Cork Film Festival sets sail aboard historic French ship

Caption Eoin Carroll of the Defence Forces; Josselin Le Gall of Alliance Française de Cork; Marianne Barkan-Cowdy deputy head of mission; Stephan Delaux, Bordeaux Tourisme, Valérie David-McGonnell, president of Alliance Française de Cork; Mathieu Combot captain of The Belem and deputy lord mayor Cllr Damien Boylan at the Cork French Film Festival launch on board the tall ship The Belem on Kennedy Quay. Picture: Gerard McCarthy Photography

A magnificent French sailing ship that is steeped in history played a starring role at the launch of the Cork Film Festival.

Details of what will be the 33rd festival were unveiled on board the Belem, the 126-year-old sail training ship which glided into the Port of Cork’s city quays on Tuesday morning.