Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Danny Collins and Cllr. Marie O’Sullivan, Chair of Cork County Council’s Bandon-Kinsale Municipal District, has welcomed ‘L’Austral’ to Kinsale as the season’s first cruise ship.
The luxury expedition ship owned by French company ‘Ponant’ arrived on April 26th with 185 passengers who enjoyed unobstructed views of the iconic Charles Fort from their anchorage.
Arriving ashore on tender boats, delighted passengers enjoyed traditional music by young musicians from Ballinspittle Comhaltas accompanied by Irish dancers on the pier.
Mayor Collins commented,
“I am delighted to welcome the first cruise ship of the season to Kinsale and to West Cork. We have so much to offer cruise visitors in Cork County, from stunning landscapes and fascinating history to vibrant culture and delicious cuisine. I am confident that our guests from L’Austral had a memorable experience in Kinsale and I look forward to welcoming many more cruise visitors to our shores in the coming months.”
Passengers were welcomed to Kinsale by Cllr. Marie O’Sullivan, Chair of Cork County Council’s Bandon-Kinsale Municipal District.
“Cork is Ireland’s Maritime Haven, and few places have the facilities, environment, people, and culture that we have to offer to cruise visitors. These cruise tourists are more likely than any others to return for a holiday to a destination they visit on a cruise. This is one of the reasons why Cork County Council is so active in promoting the region as a cruise destination.”