SeaFest 2018 nominated for two National Event Industry Awards

SeaFest 2018 has been nominated for two awards in Ireland's Event Industry Awards 2019. Ireland's largest maritime festival, SeaFest, has been shortlisted in two categories, 'Best Live Event' and 'Best Cultural Event.'

The Event Industry Awards celebrate excellence and showcase the very highest standards of Ireland's event industry. Last year, SeaFest 2017 was awarded the accolade of 'Best Cultural Event', and described by judges as 'a great celebration of Ireland's maritime heritage.'

As an island nation, our ocean is our greatest natural resource, and SeaFest celebrates and showcases the many ways our seas and oceans enrich our lives. The three day festival combines a host of entertaining and educational activities on and around the water, all free to visitors. From tours of ocean-going vessels, inspiring talks and interactive educational activities, celebrity chefs and free sailing, the festival offers a host of fun, free activities for all ages.

Sinéad Coyne, Communications Manager for the Marine Institute and SeaFest 2018 said, "We are delighted and honoured that SeaFest has been nominated for two awards at this year's Event industry Awards alongside some of Ireland's most outstanding events. SeaFest is a relatively new festival and is already regarded as one of the biggest and most successful events of its kind in Europe. The festival has witnessed phenomenal growth in a short number of years, having grown from 10,000 visitors in its first showing in 2015, to attracting over 100,000 in 2017 and 2018."

SeaFest 2018 was held in Galway Harbour, and attracted 103,416 festival-goers and generated €6.5 million for the city's tourism industry. Global event specialists, Arcana, were appointed event managers for SeaFest 2018 and worked with the Marine Institute and 16 local, regional and national organisations and agencies to stage the three-day festival.

This year, SeaFest 2019 was held in the Port of Cork in Cork City from 7th to 9th June, and included over 100 free events celebrating our oceans. The festival included a performance from world-famous tightrope walker Christopher Bullzini, seafood cookery demonstrations from celebrity chefs, vessel tours, Defence Force displays, sailing and kayaking trips, and talks from wildlife cameraman Doug Allan. Cork City Council and the Inter-Departmental Marine Coordination Group (MCG) will present SeaFest again in 2020 and 2021.

The winners for the Event Industry Awards 2019 will be announced on Friday 19th July at Citywest Hotel, Dublin.

For more information on SeaFest visit seafest.ie or follow SeaFest on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

ENDS