I think most people are missing a very relevant reason for all the nostalgia that surrounds Titanic. There are many reasons to commemorate the ship, its voyage and the world-view it represented.

As a piece of social historical evidence, it is unsurpassed. Built at the zenith of Nationalism in Europe, it was meant to represent the greatest pride, and without a doubt, the ability of British engineering. But that is only the beginning of the story. The Titanic’s builders, Haarland & Wolffe, notoriously bigoted in their sectarian employment are a part of the story as well. It also represents the year the 3rd Home Rule Bill was introduced.
A lot has changed (and some remains the same) in one hundred years.

What is most relevant, to Cobh and to Irish people, is emigration. I see many people complain about how everyone has to emigrate now given the atrocious unemployment figures. Back in 1912, and to be more precise, for over a hundred years up to 1912, emigration was an absolute reality for 25 – 45% of young Irish adults. Titanic represents this as well, and to a greater degree, represents the old class system which isn’t entirely irrelevant to today. It is a reminder of how class and class systems can determine one’s treatment, well-being and even fate.

The ‘Jeanie Johnston’, a famine ship from the 19th Century, is berthed in Dublin’s Quays as a tourist and educational attraction. It charges a very high rate for a simple, but entertaining tour of this ship.

I don’t hear anyone complain about the Jeanie Johnston “cashing in” on the deaths of thousands of Irish emigrants who died on board many similar ‘coffin ships’. So why complain about Titanic memorials? It’s part of the human experience to acknowledge, remember and most importantly, re-discover, social and maritime history that left an undeniable mark on human progress: the mark being that nothing is unbreakable, no science is foolproof and arrogance always invites disaster.

The E250k salary to our “socialist” President has to be justified somehow. I voted for him as the choice was very limited. The pay cheque he is getting from a nation that is broke is shocking. His “socialist” conscience doesn’t prevent him from collecting that. Just sayin’ is all -

@Taidi, refreshing to hear someone complain about the President attending a ceremony for a change. A welcome change from the usual “he hasn’t done half what McAleese did in 14 years in 6 months”. As for a waste of time and money, nevermind the unsecured bondholders getting paid today or the ongoing pensions etc continually paid to corrupt politicians.
Yawn is right…