#WATERFRONT PROPERTY - A beautifully restored period house on 14 acres of Great Island in Co Cork could be a dream home for any big spender.

Accepting offers over €3 million, the house at East Grove believed to date from the early 19th century and is constructed of stone under a slate roof, with attractive shallow gables.

Approached via a long wooded avenue, the house commands a magnificent position overlooking a peaceful inlet of Cork Harbour.

Accommodation comprises five reception rooms, including a drawing room, dining room and library; six bedrooms including a master bedroom with ensuite; and a fully fitted kitchen with black granite countertops and pantry.

Outside there is a courtyard with stables, a work shop and storerooms, as well as a one-bedroom apartment arranged on two floors, while further accommodation is available in the two-bedroom gate lodge with its own gardens.

Other amenities include a delightful walled garden, an indoor swimming pool, tennis courts and a boathouse with private harbour and boat slipway with a floating yacht pontoon and moorings.

Viewing of East Grove is strictly by appointment only with joint agents Knight Frank and Dominic Daly. More on the property is available HERE.

#PHOTO EXHIBITION -'The Pier' a collection of images created by French photographer Charlie Jouvet was launched this evening at Alliance Francaise, Dublin and continues into next month, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The images portrayed capture a meditative journey from the centre of the island of Cobh to the sea and features the town's former White Star Line pier. It is from this pier that liner tenders took the last passengers to board the R.M.S. Titanic which was anchored offshore.

Jouvet created the images while in residency with the Sirius Arts Centre in Cobh where there have been calls to preserve the historic 19th century pier also known locally as the 'Heartbreak' Pier as many emigrants departed Ireland for the last time and to seek new lives abroad.

Constructed of timber, the pier is in a perilous condition and according to experts could collapse unless urgent funding is found, as previously reported on Afloat.ie

The Berlin-based photographer has exhibited in his native France and also in Cambodia, Germany, Poland and Switzerland. His most recent work was at the PhotoPhnomPenh Festival which was held last November.

The Dublin exhibition continues to 21st April and is open to the public (free of charge) at Alliance Française, 1 Kildare Street, Dublin 2. For further information Tel: (01) 676 1732 and opening hours visit www.alliance-francaise.ie/gallery/

#TITANIC- In the centenary year of commemorating the R.M.S. Titanic, the pier from where her last passengers boarded at Cobh (Queenstown) is in danger of collapsing unless funding is made available to carry out immediate preservation reports The Irish Times.

The 19th century pier constructed of timber is one of the most tangible links between the town and the liner which anchored offshore and where passengers boarded by tenders.

In addition many emigrants also trundled the pier's planks to depart Irish shores for the final time on ocean-going journeys to the four corners of the world in an effort to start new lives.

To read more about the story click HERE.

#ROWING – Debra Searle MBE, Atlantic rower and motivational speaker addresses Cork business people today. Searle defied the odds and the critics when she rowed single-handedly across the Atlantic in her boat The Troika. She is to deliver a major motivational talk to business owners as part of the Cork City and South Enterprise Boards' NEW Business Network on February 29th in the Rochestown Park Hotel.

When Debra's rowing partner left her alone at sea less than two weeks into a transatlantic rowing race, the sceptics gave her little chance of surviving the harsh conditions, loneliness and physical toll that faced her. The odds were stacked against her: most people would have seen the obstacles and adversity that loomed and would have quit. Yet in one of the World's most inspiring adventures, Debra faced down those obstacles and 111 days later she rowed into Port St Charles, Barbados, to a rapturous welcome from friends, family, supporters and the world's media

Debra will share this experience with Cork business people on February 29th. This event is an absolute must for every business person who is trying to keep positive and overcome obstacles in 2012 and beyond, as Debra will share powerful tools and techniques that she used to survive and keep on going in her journey alone, that we can use in our everyday and business lives. Debra Searle is not just a woman with an amazing story to tell. She is also an accomplished business woman having started her first company aged 24 and her second aged 27. She is a managing director, the youngest Trustee of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, a published author and has presented over 40 programmes for the BBC.

Debra's overwhelming positivity and 'go for it' attitude are contagious. Through her own experiences she has helped numerous businesses, both large and small, to choose the right attitude, however impossible the end goal may seem. She has worked with organisations including IBM, Ford Motor Co., Microsoft, KPMG and England Rugby to get them to successfully step outside their comfort zone and thrive; find the positives when everything is changing; focus only that which can be changed; and stay motivated and determined, even when the journey only seems to be getting harder.

Debra Searle's lessons can help anyone to re-focus their efforts and overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. As Alan Farnsworth, President, Bausch & Lomb EMEA said of one of Debra's lectures, "I have never heard a better speech, anywhere, in any context ... People are still talking about it."

