Daytripper feature on Dr Michael Martin in the Cork News

 

 

Dr Michael Martin featured in the Cork News

Michael Martin (53) is the founder of Titanic Trails. A retired naval officer, he lives in Cobh with his wife, Ger. Their two sons, Gary (23) and Ken (25) work abroad.

 

I’m an early riser so I wake up around 7.30am. I read the papers on my iPhone before I get up. Breakfast is quite light, usually tea and spelt bread before I move on to office work.

When I first came up with the idea for Titanic Trails back in 1998, people laughed. They said ‘who would want to walk around Cobh? This is in industrial town, not a tourist one’. Equally, when I was campaigning to get Spike Island recognised as a heritage site, I was ignored, ridiculed and ostracised. Spike was used at all major points in Irish history, from the monastic to the War of Independence and there was a unique opportunity to preserve it. After four years of campaigning, the Government conceded and handed the island over to Cork County Council. However, the funny thing about Irish politics is that there was no acknowledgment of my involvement. My sons thought it was terrible but in reality, when I put my head down on the pillow at night I know what I did and I get great satisfaction from that.

People see you in different contexts and I think Cobh associates me more with Titanic. That wasn’t always the case. I’m from Dublin, from a working class family and I left school at 15. There were 11 children in my family, which was quite big. You do wonder now how we lived like that.

At 16, I found myself in Cork volunteering with the Simon Community, where I gained a wonderful perspective on the city. The generosity of the ordinary people is astounding. We used to do a run with a child’s pram from the house on John’s Street and a number of businesses, from bakeries to fish shops, would give us food for the homeless. When I was in the navy, I would bring buddies up to Dublin at the weekends. After telling my mother about Simon, she’d assume that they were all hungry and she always insisted on big meals for everyone, whether they had a Cork accent or not! She also felt obliged to help anyone from Cork, as on my first visit to the city, I hitchhiked in with a friend. It was midnight when we got to the outskirts of Blackpool so we decided to sleep in a bus shelter for the night! The next morning, people coming from Farranree and Gurranabraher were giving us their lunches. My mother- for the rest of her life- felt indebted to feed Cork people in return.

I joined the navy at 17. It was always a secret wish of mine. My two older brothers had gone off to sea when I was very young and we’d get letters back about flying fish in the Indian Ocean and silk jackets in Japan. However, they were on a merchant ship and I didn’t know at the time that the Irish Navy was never going to Japan! Within two years onboard, I was singled out for a promotion but took up an apprenticeship instead as an engine room artificer. I always had an insatiable appetite for new knowledge. One of the highlights of my naval career was the building of a ship in Verolme Dockyard in Cobh, complete with helicopter pad and automatic weapons. I witnessed this amazing spectacle being built from the bottom up; every nut, bolt, screw and machine… it was a fantastic experience.

In 1987 and at the age of 28, I became the youngest person in Ireland to be promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer in Ireland. At the same time, there was concern over neglect of pay and services for serving soldiers. It was felt the reason they had fallen behind other uniformed services was because they had no union. The Government didn’t respond at all, as it would underwrite its command.

Involved in this challenge, we found that the Constitution stated that all citizens have the right to associate. I gave an interview from Denmark and was immediately in breach of regulations and we sought an injunction in the High Court to stop me being charged until the constitutional case was heard, which was granted. However, before the case finished, the Government relented, and introduced new legislation allowing for two representative organisations for the armed forces, which still remain to this day.

That was a big part of my life and something I take great pride in. After being elected General Secretary of the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, which meant flying into Germany on the day of reunification to meet with East German soldiers to teach them about democracy and sitting with soldiers in Prague before they separated from Czechoslovakia, I went back to the navy to serve with the UN in Lebanon.

That was the most impressionable period in my life. You learn to appreciate what we have here in Ireland. We can bring our kids to school safely, and no matter how long you have to wait in an emergency department, there is no one stopping you from going there. I witnessed Lebanese citizens, who only wanted to cross a barrier to bring their child to the hospital being impeded by Israeli soldiers.

