It’ll be an impressive welcome.

Cobh Cathedral carillonneur Adrian Gebruers will perform a special recital of Australian airs as a ship carrying 1,500 Aussie passengers docks in Cobh on Thursday.

The cruise ship Sea Princess will make its only Irish stop on its around the world cruise from Sydney to Sydney to the tune of the Australian Anthem and Waltzing Matilda, played on the carillon’s 49 cast bronze bells.

The town of Cobh, recently named one of the ‘top 25 most beautiful small towns in Europe’ by Conde Nast travel magazine, is hosting a day of free festivities for the tenth annual Australia Day.

Members of Cobh Tourism, including chair, Jack Walsh, will meet the Australian Ambassador to Ireland, Mr. Richard Andrews, at Cobh Cathedral at 9am. The group will then climb the Cathedral’s bell tower to watch the ship sailing past the cathedral in front of the town.

Onboard, the ship boasts luxury cabins, freshwater swimming pools, an outdoor movie theatre and a basketball court.

Passengers, due to disembark around 10.30am, will be treated to a day of free festivities on the streets of Cobh throughout the day before setting sail once again at 10pm.