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Bere Island Photos
Links to More Bere Island Photos In addition to the other photos of Bere Island and the surrouning area on this site, there are many more photos taken at varying times by other visitors, residents or business owners. Here are some links to those photos. EXTERNNAL PHOTO LINKS
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About Bere Island |
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Bere Island ~ a beauty spot on the southwest coast of Ireland in County Cork. It takes an effort to get there but the trip is worth it, especially if you give yourself the chance to ponder the history and culture that, in spite of many modernizations, is still evident. To place Bere Island in perspective, I've painstakenly drawn this map of the southwest region of Ireland showing Bere Island (just below the red star) - just kidding, it's a MapQuest map of Castletownbere, the closest town on the mainland. You can catch the ferry to the West End from the Pier just off the square. Murphy's ferry to the East End (Rerrin Village) departs near the golf course up the road a ways at the Pontoon, 3km from Castletownbere on the Glengarriff side of Castletown next to the Berehaven Golf Course.
What to do on Bere Island Relax, enjoy the scenery, explore the island, and go to the pub at night. Here are some more specific suggestions of places to go and things to do on Bere Island:
Some of the townland names on Bere Island are, starting west to east:
If I've gotten my geography of the island wrong, I hope to be able to correct it as I get my bearings and learn more about Bere Island myslefl. If you're feeling more adventurous, you could follow some of the ideas in the Adventure Guide Services Ireland Adventures description of their three-day Bere Island trip by kayak! Whether by foot or by car, by bicycle or by boat, there are many historic places of interest to visit. If you spend much time on Bere Island, you will likely want to venture off the island for provisions or a day trip and eventually back home. A quick ferry ride will take you to the nearest city, Castletownbere, or just Castletown when you are there. See more info on Castletown and the surrounding area and the Beara Peninsula. Neighboring CastletownbereCastletown is great for a day's shopping trip on foot or a drive to the ruins of Dunboy Castle and the Puxley Mansion (also a ruins). There's not much left to see of the castle but you can enjoy the panaramic view from the Dunboy Castle. Read the history of the Dunboy Castle and the Puxley Mansion The Beara Peninsula and the Ring of BearaFrom Bere Island, you could also follow the Ring of Beara. The Ring of Beara circles around the Beara Peninssula. The Ring of Beara (see map) would take a half to a full day to drive the approximately 120 miles of rugged, hilly coastline. Enjoy a short travelogue of one couple's tour of the area by car and a young woman's account of her bike tour around the ring. Here are some suggested rides, whether by car or bicycle:
While out and about on the Bear Peninsula enjoying the spectacular scenery, you may notice the many art galleries; the area is known as an artist's haven. Nearby Castletownbere, in Allihies, up high on a coastal hillside is a Tibetan Buddhist Retreat Center called Dzogchen Beara. They offer retreats and instruction to nurture the spiritual side of your life to people from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. "Visitors and guests are welcome to attend the daily classes which offer a basic introduction to Buddhist meditation; guided meditations for developing Loving Kindness, and, on Saturday evenings, meditation and video teachings by Sogyal Rinpoche ... Many people stay at Dzogchen Beara simply to enjoy a break from their busy lives. They find that the atmosphere of spiritual practice together with the seclusion and beautiful natural surroundings provide an ideal environment for rest and reflection, healing and renewal." There is also a shop you may visit. I have only seen this place from driving by but it's on my list of "things to do and places to see" on a future visit to the area.
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Originally built by the British in the turn of the century, the house
was occupied by naval officers, hence the name Admirals. The house was later
used as a Glenans sailing base. Under new ownership, the accommodations consist
of 18 beds, made up of dormitory, twin and double rooms. All rooms are "ensuite." The
Admiral's House has a great new website: 
WHAT'S NEW ON BERE ISLAND?
Bere Island News Links
Bere Island Newsletter Keep up with the local news of Bere Island.
See below for some particular news clippings of interest for the files of the Bere Island Newsletter and the Cork Examiner and the New York Times.
Mike Reynolds Band at the Beara Dinner April 20th 2008
Photos of the 2008 Beara Social are on the Boston Beara Society website. There's a nice photo album (with background music) on Dan Hallisey's website.
Mike Dwyer and friends of the Boston Beara Society enjoyed traditional Irish music with the Mike Reynolds Band" on Sunday April 20th 2008. Mike was joined by Larry Reynolds and "Packie" Reynolds as well as guest singer Maureen and a young talented whistle player.
