BBC Titanic ‘a part of Cobh’s history’ was one of the hightlights of the week.

RTE Nationwide visited Cobh to get a flavour of the type of events planned to mark the centenary of its sinking.

UTV presented a documentary about one of the last letters to be sent from the Titanic, dated 11 April 1912, was brought ashore to be posted from Cobh
Titanic ‘last letter’ sent 100 years ago

BBC featured the arrival of the Balmoral memorial cruise in Cobh with a short documentary Titanic memorial cruise reaches Cobh in Irish Republic

UTV – Cobh Reflects also highlighted our commemoration

One of the most tragic stories from Ireland relating to the is the Titanic Addergoole fourteen BBC again have a very intersting feature that you can read here

Last weekend the 38th and 40th Scout Brigade from Ballinlough visited the island and had a great day out!

38 and 40th Ballinlough Scout brigade on Spike Island

Dr. Michael Martin at the new Titanic Museum in Belfast

I have been to all the major Titanic attractions around the world but I can safely say this is not just a Belfast attraction, it is not just an Irish one, I think this an attraction that will bring people from all over the world to our island of Ireland. In my discussions with international tour operators I pointed out that Cobh is less than four and a half hours away and that we too have a fantastic facility, another part of the story and another means of interpretation. The new Titanic Experience in Cobh makes the very best use of the size of the building in which it is housed and the despite the grandeur and scale of the Titanic Belfast, nobody around the world is able to match the reality of the fact that the Cobh museum is the only one that can boast that real Titanic passengers stood in the very rooms that you visit.  Among the many, Lords Ladies, Mayors and Glitterati that were welcomed by the First Minister Peter Robinson that night, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, in his address acknowledged the presence of representative of Cobh and meeting him earlier on he told me he was really delighted that we had come to be there. Our own Mayor Jim Quinlan was a guest of Belfast’s Mayor that night. There is an air of optimism in Belfast that is as refreshing as a new page, the former drab, and grief stricken atmosphere of a city in conflict seems to have been shed and listening to the two Ministers it is clear that a new era has begun in Northern Ireland. Equally for us in Cobh what we have not got in scale we have in authenticity, in visual amenity, in heritage and beauty.  The very people at the forefront of the developments in the North were here with me last week. I brought them on the Titanic Trail and into the Titanic Experience and despite their proximity to the magnificent Belfast Experience they were delighted enthralled and genuinely impressed with our product here. Those men and women on the opening night treated me like an old friend, an old friend that gave them an appreciation of an area and an historical legacy they had not been aware of. Long may it last?

When you have done the Titanic Trail in Cobh, when you have gone through the Titanic Experience here, when you have visited our museums, Spike Island and the new Titanic Trail Harbour tour, then go to Belfast, see their side of the story and be uplifted by what can be achieved if people work together. For more info on our local tours visit www.titanic.ie

If there is sufficient interest Jim Halligan will be offering a fortnightly overnight mini bus trip to Belfast and already a number of people have been asking.

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.

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

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.
 
 

Christmas Greetings from the Titanic Trail

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’.

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 1^st 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  7^th 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.