With the Cape Breton Island Clipper port activation in Kinsale and Cork, Ireland, in early July, events were organized with the purpose of promoting Cape Breton as a tourism destination through its culture, while providing a focus on the Celtic Colours International Festival and members of the Celtic Heart of North America Cooperative.

The events presented Cape Breton music and dance alongside Irish music and dance and involved audience participation via two outdoor performance with street dancing in the town square in Kinsale and again in Cork, a parade in which Cape Breton musicians led the crowd with Canadian and Cape Breton Island flags waving to bagpipe and fiddle music, a sail onboard the CAPE BRETON ISLAND yacht, with the grand finale being a Ceili reception in Cork. 

 

Our Commemoration of Friendship was signed by the Mayor of County Cork, Jim Daly, in a brief ceremony aboard the Cape Breton yacht in Kinsale marina.

 

Mayor Daly said he was delighted to be invited to add his signature: “From what I hear, County Cork and Cape Breton Island have a lot in common when it comes to a friendly welcome. It’s a fascinating history and I’m honoured to sign the Commemoration of Friendship.”

 

The activation was notable for the contacts and exposure that the Cape Breton delegation received. Throughout the eight days the delegation was in Ireland, there were repeated opportunities to highlight the shared Celtic heritage between Cape Breton and Ireland and to promote Cape Breton as the Celtic Heart of North America.

 

During several events, including the Clipper luncheon hosted by the Cork Chamber of Commerce, Cape Breton Island was cited by Sir Robin Knox Johnson and other senior officials with Clipper Ventures, as the example of how to use the Clipper Race to promote economic development and to profile awareness about Cape Breton Island around the world.

 

Events such as the Cape Breton Ceili on July 8, where we brought together business, government and other stakeholders, was a prime example of channeling our resources to promote Cape Breton tourism in Ireland.

 

Suzanne Cormie, Senior Trade Commissioner and Canadian Consulate General to Ireland, was impressed with Cape Breton’s activation and was on hand for our Ceili where she offered words of congratulations. Perhaps as important, she was in attendance at the Cork Chamber luncheon on July 7 to hear the accolades for Cape Breton and our activation activities.

 

Cultural Mission participants were:

 

Celtic Colours International Festival

Celtic Heart of North America Marketing Cooperative

The Beaton Sisters Band

Burton MacIntyre – dance instructor

Tara Rankin – Gaelic singer

 

The Irish mission was lead by Donna MacKenzie and Allan Murphy from ECBC.