Born in Boston, Mike has been playing since the age of eight. A member of the well known musical Reynolds family, he has performed solo as well as with his own and other bands in the New England area. He currently leads, with his father Larry, multiple sessions in the Boston area. Mike has been teaching music for 10 years." [Source: CCE Boston Music School.]
Boston Beara Society Dinner ~Social
The annual "social" is a dinner and entertainment event for anyone connected to the Beara Peninsula in the southwest of Ireland in County Cork. It's an opportunity to gather near Boston and connect with other Beara residents, former residents, and decendants of the people of Beara to enjoy each other's company, eat a good meal, and be entertained in the traditional Irish fashion with Irish tunes and more from an accomplished local band.
Beara~Butte Connection
Last year's Boston Beara Society's annual
gathering was held at Florian
Hall in Dorchester in April
2007. Special guests from the University of Montana
Irish Studies Program spoke on the historic links between
Beara, Boston, and Butte, Montana. The University of Montana
guests brought an exhibit of the O'Sullivan Clan in America and a look at
the University
of Montana's Irish Studies Program.
Lear more about the Beara-Butte connection and the Irish in Montana >>
About Seán Ó Sé, who was to be the Beara Dinner Guest Speaker
Seán Ó Sé is "the very well-known singer, and now retired schoolteacher whose most famous song was the "POC AR BUILE" (the story of a mad or crazy puck goat that wreaked havoc through Co.Cork and finished up in Dingle, Co. Kerry, where the Parish Priest there thought that he surely must have been the reincarnation of the devil himself). Sean's father was from Adrigole in the Beara Peninsula.
[Riobard O'Dwyer on RootsWeb]That song was a hit way back in 1961 when Ó Sé first linked up with Sean O’Riada and his seminal Ceoltoiri Chualann ensemble that eventually gave rise to the Chieftains.
[as reported in Irish Abroad "Best of Trad in the Deep South"]
The song An
Poc ar Buile, associated with the Puck Fair held in Killorglin, Co.
Kerry, each August, dates from the seventeenth century. The lyrics
in both Irish and English can be found on IrishPage.com.
It is also on this JustIrishMusic Geocities
website along with the lyrics to many other traditional Irish songs including
the Gaelic song Oro
Se do Bhatha Bhaile that I have heard beautiflly 
sung
by Sinead O'Connor.
The same song was in the movie The Wind that
Shakes the Barley as
the men were marching. Listen
to in on YouTube.
Bere Island Theatre Troup
The Bere Island Theatre Troupe performed “Power of Darkness” by John McGahern (featured author on the Irish Culture page) on Saturday 16th February in the Lecture Theatre, Rerrin, Bere Island . Please note this play is not recommended for children. [Source: Bere Island News, Feb. 5, 2008]
John McGahern was described as "Ireland's leading novelist, whose
work reflected his country's new self-confidence " in this March 2006
literary review in The
Guardian. His books "constitute a portrait of a society
moving from insular repression (in the earlier writing) towards freedom
and self-confidence (in the latter)." [Source: The Guardian - same article]
more on the author and his books >>
Ring of Beara Blog
Susanne Iles, of Castletownbere, a contemporary symbolist painter, writer, and curator, writes an occasinal blog entry about Bere Island.
- Ring of Beara Blog about Bere Island (September 2007)
- Full Moon rising over Bere Island (August 2007) an amazing site to see
There are many great photos and interesting stories about the Beara Peninsula. Read more Ring of Beara blogs.
News from the Beara List
The Beara List on RootsWeb.com is a wealth of information about the Beara Peninsula, as well as being a great resource for finding who your ancestors are if they originated on the Beara Peninsula. Riobard O'Dwyer has researched that area of Ireland parish by parish, compiled the information into books, and has shared not only the facts with readers but also many interesting stories over the years. A reader wrote to the list about a new book that was announced in a local paper in Ireland, "Adrigole ---- the Jewel on the Ring" -- and wanted to know where she could find a copy. Riobard answered:
I called in to Murphy's Supermarket and purchased the Book "Adrigole ---- the Jewel on the Ring", and since coming home I have read it from cover to cover sitting by the fire. It is an excellent, well-produced Book covering the social lives of the people of the Parish over the centuries. It costs Euro 20 ---- roughly $30/$32 U.S. (not including postage to wherever). Several beautiful photographs and a very well-produced sketch-map of the Parish are also contained within. By contacting the Caha Centre, Adrigole, Beara Peninsula, Co. Cork, Ireland, anybody there can tell you where you can buy a copy ---- either in the Caha Centre, or in any of the shops in various parts of Beara that carry books.
