What's the story here?

East Ferry Marina lies on the east side of Great Island in Cork Harbour. Great Island lies just outside Cork City at the mouth of the River Lee and it divides the harbour into Lower and Upper Harbours. It is the largest of the three islands in Cork Harbour and is connected to the mainland by roads and bridges. The island is home to the town of Cobh on its southern shore, while the marina lies in a tranquil setting on the rural eastern extremity of the island.




The 80-berth marina has all-tide access with a minimum approach depth of 3 metres MLWS. It can accommodate vessels carrying up to 5.5 metres. Visitors should make berthing arrangements with East Ferry Marina owner-manager George Butler +353 (0) 86 735 7785, +353 (0) 21 481 1342 (home), 80 M (East Ferry Marina). The VHF cannot be entirely relied upon when approaching East Ferry Marina; the surrounding hills tend to block the signal and mobile phone coverage can be variable, provider dependent, in this secluded area.

How to get in?

Use Ireland’s coastal overviews Rosslare Harbour to Cork Harbour or Cork Harbour to Mizen Head as appropriate for seaward approaches. Directions for entry and run-up through Cork Harbour are provided in the Cork City Marina entry.

The route to East Ferry Marina is via the Lower Harbour and then through the East Channel that leads to the East Passage between Great Island and the mainland. The East Channel opens eastward ½ mile north by northeast of Whitegate Marine Terminal. This is between the Starboard Hand Marker No.9 Fl.G.5s and Starboard Hand Marker No.11 Fl.G.10s.





Once through the two starboard marks, the path to the East Passage, to the east of Great Island, takes a mean heading of about 70° T for around 2½ miles. Tidal streams in the East Channel can attain up to 3kt at springs and it is subject to strong cross tides. It should be avoided on an ebb tide with a strong southeasterly.

The East Passage is an Upper Harbour channel that leads between Great Island on the west and the mainland shore on the east. Its southern entrance is 600 metres wide and lies between Marloag Point to port on Great Island, and Gold Point, fronted by boulders to starboard on the mainland.




The East Passage leads in a north-by-northeast direction to the confluence of Cork Harbour and the Owenacurra River. The area has pleasantly wooded shorelines for a distance of 1½ miles to a deepwater area north of Great Island. A highly conspicuous church will be seen on the eastern shore when approaching from the East Channel. It sits at the foot of a wooded hill on the mainland’s shoreline about ½ mile above Gold Point.




On closer approaches, East Ferry Marina will be found ½ mile above the southern entrance point on the east side of Great Island almost opposite the church.



Berth as directed by the marina owner. It is recommended that the helm takes the time to do a few close passes before making a final approach on the pontoon. The East Passage tidal streams, max spring rate 3kt, turn in a contra-eddy within the East Ferry Marina recess.

The wooden pier on the eastern side of East Passage can be used by leisure vessels. It was used by the discontinued ferry service and can take a yacht alongside; check for depths with locals.

Why visit here?

East Ferry derives its name from a public ferry that plied its trade across the East Passage, taking people from the mainland to Great Island. Now joined by road bridges, the service has long been discontinued, but the wooden pier on the eastern mainland side can still be seen. It remains in good condition and is used by leisure and fishing vessels.




East Ferry Marina is the quietest and most remote of Cork Harbour’s six marinas. Despite being 5 miles from Cobh, the marina is set largely in a wooded, rural area that has somehow remained practically untouched by development. The view from the marina is bounded on the island side by farmland to the west and north, and by Marlogue Woods to the south, with the harbour estuary below it. Looking east out across the Owenacurra River, to the mainland or Midleton shore, is the pretty Gurranekennefeake Protestant Church, sitting at the foot of a wooded hill. All combine to make East Ferry a picture-perfect haven of tranquil beauty.




The adjacent Marlogue Woods, also spelled Marloag, are open to the public. The woodlands cover the southeastern edge of Great Island, with gravel trails leading through it and a stony beach at the bottom of the hill. This area of land was once owned by the Anglo-Norman Walters family, who held the area up until the late 1600s. They originally planted an orchard here, subsequently replaced by the current forest of conifers and broadleaves in the late 1800s. The woods offer about an hour’s walk at an easy strolling pace around a loop circuit, highly recommended to all visitors. The red squirrel, now almost extinct in southern Britain, can be seen in abundance in the forest. It is also possible to exit from the loop of the forest walk at the pebbled beach and continue along the south side of the island to Cobh. This arduous trek of about 5km would not be for the faint-hearted.




From a boating point of view, East Ferry Marina offers a beautiful, tranquil rural setting with all the key sailing comforts and modern facilities, as well as a boatyard. For those who want more excitement, Cobh is just a 7km taxi ride away, with all the resources to cater for its population of 10,000.

What facilities are available?

Cork Harbour is a major yachting centre for Ireland. As such, you can get everything you need, if not at the East Ferry Marina, certainly in the harbour area. The main concentration of services, however, is in the Crosshaven area, and East Ferry Marina is not ideal for boat work. That said, it is a good location to dry out and scrub alongside a stone pier. Water, electricity, diesel and refuse facilities are available on all pontoons. The marina has showers and toilets. Unfortunately, the pub and restaurant at the Marina at East Ferry closed (as advised in 2014). As the economy is fast improving, hopefully it will reopen and flourish as before. In the meantime, on the east side of the passage, Murphs Pub has excellent food and is open all year round.

The Marina has boat hire and a sailing school with great activities for children. The small village of Ballymore, close to the centre of Great Island and approximately 3km (1.8 mi) from East Ferry and 4km (2.5 mi) from Cobh, has a pub with a takeaway alongside. A taxi to Cobh, 7km (4.3 mi), is often possible by asking around. Cobh, with a population of about 10,000, has all you need. The town’s SuperValu supermarket delivers to East Ferry Marina.

One of Cobh's particular strengths is transport. It benefits from a train service to Cork, plus a host of taxi firms and a car hire service. This makes Ireland’s second-largest city, Cork – 30 km (19 mi) from East Ferry – highly accessible, with all its onward excellent transport connections. Iarnrod Eireann, Ireland's national rail company, operates from Cork's Kent Station and is located on the Lower Glanmire Road, north of the River Lee. Less than 10 minutes’ walk from it is the city bus station. Bus Eireann provides a regular national service, including a coach service from Cork's Parnell Place Bus Station to Cork Airport throughout the week. Cork Airport is conveniently located just 8km (5mi) from Cork city centre.

Any security concerns?

The marina has secured gates, 24hr security and the area is covered by CCTV.

With thanks to:

Anthony McCarthy, local yachtsman.