IE have advertisement boards up in Waterford station for the last few months outlining there freight capabilities bulk, container, timber etc.
223 has been turning up in Waterford quite a lot lately as railer said on freight, 209 was here regulary over the last few months as well.
On the grain, i would have thought Waterford(Belview) would be easier due to the direct transfer of containers from rail to ship whereas Cork doesn t have that option unless they bring back Tivoli plus if the grain was to be exported via Belview they could use the Limerick junction-Waterford line which lets face it needs the business.
I have heard that the new "boss" in IE does want locos divided into pools, passenger, freight and infrastructure & yes the 077 is only the start of it.