Date set for delayed Lusitania event in Cobh

A Lusitania commemoration, postponed as a mark of respect to a husband and wife who died from stab wounds in a domestic incident, will take place next month.

Cobh Tourism had pencilled in New Year’s Day for the first in a series of centernary commemorations to mark the sinking of the cruise liner, but delayed it after the horrific attack at a house in the Cork Harbour town a few days earlier.

Michael Greaney, 53, had stabbed his wife Valerie, 49, before seriously injuring his eldest daughter and then taking his own life.

The organisers have announced they will launch four months of events, commencing on February 1, to commemorate the sinking of the liner by a German U-boat. The attack claimed the lives of 1,198 passengers and crew, 169 of whom are buried in a graveyard in Cobh.

The commemoration will start at 5pm when carillonneur Adrian Gebruers will present a recital on the 49 bells at St Colman’s Cathedral. That will be followed by a short recital by Cobh Confraternity Band on the promenade, and, at 6pm, local schoolchildren will read out the names of the victims buried locally.

The Irish Coastguard will launch flares from the quayside and from the ramparts of Fort Mitchel on Spike Island to remember the dead.

Hendrick Verwey, chairman of Cobh Tourism, has urged people to attend the event and other planned commemorations.

A major event is slated for May 7, the date the liner sank, and will see Cunard, which owned the Lusitania, sending the Queen Victoria to Cobh for the event.

Passengers will be invited to a special ceremony at the Old Church Cemetery where it is hoped President Michael D Higgins will attend.

As the sun sets shortly after 9pm, a flotilla of boats illuminated with white lights will head to Roches Point to symbolise the search for victims and survivors.

Meanwhile, Courtmacsherry RNLI is also organising a Lusitania exhibition on the May bank holiday weekend.

It is appealing for artefacts, stories, and memorabilia and wants to hear from any family members of those lost or saved in the tragedy.

A local committee says it will assure all memorabilia or artefacts loaned for the exhibition will be receipted and returned afterwards.

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