Although a late convert, Eoin English is smitten with family holidays ‘en France’.

Brittany Ferries has ordered a €270m gas-powered cruise ferry to ply the popular Cork-Roscoff tourist route from spring 2017.

A re-discovered seascape by Roderic O’Conor, a painting by Paul Henry last seen in 1973, and John Butler Yeats’s tender portrait of his son WB Yeats are among the prime Irish works at Sotheby’s sale of British and Irish art in London on May 23.

NEW SPA TREATMENTS ON-BOARD PONT-AVEN

The boom buyers have vanished and lovers of more expensive Irish art can no longer afford it.

With just 300,000 traditional package holidays on the market this year — down from over a million at the height of the boom — tour operators are encouraging summer holidaymakers to book as early as possible.

BRITTANY Ferries commence the 2009 holiday season with departures from Ringaskiddy in Cork on April 4, running up to October 31.

AUTHORITIES in Spain say they have foiled a plot by a suspected member of Eta to blow up a ferry carrying thousands of British tourists.

Brittany Ferries are still trying to contact a number of French tourists, who are due to travel on tonight's cancelled sailing from Cork to Roscoff on the Pont-Aven.

Brittany Ferries has been forced to confirm the cancellation of its 10.30pm sailing from Cork to Roscoff because of technical problems with the vessel the Pont-Aven.