Lusitania Anniversary events 2009 - 2015

[KEV]

Found this relating to this tragedy
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Ireland/County_Cork/Cobh-296403/Things_To_Do-Cobh-The_Lusitania_Memorial-BR-1.html

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Thank you for the link, Kev.

An Irish Flickr contact of mine, Margaret Keogh, has just been to the ceremony and has posted her photos here :

https://www.flickr.com/search/?q=lusitania&w=36095498%40N02

One of these days, I shall get to Cobh too and shall visit those graves...

[Twynkle]

Thank you, Isabelle
There is still 'water to go under the bridge' regarding theories, possibilities and facts regarding the cause / reasons for her sinking...

Queen Victoria is sailing to Cobh next year as Cunard commemorate the 100 years of the loss of life as well as the ship.
Personally, I believe this could be one of the most poignant of all Cunard's events - she was a beautiful ship, one full of promise; it was her sinking that caused significant change in the political thinking on both sides of the Atlantic at that time.
http://www.cunard.co.uk/campaigns/anniversary-cruises/175-celebration/lusitania/

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

There is also an annual ceremony in Cobh on 7 May, about which we have written towards the top of this thread.

Cobh seems to be the trustee of the Lusitania heritage much like Halifax looks after that of Titanic. I am ashamed to say that I have been to Halifax (on board QE2), but not yet to Cobh in my own country...

[Twynkle]

Next time Isabelle -  when and if you have time...
http://www.heritagetowns.com/cobhlarge1.shtml
Cobh harbour is a lovely small town....maybe you could hitch a lift on QV on her next roundabout UK and Ireland!   
(I'm being serious here, 'don't you know' ( ) - QV on the inside is the nearest possible ship to having the lovely warm, friendly  feeling that QE2 gave us - promise!  Otherwise, it's tempting to offer to drive you down, however sailing in to Cobh would be so much better!)
Rosie

[Lynda Bradford]

Visit Cobh have posted details of some of this year's events to commemorate the sinking of the Lusitania
http://visitcobh.com/index.php/2014/11/17/cobh-to-mark-lusitania-sinking/

[Rob Lightbody]

100 YEARS ON, NEW MEMORIALS UNVEILED AT THE OLD CHURCH IN COBH, IRELAND, GIVE RECOGNITION FOR THOSE OF LUSITANIA’S DEAD WHO LIE BURIED THERE IN MASS GRAVES

100 YEARS ON, NEW MEMORIAL WALLS UNVEILED AT THE OLD CHURCH CEMETERY IN COBH, IRELAND, GIVE RECOGNITION BY NAME FOR THOSE OF LUSITANIA’S DEAD WHO LIE BURIED THERE IN MASS GRAVES

Four glass memorial walls were unveiled today in the churchyard above the town of Cobh, Ireland, where many of those who lost their lives in the Lusitania disaster exactly 100 years ago lie buried in mass graves.

The ceremony to name all of Lusitania's victims buried at the site, including those lying unrecognised in the mass graves, took place as Cunard’s Queen Victoria called at Cobh today to mark the sinking of the line’s flagship Lusitania in a tragedy that changed the rules of engagement at sea. The ceremony took place prior to a larger service of remembrance on the seafront of Cobh.

At the Old Church Cemetery, wreaths were laid John Mullins, Chairman of the Port of Cork; David Dingle, Chairman of Cunard; and Councillor Alan Coleman, Mayor of County Cork. Commodore of the Cunard fleet and master of Cunard's Queen Victoria, Christopher Rynd, welcomed the addition of the memorial walls .

Of the nearly 1,200 people who lost their lives on 7 May 1915, 289 bodies were recovered and 170 are buried in Cobh’s Churchyard.

David Dingle:

“100 years on since so many people lost their lives when Lusitania was sunk, it is fitting that the souls buried here without recognition are now named on this memorial wall and their sacrifice is remembered.”

[Rob Lightbody]

Irish President Michael D Higgins arrived in the port of Cobh today with a full naval service guard of honour to lead a service to mark the loss of the Lusitania exactly 100 years ago.

British Ambassador Dominick Chilcott, US Ambassador Kevin O’Malley and German embassy Charge d’Affaires Wolfram von Heynitz also attended the service

Blasts on Queen Victoria’s ship’s whistle marked the time exactly 100 year before when Lusitania was hit (2.10pm) and when the ship sank just 18 minutes later (2.28pm).

Music interspersed readings given by John Mullins, Chairman of the Port of Cork, and David Dingle, Chairman of Cunard.

A moving survivors account of the disaster was read by Commodore of the Cunard Fleet Christopher Rynd, before wreaths were laid at the poignant Lusitania Peace Monument in the town square.

[June Ingram]

A most fitting recognition.

[Chris]

An account of the voyage is here: http://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/index.php/updates/Lusitania-remembered/