Lusitania Commemoration

The wreaths laid at the memorial

On a very blustery but dry Sunday the annual Lusitania Commemoration organised by Cobh Tourism was held at the Old Church Cemetery and at the Lusitania Peace Memorial in Casement Square. Musical honours were provided by St. Colman’s Pipe Band and the Commodore Choir and the prayers were led by Fr. Michael Leamy and Rev. Brian O’Reilly. Wreaths were laid on behalf of Cobh Town Council, Cobh Tourism, the O.N.E., the Royal Naval Association, the Cork Titanic Society and Lady Loder in memory of the Warren Pearl family. Representatives of Cobh Town Council, Dáil Eireann, Cobh and Harbour Chamber, the Royal British Legion, the Irish Naval Service and the Port of Cork also attended.

Commodore Choir and Lone Piper Emma Alcock

In the town centre ceremony, historian Jack Gilmartin gave a moving account of the events of 7th May 1915 that saw almost 1200 loose their lives when the Lusitania sank after being torpedoed by a German U Boat. The people of Cobh did all that they could to assist in the rescue efforts and to help those fortunate to survive the tragedy.

The Chairman of Cobh Tourism, Hendrick Verwey thanked all those who attended or took part in the commemoration and made the point that if we forgot those who lost their lives on that day, we forget the reasons why they lost their lives and become liable to make the same mistakes again.

O.N.E. lead the Parade to the Lusitania Peace memorial

MC Cobh Tourism Board Member and Councillor Jim Quinlan

Lady Loder who laid a wreath in memory of the last survivor of the Lusitania tragedy who died in January and all the Warren Pearl family