The Irish Tricolour will be ceremonially raised in the Promenade in Cobh on Wednesday 11th July 2018 in commemoration of the handover of the Treaty Ports in 1938.
The Irish Tricolour was raised for the first time ever on Spike Island at 8pm on 11th July 1938 by then Taoiseach Eamon De Valera. This was an occasion for great celebration in Cobh and around Cork Harbour as earlier in the day British troops had vacated the forts of Cork Harbour.
This ceremony will commence at 2pm in the Promenade and the flag is expected to be raised at 2.30pm, simultaneous with the raising of the Tricolour over Fort Mitchel on Spike Island where the 80th anniversary of the handing over of the Fort is being celebrated.
The Spike Island Flag Raising Ceremony was initiated in Cobh in 2007 by the Spike Island Heritage Committee. The committee successfully highlighted the vast history of Spike Island and its tourism and amenity potential. Plans to build a super prison on the island were shelved and Spike Island was handed over by the Department of Justice to Cork County Council.
Cobh Tourism and the Cobh branch O.N.E are organising the event this year, allowing for a greater awareness among visitors to Cobh of a highly significant date in Irish history.
Photo shows Michael Kelly RIP, retired sergeant in the Irish Army who was present on Spike Island in 1938, raising the flag at a previous ceremony