Sponsored by Cork City and South Cork Enterprise Boards and QED Training, Debra Searle will be speaking at the NEW Network in the Rochestown Park Hotel on Wednesday 29th February 2012 (Arrival and Networking from 6pm)

To register for the event go to (http://conta.cc/DebraSearleCork) or call Joanne on 0872882688. Members of the NEW network can attend this event as part of their annual membership. Non-members must register and the event fee of € 25 will apply.

All businesswomen in Cork are invited to become members of the Network of Enterprising Women (N.E.W.) NEW is organized jointly by Cork City and South Cork Enterprise Boards to provide a business-focused network for women. Members meet for four networking events per year, and the Network offers businesswomen a positive opportunity to make effective business contacts, develop new ideas and to be motivated by fellow members and speakers at networking events. Members also have the opportunity to promote their products and services through the network. Annual membership is €60 and new members should register for the network on www.sceb.ie or call 021 4975281 / 021 4961828.

#CORK HARBOUR  – A benefit 'Marina Overnight' event is planned for Easter Saturday April 7th at the brand new Cork Harbour Marina in Monkstown Bay. The event is being planned by friends of international sailor Joe English, who is suffering with Alzheimers Disease writes organiser Mick Mulcahy.

Coming from a career in sailing that started in 1976 in North Sails' Kinsale loft Joe represented Ireland around the three Great Capes in 1989/1990 as skipper of NCB Ireland and comes from a family steeped in a sailing tradition.

In 2010 Dublin sailors held a benefit lunch for him at Howth Yacht Club.

The Cork Harbour facilities of Ireland's newest marina have been kindly donated by it's Managing Director James O'Brien, who is now in the process of accepting final applications for the few remaining seasonal berths. In advance of the descending hordes that hopefully will support this benefit for one of our own, James plans an official opening ceremony at 1500hrs, and the event organisers will host a raffle and reception in Monkstown Bay Sailing Club from 1800 hrs.

This novel season opener will appeal to all who want to give their sailing and motorboats a quick shakedown and a nominal overnight berthing fee of €30 for sailing yachts and larger motorboats, and €20 for smaller craft, ribs and speedboats is being requested, with all funds raised going directly to 'The Joe English Fund'. Berths can be reserved by mailing [email protected] or calling Mick Mulcahy on 087-2663120.

Mick will also gratefully accept suitable items for the proposed raffle.

#POWER FROM THE SEA - A new marine research lab in Cork Harbour could help Ireland to be a global leader in renewable energy, the Irish Examiner reports.

The Beaufort Laboratory, being built on a three-acre site next to the National Maritime College of Ireland on Haulbowline Island, is set to be completed by 2016.

And scientists at the €14 million lab have told Minister for Energy Pat Rabbitte that it will be the largest marine renewable energy research facility in the world.

Expected to be a base for 135 researchers from University College Cork (UCC), the lab also hopes to attract the world's top researchers in marine energy to the area, with an aim to exploiting the potential for jobs in the fast-growing ocean energy sector.

The new lab forms part of the Irish Maritime and Energy Resource Cluster (IMERC) established to promote the country as a world-renowned research and development location, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

The Irish Examiner has more on the story HERE.

#WEST CORK – Sailing Clubs stand to benefit in an allocation of over €2.6 million to harbour boards across West Cork this year to fund essential remedial works. The State funding has been approved for harbour development works in Skibbereen, Baltimore, Kinsale and Bantry by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

In Baltimore a Sailing Club Slipway extension has been allocated €35,000 and in Bantry a Sailing Club Pontoon will get  funding of €70,000. See full breakdown below.

In many cases works might involve the completion of a slipway or the construction of a pontoon adding to some other marine leisure developments along the Cork coast over the last 12 months. Royal Cork Yacht Club announced this month a five star grading for its marina in Crosshaven and elsewhere in Cork harbour a new marina has been built at Monkstown.

Development works underway at the harbour in Baltimore this week. Photo: Tom MacSweeney

The announcement by Minister Leo Varadkar sees the Baltimore and Skibbereen harbour board and the Kinsale harbour board each receive €1.25 million to fund essential remedial works. The Bantry Bay harbour commission will also receive €140,000.

This is a substantial investment that will considerably improve the operational capacity of each harbour, which will in turn have positive knock-on effects for the local economy and the environment.

The Baltimore and Skibbereen harbour, and the Kinsale harbour were recently transferred from the Department of Transport to Cork County Council and as part of that process, a two-year commitment to fund essential remedial works by the Department was agreed.

Local TD Michael McCarth of the Labour party said "I welcome the allocation of these monies and am glad the Government continue to recognise the importance of up-keeping and maintaining our local harbours, which are often important focal points for rural communities."

