On a river of remembrance for all who have died in the Lee

Casting a ghostly glow along the north channel of the River Lee, a fleet of small boats set sail at precisely 7.30pm last night, slid slowly along the riverbank walls alongside the Mercy Hospital and set off on a brief yet poignant journey towards Custom House Quay.

Around 14 boats gathered on the western approach to the city as they prepared to begin a maritime journey of remembrance to all who have died in the River Lee. Those on board were mostly silent, reflecting on those who perished in the depths of Cork’s famous river.

Many of the boats carried soft white lights or candle-lit lanterns reflected in the water beneath them. Most were rowing boats, powered by nothing more than love, compassion and human endurance.

Some were sleek, modern vessels, others of traditional wood and among them glided a majestic currach driven by the muscle and sweat of the Naomhóga Chorcaí crew.

The Cork Dragons, a boat team based on the river, looked resplendent as they slid under the North Gate Bridge and onwards over St Patrick’s Bridge. They were flanked by Fionbarra, the flagship of Meitheal Mara, a community boatyard and training centre sited in the heart of the city.

On the roadside, hugging the river, dozens of supporters made the same journey on foot but could not outpace the boats as they slid gracefully down the Lee to the place where both channels of the river meet near the Port of Cork sign at South Custom House Quay.

Within half an hour the boats were bending the river at the quay, as hundreds gathered at the Custom House. While the boat journey was silent and sombre, the ceremony at the quay was punctuated by music, readings and reflections of those who had lost loves ones to the river.

Members of the Cork Prison Male Voice Choir sang a soaring harmony of Leonard Cohen’s song Hallelujah, with many in the gathering joining in the chorus.

Henry Cremin, deputy lord mayor of Cork, made a brief address during which he told the gathering: “Like many of you, I have lost loved ones to the river, one as long as 40 years ago and the other as recently as four weeks ago.”

With a voice like Joan Baez, soloist Elizabeth Finn gave a rendition of Poor Wayfaring Stranger, while James Hurley, a native of Mayfield on the city’s northside, reflected the feelings of many when he spoke movingly of his father, Finbarr Patrick, who drowned in the River Lee 17 years ago.

His words were endearing as he recalled his father’s talent as a musician and his equal talent for occasionally embarrassing his eldest son as he rode gleefully around the city on his ‘Yamaha 80 chicken-chaser’.