-Riobard O'Dwyer
In looking up the Caha Center, I'm delighted to learn that there is set dancing at the Caha Centre, Adrigole, Wednesdays at 9pm, ~ Contact Tom Lydon, 027 60269, Adrigole, Co Cork, Ireland -info as of April 2006] (thanks to Bill Lynch's fabulous resource for set dancers worldwide).
The Southern Star [southernstar.ie] in their Beara & District "local notes" section on Saturday December 8th, 2007, online edition, announced the release and great reception of the book. which was launched by Eileen O’Leary. "... the book honours the people from the past and the difficulties they endured ..."
BERE ISLAND WON TIDIEST ISLAND 2007
Congratualtions to the community of Bere Island who won the Tidiest Island Award for the 1st time ever. A special word of congratulations to the Bere Island Tourist & Environmental Group who enter the competition every year, the Fás workers, the Rural Social Scheme workers and the islanders themselves for the effort put in.·[Bere Island Newsletter, September 11, 2007]
In addition to the EUR 2,500 award for tidiest island, Bere Island also won a EUR 1,000 special award: the Endeavour Award for West Cork in the Tidy Towns competition.
The 2007 winner of Ireland's Tidiest Town was Aughrim, Co. Wicklow. Aughrim has become a popular tourist venue for walkers.
The annual competition, which has been running since 1958, attracts almost 700 entrants. Killlarney in Co Kerry was named best large town. Birdhill in Co Tipperary won the tidiest village and Letterkenny in Co Donegal has been named tidiest urban centre. The winners were announced at a ceremony in Dublin Castle on September 10th.
Tidy Towns was first launched by Bord Fáilte in an effort to improve
the appearance of towns and villages throughout the country for the
main tourist season. In 1995, the Department of the Environment and
Local Government took over responsibility. Tidy Towns is all about caring
for our environment. The Tidy Towns is concerned with the physical appearance
of the towns and villages, it also takes into account a wide range of other
factors which make up the Irish town and village environment. Tidy
Towns seeks to encourage local communities and make each town and village
a cleaner and better place for the environment.
Marine Times News
from Castletownbere
The local news form Castletown on the Beara Peninsula, including news from
Bere Island. Focus is on marine news but many local events are included
that are not necessarily about the sea. For example:
-
Dunboy Castle Hotel
The topping out ceremony was held recently at the new Capella Dunboy Castle Hotel. A €60 million restoration to turn the old Puxley mansion outside Castletownbere is now almost complete and the hotel is scheduled to open in spring 2008. The hotel will provide a welcome boost to employment in the area.
[News From Castletownbere by Helen Riddell, Marine Times Correspondent] - New Heritage Centre For Bere Island
Work has begun to renovate the old national school at Ballinakilla Bere Island and convert it into a heritage and exhibition centre. A sod turning ceremony was held at the site recently to mark the start of the construction and was carried out by Ted Harrington, a native of the Island. It is hoped that work will be completed by May 2008. A crew from RTE's Nationwide programme were on the Island to film the event and the item should be broadcast in the next few weeks.
[by Helen Riddell
Marine Times Correspondent] - (Marine Times Photo Above): Ted Harrington turns the first sod to
mark the start of work on renovating the old national school on Bere
Island into a heritage and exhibition centre.
(Marine Times Photo Below): Children from Bere Island's current St. Michael's national school pictured outside the old school. Seated on the bench are the Island's oldest and youngest residents, Ted Harrington and baby Tadgh Hobbs. Also pictured are Cllr Danny Harrington and Billy Horgan, Islands Engineer, Cork Co. Council.
Beara Peninsula Email Exchange To subscribe to the Beara-L ListServe, go to Rootsweb, at http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/IRL/Beara.html for instructions, or simply send an email to: Beara-L-request@rootsweb.com with the single word subscribe in the message subject and body, using the email account where you wnt to receive those messages. There is often a flurry of activity when someone brings up a hot topic, but it maygo days or weeks without a message. The intention of the ListServe is to share information on the genealogy and history of the Berehaven Peninsula, Counties Cork and Kerry, Ireland. [For more links on searching for your ancesters, such as RootsWeb, see the links page for a list.
