corkharbour

I think the notes to the photo are right, and it is Crosshaven. Streetview

25" OSI Map including the small creek in the foreground.

The OSI map (1897) predates the photograph as there's no sign of the railway on it. Station building and platform sign visable above. The Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway (1850) was extended southwards from Passage West to Crosshaven and opened in 1904. Photograph post 1904. Although 1902 mentioned in this history. crosshaven.ie/information/about/crosshaven-railway

Streetview from a different angle.

I am being driven batty by the belfry and spire on St Brigid's Catholic Church (Edward Welby Pugin 1869) - when was it added? It might help with a latest date. Red Herring - in 1589 Sir Francis Drake hid from the Spanish Armada in Drake's Pool around the corner to the right - www.yelp.com.au/biz/drakes-pool-crosshaven

Too fancy (and beside the sea) for Shane's castle, though it looks a bit like the corner tower. I reckon I know this view though.

Blackrock, in Cork.

Bizarrely, the streetview lads didn't wait for low tide and drive round the rocks to get this view: www.google.ie/maps/@51.8999103,-8.4020155,3a,75y,333.92h,... No sense of adventure!

And sure let's have some OSI: maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V2,572306,572091,11,9

The Bing people were here in some kind of flying machine.

This was taken at Passage West.. The ship is the TSS Arvonia previously TSS Cambria having been renamed in 1919 en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/TSS_Cambria_(1897)

We came on this armoured car before. Seen at Passage around the 7th August 1922. flic.kr/p/b8SQmD

it appears that there may be more "driving on planks" rather than lifting !

The crane is a Taylor & Hubbard vertical boiler steam crane. Running on the rails.

Óglaigh na hÉireann badge on the turret. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Defence_Forces_cap_badge