For the first time in decades, the White Star flag will be raised in Cobh tomorrow at the liner port terminal from which 123 people left to board the Titanic on April 11th, 1912.
The raising of the flag, though, will mark a new and different departure for the old building, which is being transformed into a quayside bar and restaurant, reflecting the splendour of the great vessel.
When Vincent Keaney moved back to his native Cobh from England 16 years ago, he indulged his love of old buildings by purchasing a ruin in the town and renovating it.
A decade later, he became a Lotto millionaire, scooping the £1 million jackpot. He invested in a property portfolio but always had plans to become involved in a big project in the town. His vision was to construct a bar and restaurant, using the Titanic theme.
The project fell into financial difficulties and had to be rescued last February by Mr Mike Nolan, the successful Cork businessman who has bar and restaurant interests in Cork city and Kinsale.
Tomorrow evening, the maritime historian, John de Courcy Ireland, is due to raise the White Star flag in the presence of Ms Milvina Deane (88) - the youngest of the remaining Titanic survivors and a frequent visitor to Cork - and more than 500 invited guests, to signal the opening of the Titanic Bar, phase one of the project.
Phase two will be completed next October with the opening of a restaurant, also very much influenced by the Titanic theme, and in the third phase, the pier area will be developed.
The entire project brings to life a part of Cobh that had fallen on lean times and coincides with the opening of a splendid new promenade in the town which is fast becoming one of the main tourist attractions to the east of Cork.
Mr Nolan said that when he became involved in the £1 million project he was struck by Mr Keaney's original vision. "I took over the creditors and brought in my own management team because I believed in the project and I saw what Vincent was trying to achieve. We have wonderful maritime artefacts here, including furniture from the Mauritania, sister ship of the Titanic, and the outside decked area gives the impression of being on board a luxury liner in the old days. I believe in the project. It will be good for Cobh and I think it will be a great boost for tourism," he added.
The Titanic Bar was originally the baggage, mail and Marconi rooms in the terminal and has been modelled on drawings of the first- and second-class smoking rooms on the Titanic.
When it opens next October, visitors to the Titanic Grill will find themselves in a replica of the Titanic's Palm Court restaurant, and when the pier area from which so many people departed for a new life is completed, the wheel will have come full circle in historic Cobh, which already boasts a heritage centre depicting the town's storied past.
Tomorrow's opening will be a black-tie affair to recreate the gala atmosphere the hopeful voyagers would have expected.