Two best friends who share a unique connection to two survivors of the Lusitania disaster are set to play a key role in the centenary commemorations.

They were best friends who set sail together from Queenstown, Co Cork, in 1911, hoping to build a new life in America.

A week of commemorative events to mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic has begun with a cruise retracing the voyage of the ill-fated ship in 1912, due to arrive in Cobh today.