Tadhg O'Keeffe grew up casting fishing lines from the bulk terminal and launching boats from the slipway at the Port of Cork. When he joined the team at the Port in 2018, it felt less like a new job and more like coming home. Today, as Senior Port Engineer, Tadhg manages large-scale infrastructure and environmental initiatives. His passion for the area extends to photographing the port in all conditions, capturing its shifting moods and the rich wildlife that coexists with the industrial landscape. This interest often sees him engage with curious visitors, including a local pod of dolphins.
A €38.4 million investment from the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) underpins the port's evolution. This funding supports two critical phases of the port’s modernisation: the completion of the Cork Container Terminal and the expansion of the deepwater berth at Ringaskiddy, which is about 15km southeast of Cork City. These developments allow the Port of Cork to accommodate larger vessels while shifting core operations away from the city centre. Beyond increasing trade capacity, these works secure the port’s future as a renewable energy hub by providing the essential infrastructure to support offshore wind deployment and Ireland’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
It was the promise of this transformation that drew Tadhg to work at the port:
"Thanks to this funding, I saw the beginning of the largest marine infrastructure project ever to commence in an Irish port, and it was going to happen within sight of my family home,” he says.
Eight years on, Tadhg is now at the helm, steering the development of some of Ireland's most significant maritime infrastructure.
A new terminal, boosting Ireland's trade
In 2022, the Cork Container Terminal (CCT) in Ringaskiddy became operational as Ireland's most ambitious port expansion in over a century. The €94 million world-class facility was made possible through a partnership of public and private funding. CEF EU funding played a central role alongside the European Investment Bank, as well as the Irish government and other investors.
The state-of-the-art deep-water terminal can receive the largest container ships that call anywhere in Ireland, including a recent trial visit from a 296-metre vessel, the largest ever to dock at an Irish port. 92% of the terminal's customers are based within the Munster region, meaning Cork's capacity directly reduces the need for long-haul truck journeys from Dublin, cutting traffic congestion and emissions at the same time. When the nearby M28 road network is completed, CCT will have the capacity to handle 330,000 containers annually, supporting thousands of jobs and strengthening Ireland’s trading capacity.
And it's not just about commerce. When the terminal opened, local schoolchildren from Crosshaven Boys' National School were invited to name its two giant cranes. They chose 'Mahain' and 'Binne', drawn from an old Irish legend about two giants of Cork Harbour — a lovely reminder that even such ambitious ventures are rooted in community and culture.
Powering Ireland's clean energy transition
Ireland's shift to clean energy needs the infrastructure to match and the EU budget is helping to deliver it through further funding from the Connecting Europe Facility for the Cork Offshore Renewable Energy 1 (CORE 1) project. This is a €100 million investment that will make Cork the first port in Ireland with dedicated offshore wind facilities. Construction at Ringaskiddy is underway, and the new berth is designed to support the assembly and installation of large-scale wind turbines in the Irish and Celtic Seas. The facilities are due to be completed by 2027, positioning Cork as a cornerstone of Ireland's green energy transition and helping the country meet its climate targets.
Conversations with Tadhg reveal an enthusiasm for his role that outweighs hard work and long hours. He is proud of the progress being made for his community and for the country. It is no wonder that when asked about the impact of these EU-supported developments, his answer comes without hesitation:
“The development of Cork Container Terminal improves connectivity of our island nation. It facilitates inward and outward trade including the export of our excellent dairy and pharmaceutical products. It also reduces congestion in Dublin port and minimises the environmental impact of unnecessary road transport. The expansion projects will ensure future capacity for container trade to meet our growing population whilst in the interim also support our transition to a greener nation by facilitating ORE deployment off the Irish coast,” says Tadhg.
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