Harbour Funding 2012

Baltimore & Skibbereen
Western Pier final account €39,000

RoRo Slipway final account €21,000

North Pier extension final account €25,000

North Pier Phase 1 final works and account €150,000

North Pier Phase 2 works underway €745,000

Sailing Club Slipway completion of works €35,000

Proposed Inner Harbour Pontoon €70,000

Breakwater Design completion €30,000

Foreshore Licence Fees €135,000

€1,250,000

Kinsale
Commercial Town Pier contract retention €30,000

Adam’s Quay completion of work on site €555,000

Lobster Quay works completion €90,000

Fisherman’s Pontoon Remedial Works €140,000

Commercial Pier extension Phase 1 €435,000
€1,250,000

Bantry Bay
Sailing Club Pontoon €70,000

Pier Derrick €70,000
€ 140,000

Royal Cork Yacht Club's marina has been awarded five gold anchors by the Yacht Harbour Association and becomes the fourth facility on the coast of Ireland – and the only one on the south coast – to win the distinction.

The 200 berth facility on the Owenabue river in Cork harbor joins Dun Laoghaire marina, Carrickfergus marina and Bangor marina on the east coast with the five anchor flag.

There are over 25 coastal marinas in Ireland and the facilities are key to providing marine tourism revenues from visiting yachts and boats.

The award follows two major reports that recognise that Cork's long and varied coastline is one of its greatest assets. The Mayor of Cork County, Councillor Kevin Murphy, and the County Manager, Martin Riordan, launched two major reports on Cork's coastal areas last Summer; a Marine Leisure Strategy for South Cork, and a Draft Study of Cork Harbour.

The Marine Leisure Infrastructure Strategy for South Cork, 2010-2020 is a document that has paved the way for additional marine leisure facilties to get established in the harbour.

Royal Cork also picked up an International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) Clean Marina during a recent inspection.

The awards are a short in the arm for the world's oldest yacht club who debated the future direction of the club at its annual forum last November. The club are preparing for its 400-boat biennial Cork Week 2012 regatta this July.

The Gold Anchor award scheme is a voluntary assessment programme focused on customer service and providing Quality Assured Berthing for any boat owner. The scheme is designed for the marina consumer by The Yacht Harbour Association with contribution from the Roysl Yachting Assocation. With 23 years experience of Gold Anchor standards, the award is a point of reference for all boat owners to make an informed decision on where to berth.

#PORTS & SHIPPING – As previously reported on Afloat.ie Maersk Line's newly launched liner service that includes the return of the banana trade to the Port of Cork continues as another shipment is due from Central America /Caribbean ports with the arrival of Nedlloyd Adriana (photo) tomorrow, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Nedlloyd Adriana (2003/ 26,833grt) is a younger sister of Maersk Nolanville (2004/26,833grt) which previously docked at the Ringaskiddy Deepwater Berth as part of the services weekly call. Onboard the 2,500 (TEU) twenty equivalent unit capacity containerships, they include 800 (reefer points) i.e electrically plugged in refrigerated containers to store perishable products.

Noting the cargo deck arrangement is divided by the superstructure, which in vessel design terms is not unusual, but is not normally seen in Irish waters due to this larger sized containership. She is fitted with three deck-mounted cranes positioned forward of the bridge and a single-aft crane to cater for the smaller cargo-deck astern.

The vessel was built in South Korea by Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan and was launched as Adriana Star. She was  later renamed P&O Nedlloyd Adriana until dropping her operators prefix in 2004.

When the vessel has completed operations in Ringaskiddy, she heads to UK and continental ports to complete the liner service which is served in total by a pool of eight similar sized vessels.

The term 'liner' service refers to a dedicated regularly operated network of long-distance routes across oceans that connect ports between the continents.

The liner service is complemented by an onward internal network of short-seas routes known as 'feeder' services and use smaller containerships such as Vega Stockholm (photo) which calls to Dublin Port (see BBC The 'Box') as previously reported on Afloat.ie

As in the case of the Maersk Line liner service which brings bananas from source directly to Cork, there is no requirement to transfer such cargo by feeder vessel from another port in the UK or mainland Europe.

#COASTGUARD - The Irish Coast Guard has taken delivery of its new search and rescue helicopter at its Shannon base, The Irish Times reports.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Sikorsky completed production of the new S-92 helicopter for the Irish Coast Guard last December under the rescue service's €500 million deal with CHC Ireland to revamp the aircraft fleet.

The deal will also see the coastguard's remaining four Sikorsky S-61s replaced by second-hand S-62s from Scotland over the coming months.

Training with crews at Shannon is set to begin shortly ahead of the S-92's first public demonstration at the centenary of the Titanic’s departure from Cobh in Cork Harbour.

Meanwhile, it is expected that the Air Corps may be offered an upgraded air ambulance role, after they were ruled out as contenders for search and rescue work amid some controversy.

The Department of Health has reportedly been in exploratory talks with private firms regarding the provision of an inter-hospital emergency air transfer service, as called for by the Roscommon Hospital Action Group.

The Irish Times has more on the story HERE.