One night, we had half-inch shells fired right in on our camp. Thank God, they didn’t kill anyone. However, I did witness helicopters attacking a village indiscriminately. These were realities the people of South Lebanon live with every day so it does grate on me when some of the media says ‘Ireland is on its knees’. If we spent a week in Cairo and saw children in rags or 180,000 people living in a cemetery then we’d know that while we have problems here, in comparison we are lucky.

Nevertheless, there was great optimism out there too. We once had a meeting in the Lebanese city of Tyre and travelled up through areas with some firing while pockets of the city itself were also destroyed. On arriving, we put our weapons under the chairs and our flak jackets on the back; before a guy came in with great enthusiasm and started talking about tourism… it was wonderful!

I always planned to leave the Navy by the time I was 40, which for me was a watershed age. When you have a family, your perspective does change somewhat. It’s not like you love the sea any less, you just love your family more. I remember being out for three weeks when Ger was eight months pregnant with our first son. There was a dreadful storm and she just started crying out of relief when I came through the door. However, within three minutes the alarm hooters went off and someone else was in trouble out at sea. It’s a career that you never question or complain about because if someone is in trouble, you have to stop at nothing to get there. However, I felt that I wanted to get out into the world and do other things.

I’d love to have my time over. There are lots of things I’d like to get my teeth into… a lifetime is just too short! Education was a huge thing for me and I always felt that I missed out on something. In my ignorance though, I never looked into what was involved in going to university and always thought it was out of my reach financially. When mum and dad died within 16 weeks of each other, they left behind a small amount of money so I said I’d put mam’s money towards university. It turned out though she gave me a double gift, as I discovered that your primary degree doesn’t cost anything anyway!

In 2004 I did a degree in history, and later proposed a PHD thesis, which was accepted in UCC. I spent seven months in Berkley as part of an Irish/ America scholar exchange programme. For that, I’m totally indebted to Ger who suffered financial hardship because of my decision. During my time in Berkley, I wasn’t earning but she wouldn’t contemplate anything else other than my going there. My most cherished memory would be graduating and the conferring of the doctorate. However, like most people, I do tend to wonder if I really deserve it.

Away from the navy and university, a typical day now sees me organising tours, meeting advertisers for the Cobh What’s On Guide or meeting representatives from Tourism Ireland- it varies enormously. After the 11am walking tour, I usually have lunch with Ger. Something like bruschetta with tomato, basil and mozzarella. We have dinner at home. Ger is a good cook and I’m a simple eater, although I used to think I had exotic tastes many years ago! Now it’s something like roast lamb or our own Chinese and stir-fries.

I love reading and I also find great escapism in the movies. My abiding love is hill-walking, although I haven’t done that for a while.

Heading off to bed, my last thought is about my sons and my wife. My youngest is working on the Queen Mary II as a concierge and our other son flew to Australia this week for a year. I think it’s great for them to see the world, to work, while also gaining knowledge. In the end, for me, that’s what it’s all about.

 

One night, we had half-inch shells fired right in on our camp. Thank God, they didn’t kill anyone. However, I did witness helicopters attacking a village indiscriminately. These were realities the people of South Lebanon live with every day so it does grate on me when some of the media says ‘Ireland is on its knees’. If we spent a week in Cairo and saw children in rags or 180,000 people living in a cemetery then we’d know that while we have problems here, in comparison we are lucky.

Nevertheless, there was great optimism out there too. We once had a meeting in the Lebanese city of Tyre and travelled up through areas with some firing while pockets of the city itself were also destroyed. On arriving, we put our weapons under the chairs and our flak jackets on the back; before a guy came in with great enthusiasm and started talking about tourism… it was wonderful!

I always planned to leave the Navy by the time I was 40, which for me was a watershed age. When you have a family, your perspective does change somewhat. It’s not like you love the sea any less, you just love your family more. I remember being out for three weeks when Ger was eight months pregnant with our first son. There was a dreadful storm and she just started crying out of relief when I came through the door. However, within three minutes the alarm hooters went off and someone else was in trouble out at sea. It’s a career that you never question or complain about because if someone is in trouble, you have to stop at nothing to get there. However, I felt that I wanted to get out into the world and do other things.

