Latest news with #EuropeanMaritimeDay
Irish Examiner
22-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Gender disparities in marine sector in focus at European Maritime Day event in Cork
Huge employment opportunities will arise from offshore energy projects coming on stream in Ireland but a gender disparity in the industry means many women will miss out. The barriers to women entering the blue economy are being explored in Cork this week as part of European Maritime Day (EMD) 2025 in Cork city. Organised by the European Commission, with Cork City Council, the Government, and the Port of Cork, EMD 2025 is the flagship event for the European maritime community, bringing together up to 1,000 maritime professionals to discuss joint action on marine policy, fisheries, offshore renewables, and the future of the sustainable blue economy. As part of the EMD 2025 event, a workshop is taking place on Thursday discussing the importance of gender balance for sustainable ocean governance and innovation in the blue economy. The WinBig project is a Europe-wide project with partners across Europe, including the University of Galway and the Marine Institute. 'We are trying to understand the barriers and issues when entering this industry in terms of employment because it is very much male-dominated," said Jenny O'Leary, who works in Strategic Planning and Development with the Marine Institute. Ms O'Leary pointed out that the ocean economy is growing at a faster rate than the overall economy in Ireland, with offshore energy likely to lead to further growth. Most recent figures show Ireland's ocean economy employs almost 40,000 people directly and gross added value of €2.72bn. One issue which has emerged is a lack of visibility for female marine 'champions' in Ireland and Europe, and a film documentary project being filmed in Cork is one of the initiatives addressing this. Female marine leaders in Ireland are being interviewed filming as part of the European documentary project Women from the Sea, co-ordinated by Raquel Clemente Martins from Portugal. The project aims to 'empower women in oceanic careers and inspire the next generation of ocean leaders to broaden perspectives and drives tangible change'. Three days of filming have taken place in Cork. Meanwhile a free maritime-themed family festival running along Cork's city quays is taking place on Friday May 23 and Saturday May 24. Over €2m will be spent in Cork across the EMD events.
Irish Examiner
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
In pictures: Ahoy! 16th-century Spanish galleon docks in Cork City
A stunning Spanish galleon has sailed into Cork City for European Maritime Day (EMD). The 16th-century replica, named Galeón Andalucía, has made its first-ever visit to Cork. Galeón Andalucía, a 16th-century Spanish galleon replica, arrives in Cork for European Maritime Day. Picture: Tadhg O'Keeffe/Port Of Cork The Port of Cork has welcomed the ship — which is a reconstruction of the ships that once served the Spanish Empire, crossed the Atlantic, and fought off pirates in the Caribbean. According to the Port of Cork, it currently sails the world as a floating museum and sail training vessel, sharing centuries of seafaring history with the world. The ship will be docked in Cork until Sunday, May 26, and will be open daily from Thursday onwards between 10am to 8pm. Galeón Andalucía, a 16th-century Spanish galleon replica, arrives in Cork for European Maritime Day. Picture: Aiden Fleming/Port Of Cork The arrival of the ship coincides with Cork City hosting the EMD conference this year. It is the annual flagship community showing the latest developments in the EU blue economy. The conference is taking place at City Hall and adjoining venues over three days from May 21 to 23. Galeón Andalucía, a 16th-century Spanish galleon replica, arrives in Cork for European Maritime Day. Picture: Tadhg O'Keeffe/Port Of Cork A free family-friendly festival — European Maritime Days to Play — will also take place on the city's quays from 11am to 7pm on Friday and from 10am to 6pm on Saturday. Read More Páidí Ó Sé's granddaughter Fiadh wins world Irish dancing title at just 10 years old
Irish Examiner
21-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Experts from over 40 countries to attend European Maritime Day conference in Cork
The European Maritime Day conference, which kicks off today, will host experts from over 40 countries to discuss a range of topics – from maritime security to coastal tourism and marine pollution to ocean energy. An estimated 1,000 people will descend on Cork for the three-day event, with the conference workshops taking place in City Hall and adjoining venues. A free family-friendly festival will be held along the city quays on Friday and Saturday. People working in the maritime sector will be travelling from China, Canada, Japan, Africa, Denmark, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, France, and Germany to the event. Taoiseach Micheál Martin is due to attend the conference, as will European Commissioner for Ocean and Fisheries, Costas Kadis, as well as Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection Commissioner, Michael McGrath. Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, Darragh O'Brien and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Timmy Dooley are also scheduled to take part. The conference is organised by Cork City Council, the Government and the European Commission. Sisters Saoirse Healy (aged 8) and Caoimhe Healy (aged 10) at last month's launch of the free family-friendly maritime celebration, 'European Maritime Days to Play' which will be held this weekend in Cork to mark the city hosting Europe's premier maritime conference. Picture: Clare Keogh Cork City Council Chief Executive, Valerie O'Sullivan said: '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. "The importance of the maritime sector to Cork and the national economy is significant. Up to 37% of Ireland's marine companies and 40% of our blue bio-economy and seafood industry are based in the south of the country.' She pointed out that the Naval Service is based at Haulbowline, the National Maritime College of Ireland, part of Munster Technological University, is located in Ringaskiddy and that 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,' she added. It is estimated that more than €2m will be spent in Cork over the three days. The workshops attract a number of highly topical issues and leading speakers. The discussion on the EU's response to maritime security involves top French, Italian, and Greek naval and coast guard officers. A related workshop of protecting subsea infrastructure includes Camino Kavanagh, a visiting senior fellow of the Department of War Studies at King's College London and Lieutenant Commander Mike Brunicardi of the Irish Naval Service. The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) will examine the EU Maritime Security Strategy. The Irish Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA), located in Wexford, will discuss the 'complex' area of maritime regulation and EU directives and hold a workshop on improving co-operation between maritime practitioners, bodies and regulators. Read More Ireland to join intel-sharing alliance amid fears over threat to subsea cables
Irish Examiner
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Free family maritime festival to take over Cork's quays this May
A free maritime-themed family festival will take place along Cork's city quays next month as the city hosts a major European maritime conference. The two-day European Maritime Days to Play festival, featuring tours of naval and research vessels, street performances, cooking demos, and live music along Albert Quay and Kennedy Quay, will coincide with the European Maritime Day conference, which runs from May 21 to 23, hosted by Cork City Council and the Government. The conference will bring up to 1,000 maritime professionals together from across Europe to network, discuss and outline a range of proposed joint actions on maritime affairs, including fisheries and maritime security, to exploring the potential of the sustainable blue economy, including off-shore renewables. The conference, which will be attended by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, European fisheries commissioner Costas Kadis, and MEP Michael McGrath, will take place at City Hall and other nearby sites from May 21 to 23. But the free maritime festival for the public will spill out onto the quays on the Friday and Saturday, May 23 and 24, to engage the city. Saoirse Healy at the launch of the festival. It will involve input from the city council, the Marine Institute, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), the Irish Naval Service and Commissioners of Irish Lights. The programme of events includes cooking demos by rising stars of the Irish culinary world, with a focus on seafood, interactive science exhibitions, as well as opportunities to explore an aquaculture classroom on wheels and to tour some of the country's naval, research, patrol and buoy laying vessels. BIM's Taste the Atlantic: Seafood Experience event showcasing the Atlantic coastline's sustainable seafood will be on the quays, hosting cooking demos by BIM Taste the Atlantic Young Chef ambassadors. The Marine Institute's science exhibition will include a series of interactive displays and exhibits exploring the marine world, from the rocky seashore to the deep sea. The Commissioners of Irish Lights, the marine regulator Mara, and the RNLI will also have stands, and there will be an exhibition on the history of Irish lighthouses from 1786. The programme will also feature creative activities, from street performances to live music and children's entertainment, with the army band, Evelyn Kelly and the Cork Pops Orchestra, and various circus acts among the performers. The European Fisheries Control Agency's patrol vessel, the Naval Service's LÉ Aoibhinn, the Marine Institute's RV Tom Crean and the Commissioners of Irish Lights' ILV Granuaile will be open to the public on the Saturday for tours. The event is being funded by the Department of Environment, Cork City Council, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, EirGrid, the marine environment section of the Department of Heritage, and Mara. Lord Mayor, Cllr Dan Boyle, said the city was honoured to host European Maritime Day conference. 'To celebrate this event and Cork's rich maritime heritage, people of all ages can enjoy the free and fun 'European Maritime Days to Play', which will increase understanding around how our river, harbour, seas and oceans enrich our lives," he said. Council chief executive Valerie O'Sullivan said the city was delighted to be working with Government to welcome some of Europe's leading maritime experts to Leeside. 'As we know, the marine sector, bioeconomy, seafood industry and maritime commercial companies play a key role in the Cork economy, providing quality jobs to our highly educated workforce and coastal communities, while marine tourism is thriving along the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland's Ancient East,' she said. The festival also marks the annual return of the Cork Harbour Festival, which runs from May 24 to June 2, with more than 80 events being staged at a dozen locations across the city and county. Read More Cork Airport to welcome 62,500 passengers this May bank holiday weekend
