The Cobh Heritage Centre may become a permanent fixture on the customised Cork Monopoly board thanks to its Titanic links.
The centre, which houses a series of Titanic-related artefacts, is among the top three most popular sites suggested by the public for inclusion on the board game. Some 3,000 votes have been cast ahead of Friday’s closing date.
Monopoly manager at games maker Winning Moves Dan Taylor is scheduled to visit the museum today as thousands of visitors descend on the town to mark the 100th anniversary of the departure of the ill-fated Titanic. “The heritage centre and museum are among the leading landmarks this week with all things connected to the Titanic receiving lots of attention,” spokesman Graham Barnes said.
The Shandon Bells and Blarney Castle also feature among the top three most popular landmarks among voters, although these results are “not scientific”, according to Mr Barnes.
Debbie Walsh, general manager at Cobh Heritage Centre, said it would be a further boost for the centre which has been packed in recent days. “The level of interest is incredible,” she said.
Causing a lot of local interest is a poignant message in a bottle hurled from the deck of the Titanic on April 13th, 1912, by young emigrant Jeremiah Burke (19) from Whites Cross in Cork.
He had emptied a bottle of holy water from Lourdes, a gift from his mother. A year later the bottle was found on the shoreline at Dunkettle, half a mile from the family home.
The note reads: “Goodbye all, from Burke of Glanmire.”