I’d love to have my time over. There are lots of things I’d like to get my teeth into… a lifetime is just too short! Education was a huge thing for me and I always felt that I missed out on something. In my ignorance though, I never looked into what was involved in going to university and always thought it was out of my reach financially. When mum and dad died within 16 weeks of each other, they left behind a small amount of money so I said I’d put mam’s money towards university. It turned out though she gave me a double gift, as I discovered that your primary degree doesn’t cost anything anyway!

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A year in pictures on the Titanic Trail and Spike Island

2011 saw a great number of visitors coming to Cobh and taking a tour on the Titanic Trail or visiting Spike Island.

We have put together a number of pictures to share our experiences of some great days in 2011!

 

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Retracing the steps of Titanic passenger, Milton Clyde Loyd

 
Milton and the Titanic

Milton Clyde Loyd Jr was one of the many victims of the sinking of the Titanic. This video trip on the Titanic Trail explores the Irish connection with RMS Titanic, retracing the steps of the passengers who departed from Cobh to board the doomed ship.
 
 

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Christmas Greetings from the Titanic Trail

christmas grettings from teh Titanic

Christmas Greetings from the Titanic Trail

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Grand Nephew of RMS Titanic’s designer, Thomas Andrews, visits Cobh

John Andrews who is the grand-nephew of Titanic’s hero and designer, Thomas Andrews, sought out the company of Michael Martin in Cobh at the re-launch of Fr Browne’s Titanic Album. He caught up with Michael at the event and reminded him of how they had met six years previous when Michael had showed him all around Cobh and environs. John said ‘You treated us like royalty when we came, bringing us to all the sights on the Titanic Trail and the Lusitania cemetery, you even brought us to your home’.

Titanic designer Thomas Andrews

John Andrews, grand nephew of Titanic designer, THomas Andrews with Dr Michael Martin in Cobh

Dr Martin was delighted to meet John again and arranged to meet him the next day. He said later, ‘John is a direct relative of one of the very positive figures in the historical narrative of Titanic, we have promised to meet again, next time in Northern Ireland during the centenary year’.

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Spike Island Photograph Competition Rules

This post is for the members of the Cobh Camera Club, the Cork Camera Club, the East Cork Camera Club and the Carragaline Camera Club, all of whom took part in the Spike Island Photographic Competition.


The competition is sponsored by The Titanic Trail Ltd, Scott Shipping and Carlton Hotels at www.carlton.ie It is open to members of participating camera clubs who have organised their guided tours of the Island through the sponsors.

Photographers are requested to consider their pictures with any the following themes in mind:

Historical.        Flora and Fauna.         Seascape/Seashore.     Architecture/Built Heritage.

Ecclesiastical/Religious.          Penal/Imprisonment

There will be 6 category winners from among the them one overall winner chosen by judges appointed by the sponsors. Category winners will be displayed on the Titanic Trail website at www.titanic.ie . Overall winner will receive a cash prize of €200 and a voucher (valid until 1st February 2012) for 2 nights bed and breakfast from Carlton Hotels. Details of their properties can be found on www.carlton.ie

Entries of developed photographs 10’ X 8’ should be submitted by post no later than  7th December 2011 to Dr Michael Martin, c/o Cobh and Harbour Chamber, Old Yacht Club, Cobh County Cork. Entries received after this date will not be considered. Photographs will not be returned.

While remaining the property of the photographer, entry into the competition confirms permission that submitted images may be used by the sponsors in future marketing and advertising by them for Spike Island or its products. Mr Tom O’Neil MA, Manager on Spike for  Cork County Council has indicated willingness to exhibit selected entries in public areas inside Fort Mitchel on the Island.

Competition winners will be notified through their respective camera Club in December.  The decision of the sponsors will be final and without appeal. The sponsors will take great care of the entered work but decline all responsibility in case of loss, theft or deterioration during transit or during any exhibition. By the virtue of his/her participation the participant accepts these regulations. A note to this effect should be submitted with all entries.

