| Australia Day in Cobh July 24th! | |
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| Topic Started: July 20 2011, 09:34 PM (336 Views) | |
| Audi-Tek | July 20 2011, 09:34 PM Post #1 |
Prince
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Australia Day in Cobh July 24th On 24th July – for one day only, Cobh transforms into an authentic mingling of Irish and Australian cultures as 1500 Australians step ashore from the Cruise liner Dawn Princess. The liner berths right in the centre of the Cork Harbour town as it continues its 105 day World cruise that started in Sydney on 25th May! Cobh (formerly Queenstown) is a heritage town rich in maritime and emigration history. Throughout the course of its history, Cobh has seen 2.5m people leave Ireland through its port and has been visited and maintains a strong connection with the most famous ships in the world, past and present including the RMS Titanic, RMS Lusitania and the Queen Victoria. It is however the transportation of convicts from Ireland to Australia that inextricably links Cobh and Australia. Between 1791 and 1853 approximately 26,500 Irish people were transported to Australia, many for trivial offences. Many were incarcerated on Spike Islandin Cork Harbour while awaiting transportation and visitors to Cobh now have the opportunity to take a guided walking tour of the famousSpike Island. Following the end of transportation there followed the planned migration of Irish people to Australia, many of whom became prosperous. It’s been over 150 years since a shipload of people left Ireland for Australia and this is only the second time ever that Australia has sent a shipload back! Following the resounding success of Australia Day in Cobh in 2009 when the Dawn Princess arrived for the first time in Cobh on the first ever World circumnavigation from Sydney to Sydney, See You in Cobh and Cobh Tourism have decided to once again organise this marvellous and unique homecoming. The visitors from down under and the people of Cobh and Cork will enjoy together a day of welcoming events and festivities. The day’s festivities include the sizzle of barbecues and incredibly delectable food stalls, masterly crafted local arts and crafts, traditional music that will have locals and visitors alike tapping their feet, Irish Dancing displays, an air sea helicopter rescue display with the Waterford based Coastguard helicopter and a performance by the Band of 1 Southern Brigade. Fascinating window displays in the town’s shops will depict life in Australia. Will, as in 2009, the Sydney Opera House, Ayer’s Rock and the Sydney Harbour Bridgeappear to be “For Sale” in the Real Estate Agents windows? The Mayor of Cobh, Councillor Jim Quinlan will welcome the Australian Ambassador Mr. Bruce Davies who will officiate at the Blessing of the Bonnets ceremony. ‘Roses from the Heart’ is a unique memorial to the 25,566 convict women transported to Australia from Irelandand Britain from 1788 to 1853. On Australia Day in Cobh this very unique and special event will take place at Cobh Heritage Centre at 12 noon to commemorate these women. Roses from the Heart is the concept of Christina Henri, an artist at The University Of Tasmania. The project involves the making of a bonnet , similar to that worn at the time, to commemorate the life and contribution each of the transported women made towards the founding of a new nation. Already 15000 of these bonnets have been contributed from all parts of the world, many from the descendants of those originally transported. To round off the day the Cobh Confraternity Band will play on the quayside as the Dawn Princess sails for Bermuda to continue its 104 night odyssey around the World. Will the traditional “Anchors Aweigh” be replaced by “Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport” as 1500 happy Australians are given a traditional Cobh farewell with white handkerchiefs and Australian and Irish flags waving? The only way to find out is to be there and be a part of this unique occasion.  Dawn Princess is a Sun class cruise ship built in 1997 in Italy operated by Princess Cruises. The ship features eight restaurants, four swimming pools, five Jacuzzis, seven lounges and bars, and two children centres. Some restaurants offer “anytime dining” where passengers can dine with whom they want, when they want. She is the sister ship to Sun Princess, P&O's Oceana (former Ocean Princess) and Sea Princess. As of 2009, Dawn Princess sails Australia and New Zealand year round. Dawn Princess was targeted to replace Pacific Princess, sailing Australian waters between October 2006 and March 2007, to become the largest ship ever to be based in Australia, but these plans were eventually replaced by Sun Princess as well as being served by Pacific Dawn (previously christened Regal Princess). Dawn Princess is now in Australia as of September 24, 2008, beginning its run with a 28-day itinerary circumnavigating Australia, after a month serving Hawaii, Tahiti, and the South Pacific.[4] From this point on, Dawn Princess will remain in Australia permanently sailing from Sydney, Melbourne and Perth alongside Sun Princess. In June 2009, Dawn Princess was dry-docked in Brisbane, Australia, for refurbishment. During the refit, a Movies Under the Stars screen was added to the main pool area, making Dawn Princess the tenth ship in the Princess fleet to offer this feature. Another addition was the Retreat, an adults-only private sunbathing area at the front of the ship, as well as a refurbishment of the photo gallery and maintenance of other public rooms. Career Name: Dawn Princess Owner: Carnival Corporation & plc Operator: Princess Cruises Port of registry: Bermuda, Hamilton Route: Australia and New Zealand Builder: Fincantieri, Italy Cost: US$300 million Yard number: Monfalcone 5955 Launched: 11 July 1996 Maiden voyage: May 1997 Refit: June 2009 Identification: Call sign: ZCBU2 IMO number: 9103996 MMSI no.: 310437000 Status: Operational General characteristics Class and type: Sun class Type: cruise ship Tonnage: 77,499 GT 8.293 DWT Length: 266 m (873 ft) Beam: 32 m (105 ft) Draught: 8.3 m (27 ft) Decks: 10 passenger decks Deck clearance: 3.208 m (10.52 ft) Installed power: Diesel-electric 46,080 kW Propulsion: Two propellers Speed: 21 kn (38.89 km/h) max Capacity: 1,990 passengers Crew: 900 |
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| Audi-Tek | July 24 2011, 03:36 PM Post #2 |
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Prince
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 .The Dawn Princess berthed in Cobh today.It leaves at approx 5pm this evening for Bermuda. |
| Why is cloud 9 so amazing ? What is wrong with cloud 8 ? | |
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