Commemorate, Remember and Embark on the history of the Titanic

2012 is the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s maiden (and only) voyage. Everyone has heard of the fateful Titanic, but many do not know that Ireland played a huge part in the history of the Titanic. In fact, the Titanic was built in Belfast and Cobh, then Queenstown, was the Titanic’s last port of call. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Titanic, Cobh in County Cork, Ireland will play host to a memorable series of events designed to remember and pay tribute to the Titanic and all who have been involved with her. Whether you are a history buff, had relatives on the Titanic or are just looking for a good excuse to trek over to the Emerald Isle, Cobh is the place to be in 2012. Plan your Ireland Vacation with Celtic Tours World Vacations.

For the last century, the world has been intrigued by the story of the largest passenger liner at the time that many thought was unsinkable. Built in Belfast between 1909 and 1912, the Titanic was the 2nd of 3 huge ocean lines operated by the White Star Line and was the largest ship in the world. The interior of the Titanic held the highest standard of opulence. Extending over 6 floors, the Grand Staircase with its domed ceiling and carved balustrades is probably the most recognizable interior feature of the ship. The Titanic passenger list ranged from the richest people in the world to the poorest; it is perhaps the range of people on board with a wide range of reasons for travel that makes the ship’s story so fascinating. The Titanic’s final port of call was Queenstown, modern day Cobh, Ireland. On the night of April 14th, she struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic and was so badly damaged that she survived for less than 3 hours before she sank. Over 1500 people, two-thirds of the Titanic’s passengers and crew, drowned because there were not enough lifeboats to rescue everyone on board.

The picturesque seaport town of Cobh boasts one of the largest natural harbors in the world, and has a long and interesting maritime history because of it. Being a major transatlantic port, Cobh was the departure point for many Irish emigrants to North America, and was the finalport of call for the RMS Titanic.

Visitors to Cobh will find the Cobh Heritage Center a great place to start in learning about the unique history of Ireland through the 18th and 19th century including mass emigration, the Great Famine and on how criminals were transported to Australia for petty crimes. The Cobh Heritage Center also hosts an interesting and informative exhibit on the Titanic.

The Titanic Experience, due to open on February 1, 2012 in Cobh, is a new permanent visitor attraction situated in the original offices of The White Star Line. The location marks the departure point for the last 123 passengers who boarded the Titanic. The Titanic Experience brings the characters of the Titanic to life through innovative audio visual technology such as cinematic shows, scene sets, holographic imagery and touch screen technology.

Cobh is surely rich in Titanic and maritime history, and 2012 is an exquisite time to visit Ireland to commemorate the history and stories of the people aboard the Titanic. Events are scheduled throughout the year of 2012, with the week of April 9 – 15 set aside for flagship commemoration events.

There is truly something for everyone this year in Cobh. Travel to Ireland just to experience the history of the Titanic, or include a stop to Cobh on your next tour of Ireland with Celtic Tours World Vacations to embark on the history of the Titanic. Cobh is included on many of our Escorted Tours to Ireland and can also make a great stop on your next self-drive tour of Ireland. Check out our website for all of our Ireland vacations!

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