Community Investment & Sponsorship

The Port of Cork provides ongoing support to a wide range of local sporting, cultural, educational and charitable initiatives across Cork Harbour and the wider region.

Our sponsorships and partnerships support:

• Maritime and watersports activities, including sailing and rowing, helping to sustain Cork Harbour’s strong maritime heritage
• Grassroots and youth sports, promoting participation, teamwork, physical wellbeing and positive development
• Community and cultural events, celebrating local identity and fostering civic pride
• Education and youth initiatives, supporting schools, creative programmes and personal development
• Health, wellbeing and inclusion programmes, including initiatives that promote mental health awareness and equality

Through this approach, we aim to deliver lasting social value while strengthening connections with communities in Cork Harbour and beyond.

Maintaining Safe & Sustainable Navigation

The Port of Cork plays a vital role in keeping Cork Harbour and the city quays safely accessible through regular maintenance dredging campaigns.

These operations are carried out using a Trailing Hopper Suction Dredger (THSD), which gently removes naturally accumulated silt from the seabed using a draghead system. The material is pumped into the vessel and transported to a designated licensed disposal site.

Maintenance dredging is essential to:

• Keep navigation channels and berths clear
• Support safe vessel movements
• Ensure the smooth flow of trade to and from Ireland

All dredging works are conducted in compliance with environmental regulations and best practice.

Protecting Biodiversity in Cork Harbour

Protecting and enhancing biodiversity is a key pillar of the Port of Cork’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme. We are committed to balancing port operations with the protection of Cork Harbour’s rich and diverse natural environment through practical, science-led initiatives.

The Port actively supports Common Terns, a nationally important, amber-listed migratory bird species that breeds in Cork Harbour. To support their conservation, the Port provides purpose-built artificial nesting pontoons in suitable harbour locations. These structures incorporate anti-predator measures and have proven highly effective in improving breeding success and supporting local bird diversity.

The nesting sites are closely monitored throughout the breeding season under the supervision of a professional ornithologist, with monitoring support from students in the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science at University College Cork (UCC).

Cobh Harbour to Host Ireland’s First Living Seawalls in Cork

In parallel, the Port of Cork is proud to support Ireland’s first Living Seawall, a pioneering marine biodiversity project in Cobh Harbour, also delivered in partnership with UCC. Living Seawalls enhance traditional harbour infrastructure by retrofitting quay walls with textured, modular panels that create valuable habitats for marine life, including algae, invertebrates and juvenile fish. These nature-based solutions help increase biodiversity, improve water quality and support healthier harbour ecosystems.

The Living Seawall project places strong emphasis on education and community engagement, with local schools, community groups and citizen scientists invited to participate in monitoring activities. Scientific oversight is led by UCC researchers, ensuring robust data collection and long-term ecological understanding.

Together, these initiatives support a positive approach to environmental stewardship, research collaboration and the sustainable management of Cork Harbour.

Cobh Pirates R.F.C "Buy a Brick" campaign

Supporting Cobh Pirates R.F.C “Buy a Brick” Campaign

Match Sponsor of Cobh Ramblers v's Kerry

Match sponsor for Cobh Ramblers v’s Kerry match.