with Brendan Ó Sé at 10am on May 31.

Price: €30 

Nature 

Relax with a sauna experience with Swede Sauna at Roberts Cove until June 2, or join beach yoga and pilates with Sacred Body Studio on selected dates, May 25, May 31, and June 1.

Price: €20 for a one-hour shared sauna session with others.

The Sister Hub is hosting a women’s coastal walk and talk on May 29.

Price: Free 

A land and water clean-up will take place on June 2 and Cork Nature Network is leading a wildflowers f Cork Harbour in Passage West on the same day.

Price: Free 

Ocean to City – An Rás Mór 

Ocean to City, An Ras Mor, is Ireland’s largest rowing and paddling race.

One of the big highlights is Ocean to City – An Rás Mór, which takes place on May 31. It is Ireland’s largest rowing and paddling race, attracting over 500 participants and 200 boats of all shapes and sizes.

From 3pm, there will be a live DJ performance by Billy Kennedy at Monkstown, plus a cheerful Ukulele Performance by the Shandon Ukulele Ensemble at Blackrock Pier.

A kayak polo match hosted by Phoenix Kayak Club at Lapps Quay West will take place at 3pm.

Celebrations at the Ocean to City finish line at Lapps Quay will kick off at 5.30pm, and will include live performances, music, and lots of family activities.