ONE HUNDRED and twenty-three flares were released from Spike Island in Co Cork to commemorate the individuals who boarded the ill-fated Titanicfrom nearby Cobh on April 11th, 1912.
When the Titanicstruck an iceberg in the north Atlantic four days later, it sank with the loss of over 1,500 lives, including 79 of those who boarded in Cobh. Among those who died was a Cobh native, able seaman Lionel Leonard, who travelled as a third-class passenger.
Cobh, the last port of call for the Titanic, will host a year-long series of events and activities that will commemorate the centenary of the legacy of the Titanic and the people associated with it.
Yesterday, the Naval Service berthed the LE Emerin Deep Water Quay, outside the Cobh Heritage Centre, with the ship opened to the public for the afternoon. A gun salute exchange from Spike Island and the LE Emeralso formed part of the commemorations.
Marc Anderson, project director of Titanic 100 Cobh 2012, said: "It is a great opportunity for the people of the country to acknowledge passengers on the Titanic. is also a great opportunity for Cobh to let everyone know that this was the last port of call for the Titanic.
Mayor of Cobh, Cllr Jim Quinlan, has said the highlight of the coming year in the town will be the Titanic 100 commemorations. Speaking during the ceremonies yesterday, Mr Quinlan said it was an honour and a privilege to officially launch this historically and culturally significant year in the history of Cobh.
Titanic Centenary Week will take place from April 9th to 15th, 100 years on from the Titanic'smaiden voyage. Included in this event will be a family food and retail stall compound.
An outdoor concert over four nights will tell the story of the Titanicand its impact on the world, through various musical and dance genres.
Other events include a special St Patrick's Day parade and the Ford International Short Film Competition, with the Titanicas the theme, where finalists' efforts will be screened in front of a live audience. Spike Island will also play host to a number of outdoor concerts.
A number of high-profile ambassadors for the Cobh project have already come on board including athlete Sonia O’Sullivan, actor Fiona Shaw, Fáilte Ireland chairman Redmond O’Donoghue, chairman and managing director of Henry Ford Son, Eddie Murphy, yachtsman Ron Holland and presenter of RTÉ’s SeaScapes Tom MacSweeney.
The commemorations will continue with the opening of “The Titanic Experience” in the old White Star building in Cobh. See titanic100.ie for updates