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Cobh Town Councillors first in Ireland to complete SafeTalk course

Cobh town council are thought to be the first council in Ireland to collectively undertake a SafeTalk course raising awareness of suicide. Organised by Cobh’s ‘ Breaking the Silence’ committee, the course helps to highlights the necessary skills in recognizing the possibility of someone you know contemplating suicide. Participant are taught where they can direct such people for help. There is a heavy emphasis on listening skills and those who  completed the course are deemed to be like ‘First Aid’ assistants capable of directing people to the necessary professionals in the field. The participation of Cobh Town Council to show leadership in this regard came about as a result of a unanimous adoption of a proposal to do so tabled by Michael Martin in July of this year. Mayor Jim Quinlan immediately set about supporting the idea and participated in the course himself . Of the nine members if Cobh Town Council, seven have undertook this important course. 

Cobh Town Council

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Titanic 100th Anniversary event briefing for Cobh Businesses

Members of the Cobh business community have been invited to attend a special briefing on The Series of Events planned to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic next year.

Marc Anderson, Project Director of Titanic 100 Cobh 2012, will outline the event schedule in detail next Monday, 21st November, at 6 p.m. in the Commodore Hotel. Giving all Cobh businesses the opportunity to understand what is proposed, the reasons for the initiative, and to receive feedback from the business sector on the planned events.

As Cobh was the last port of call for the Titanic and the town plays a very significant part of the Titanic story.  Titanic 100 Cobh 2012 will mark this globally recognised occasion. The series of commemorative events will run throughout 2012 and many of them will be outdoors in locations such as the promenade and adjoining streets in town. There will be a requirement to close some of the roads to traffic within the main town area at various times, so it is important that local businesses attend this meeting so they are aware of the proposals.

“Titanic 100 Cobh 2012 is a series to remember the Titanic and the people associated with her in a major way,” noted Marc. “The centenary only comes around once and we must make the most of this opportunity as there is only one ‘last port of call’. We would like as many people in Cobh to be involved and we look forward to their support.  Not only will we have the opportunity to remember the Titanic, it is our chance to bring more visitors into the area and boost the local economy. We want to commemorate the magnificent Titanic and the people involved with her in a special way. We want the people of Ireland and abroad to be more aware of Cobh’s significance in the story of Titanic. We want our beautiful town to continue to prosper in the same way as other towns that rely on tourism do.”

 

Cobh Business Community Briefing details:

When: 6 pm – 7 pm Monday 21st November

Where: The Commodore Hotel — The Jack Doyle Room

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New Titanic BBC documentary filmed in Cobh recently

A new BBC documentary scheduled to air in April 1912 was being filmed in Cobh recently.

Titanic documentary, Titanic filming, Titanic Cobh

Dr Martin with 360 productions film crew and Helen Kiernan

Entitled ‘Titanic and me’ the story line concentrates on Helen Kiernan from County Longford whose two Grand Uncles, Philip and John were lost when the Titanic sank in April 1912.

 

Titanic relative, grandniece of Titanic victims, titanic cobh

Dr Martin and Helen Kiernan

They had boarded the ship in Cobh (then Queenstown) with friends and neighbours from home. In the Documentary Helen comes to Cobh for the first time ever and is met by Dr Martin who takes her through the town, showing her the places and buildings where her relatives would have visited and seen before they embarked on that fateful journey.

Helen said on the day ‘it’s very moving to be shown the actual buildings they embarked from and to be in the harbour they were in before they left’.

 

filming in Cobh, Titanic film,

Dr MIchael Martin examining the shot

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Titanic Trail attends ‘Flavours of Ireland’ workshop in London

The Failte Ireland “Flavours of Ireland” event in London brought many influential GB-based incoming tour operators to a workshop with over 70 Irish tourism partners.

Flavours of Ireland travel workshop

Dr Martin meeting prospective tour operators in London.

The London Russell hotel was the venue this year for the annual ‘Flavours of Ireland’ Tourism workshop. Product providers pay Tourism Ireland a fee to participate in the event which seeks to bring together the tour operators that send people to Ireland with the product providers. There were over 170 UK Ireland incoming operators there to meet more than 40 business interests including the Titanic Trail. Dr Martin engaged with many of the operators in the hope of bringing new business to Cobh. The entire event was themed around the Titanic centenary for next year.

Delegates attending the workshop in London

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