In glorious sunshine, with some real summer heat at last, the town of Cobh in Cork Harbour was en féte to day writes Claire Bateman.
Scroll down for photos by Bob Bateman.
Adding to the mardi gras atmosphere and towering over the town was the magnificent cruise ship, Independence of the Seas, a Freedom Class Vessel of some 154,407 gross tonnes and 1120ft. in length.
She carries 4,370 passengers catered for by 1,360 crew.
She is a regular visitor to the Port of Cork that has fifty scheduled cruise ship calls for this season.
Today in Cobh could have been a scene from Spain or France such was the colour, excitement, entertainment on the promenade, food and craft fairs.