A full-scale replica of the Christopher Columbus ship, the Nao Santa María, will sail into Baltimore Harbour on Tuesday ahead of the village's annual pirate festival.
The impressive 28m vessel will be greeted by a ceremonial flotilla of local boats and the crew of the Baltimore RNLI lifeboat before it berths at Baltimore's North Pier and opens to the public from June 10th to 14th.
The Nao Santa María is one of the world's most recognisable historic ships.
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But there's more to this visitor experience than just basking in its beauty, people will be able to step aboard and experience life on a 15th-century ocean-going vessel.
Guests will be able to explore multiple decks, discover the story of Columbus' famous voyage, and learn about the maritime history that helped shape the modern world.
The Nao Santa María is operated by the Nao Victoria Foundation, an internationally renowned organisation dedicated to preserving and promoting maritime history.
Since her launch, the vessel has visited ports throughout Europe and North America, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors along the way.
The visit has been arranged as a curtain-raiser to the Baltimore Pirate Festival, which takes place from June 19th to 21st.
The festival celebrates Baltimore's rich maritime heritage, its historic links with piracy and privateering, and remembers the dramatic events of the Sack of Baltimore in 1631, when Barbary pirates raided the village and carried more than 100 residents into captivity.
Festival chairperson Stuart Musgrave told The Southern Star: 'The arrival of the Nao Santa María is a truly historic occasion for Baltimore and for West Cork.
'The visit perfectly complements the Baltimore Pirate Festival and helps bring our maritime history to life for visitors of all ages through three days of family entertainment, music, storytelling, and community events.'
The Baltimore Pirate Festival has become one of Ireland's most unique family festivals and will once again feature a pirate parade, live music, treasure hunt, children's entertainment, pirate games, historical walk and talk, market stalls, boat events, and plenty of pirate-themed fun throughout the village.
