Cork city is preparing to welcome more than 1,000 delegates from the European maritime sector this week for Europe’s premier maritime conference, bringing over €2 million in spending to the local economy. The European Maritime Day (EMD) conference, which showcases the latest developments in the EU blue economy, is being jointly hosted by Cork City Council, the Government of Ireland and the European Commission.

The three-day flagship event, running from Wednesday to Friday, May 21-23, has attracted registrations from over 40 countries including China, Canada, Japan, African nations, and European countries such as Denmark, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, France and Germany, providing a substantial boost to the city’s hospitality sector.

Cork City Hall and adjoining venues will serve as the main conference locations. To celebrate the occasion, a free family-friendly festival called ‘European Maritime Days to Play’ will transform the city quays on Friday (11am-7pm) and Saturday (10am-6pm).

Several high-profile officials will be in attendance, including An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, European Commissioner for Ocean and Fisheries Costas Kadis, and Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection Commissioner Michael McGrath. Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy Darragh O’Brien TD and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Timmy Dooley TD will also participate in the conference.

The EMD workshops will cover critical topics such as the future of the ocean economy, maritime and food security, blue energy, and the opportunities and challenges facing coastal communities. These discussions will involve maritime professionals, Irish government officials, European Commission representatives, and industry innovators.

Cork City Council Chief Executive Valerie O’Sullivan highlighted the significance of hosting the event:

“It is an honour for Cork City Council and the Government of Ireland to host European Maritime Day and to see the positive impact this conference is having on the city’s hospitality and tourism sector.”

She emphasised Cork’s maritime importance, noting: “Up to 37% of Ireland’s marine companies and 40% of our blue bioeconomy and seafood industry are based in the south of the country. Cork is also home to the country’s naval base and the National Maritime College of Ireland while the Port of Cork is one of Ireland’s main commercial ports. From a tourism perspective, Cork Harbour is Ireland’s top cruise destination with over 115,000 passengers visiting each year.”

The hospitality industry is already seeing benefits. Aaron Mansworth, Managing Director of Trigon Hotels, commented:

“European Maritime Day is a very prestigious event and we are delighted to see it in Cork. Not only will the city benefit from the conference trade but when business travellers get an opportunity to see the destination and the standard of hospitality, very often they come back with families and friends.”

The ‘European Maritime Days to Play’ festival, organised by Cork City Council, the Marine Institute, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), the Irish Naval Service, and Commissioners of Irish Lights, promises an exciting programme of activities on Albert and Kennedy Quays. Visitors can enjoy live cooking demonstrations by emerging stars of the Irish culinary scene, interactive science exhibitions, an aquaculture classroom on wheels, and tours of naval, research, patrol and buoy laying vessels.

This free family event will also mark the annual return of the Cork Harbour Festival, which runs from May 24 to June 2 with more than 80 events across Cork City and County.

The festival programme includes BIM’s ‘Taste the Atlantic – Seafood Experience’ showcasing sustainable seafood from the Atlantic coastline, and their ‘Aquaculture Remote Classroom’ offering immersive technologies to virtually explore Ireland’s mussel, oyster and salmon farms. The Marine Institute will present a science exhibition titled ‘The Wild Atlantic – What lies beneath’, featuring interactive displays about marine ecosystems, deep-sea exploration, and ocean floor mapping.

Other attractions include exhibitions from the Commissioners of Irish Lights, the Marine Regulator MARA, and the RNLI, along with entertainment from Evelyn Grant’s Cork Pops Orchestra, Boolaboom, Leeside Jazz, Citadel, and Circus Factory stiltwalkers. The Molgoggers will perform traditional sea shanties, and families can tour vessels including the European Fisheries Control Agency Patrol Vessel, the Naval Service’s LÉ Aoibhinn, the Marine Institute’s RV Tom Crean, and the ILV Granuaile.

The ‘European Maritime Days to Play’ is funded by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, Cork City Council, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), Eirgrid, the Marine Environment Section of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the maritime regulator, MARA.