Cork fest to celebrate ocean wealth

IRELAND’S largest maritime festival is to move from Galway to Cork next year, and will be held in conjunction with a seafood conference in the city.
SeaFest has grown in attendance each year, with the festival attracting more than 100,000 visitors in 2017 and again in 2018.
The festival is part of Ireland’s Integrated Marine Plan – ‘Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth’ – which aims to develop the marine economy and increase public participation and engagement with the sea.
Fisheries minister Michael Creed said: ‘SeaFest is all about raising awareness about the value and economic opportunities provided by our marine sector.
‘It has been particularly successful in increasing awareness of maritime issues which impact on all of us, through a host of engaging and educational activities for people of every age.
‘As a national festival, it is important that the event reaches across Ireland, enabling more people to increase their knowledge about the value of our oceans.
‘I’m delighted to announce that Cork will host the festival for the next three years, and look forward to the fantastic line-up of free events and activities on offer at SeaFest 2019, which I expect to be the largest SeaFest yet.’
Dr Peter Heffernan, CEO of the Marine Institute, headquartered in Co Galway, said: ‘The festival has been instrumental in highlighting the marine research taking place in Galway, as well as the importance of our seas and the contribution to our local and national economy.
‘We look forward to working with the city of Cork, as well as our national and regional partners, to deliver another spectacular event.’
SeaFest will take place in Cork City over the weekend of June 7-9, 2019. As part of the national festival, the Our Ocean Wealth Summit conference will be held in Cork on Thursday, June 6, and Friday, June 7.
Picture (from left to right): Ireland’s fisheries minister Michael Creed and minister for foreign affairs and trade Simon Coveney with students Myles Ó Raghallaigh, and Cáit Ní Drisceoil of Coláise Dáibhéid school