Riobard Plays the Accordian and he sings and dances, too. You can watch a video of Riobard O'Dwyer on YouTube playing a polka at home in Eires . [Link takes you to YouTube website ~ the video will start automatically. Not recommended for dial-up connections.]
New!
A frequent visitor to the island posted this video on YouTube,
"A Quick
Drive Around Bere Island" recorded June 2003. Enjoy the ride!
Sailing from Bere Island to Schull (pronounced "skull") in Bantry Bay
While on YouTube, you'll find an interesting assortment of Irish interest videos by searching for Ireland, Bere Island, Beara Peninsula, set dancing, Irish music, etc. Try your own search words!
The Heritage Council: Bere island
The Boston Beara Society and
Boston Beara Socity Links
The Society was established in 1995 to promote and celebrate the history, art and music of the Beara Peninsula
and the achievements of its people in Ireland and the USA.
Ireland's Islands
irishislands.info ~ a gem of a page on Bere Island showing a graphic of how the population dropped dramatically over the years. View photos of the island and a slideshow as well.
Riobard
O'Dwyer's Bere Island
introduction
to his book "Who Were my Ancestors? Bere Island Parish": (from
1817) and
Bere
Family Names Riobard's online resource for Bere Peninsula families "The very helpful genealogist, Riobard O’Dwyer, author of “Who were my Ancestors” is often able to help. His research is considered one of the most detailed in the whole of Ireland." [http://www.bearaholidayhomes.com/activities.htm]
http://www.rootsweb.com/~irish/igsi_published/berehave.htm
Royal Navy Harbour Defences: Berehaven
Maritime Archaeology: Bantry Bay
Marine Times news from Castletownbere
local news from Ireland's leading Marine newspaper
West
Cork Live Places to vist and what to see while in the West Cork
area, including the towns of:
Bantry
Clonakilty
Skibbereen
Glengarriff
Bandon
Beara
Kinsale
Dunmanway
Schull
Bere Island Properties For Sale
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houses for sale: Bere Island on daft.ie ~ this is The Lookout Cafe
more properties
on Bere Island at J. Murphy Properties, Castletownbere
Cloonaghlin
Greenane
Jobs in West Cork, Ireland
Check the weather in Cork, Ireland - 5 day forecast
A Beara Story
The following is an excerpt from a magazine article written by Kate Murphy entitled "Legends of Big Mike" in Abroad Viiew Magazine in the Fall of 2001. I present it here as a glimpse at the place and the people on the Beara Peninsula, specifically here Castletownbere. Since this was written, the Beara Bar mentioned in the story has closed.
Castletownbere is nestled between dramatic tawny hills and a cozy bay, far away from places like commercial Blarney Castle and overrun Killarney. The town consists of one main street, which curves around the base of a hill. Residences and businesses share walls and roofs, closely lining the road, in colors like royal blue and salmon pink.Out in the bay, Bear Island is green and smooth. Atop its peak, an old English fort still appears ready to display a fire signal; years ago, a fire sighted on the island would have warned people of unfriendly fleets from Spain or France and alerted other forts. Three such forts on hills leading inland remind natives and foreigners alike of the chaotic days before Ireland was allowed to become its own land.
Just a few blocks away from the Bear Island ferry landing, I found accommodation above a pub called Beara Bar. One day while I was enjoying a tangy-sweet Bulmer's cider at the bar, a tall man with white hair and reading glasses entered the pub. He carried a few different newspapers under his arm, including The Irish Times and Cork Examiner. "Rum, please, Baa-rry," he said softly without meeting Barry the bartender's eyes.
"Afternoon," Barry replied quickly, all business. He set water, a small pitcher of rum, and a glass in front of Mike. "Now, there you are. Three quid, please." Mike paid and spread out his first newspaper. Read more >>
Irish Ancestry and genealogy links have moved to the Links page.
News Clippings of Interest
Below are some tidbits of news from Bere Island.
Most clippings are from the Bere
Island Newsletter, published on a regular basis throughout
the year. It has a homey feel to it - birthday greetings and all.
I've selected news about people and places we might recognize (we
being my family). If you have any connection to Bere Island, you
may want to browse the news yourself. There are lots of interesting
things going on.
Cattapilla Café formerly Kitty’s Café will be open every weekend until May and from May onwards the café will be open 7 days a week. Bookings can be made by contacting David on 086 1064363. [Source: Bere Island Newslerrer, March 25, 2008]
"Best of luck to Dan McCarthy and Ben Murphy who left Bere Island on Wednesday last to travel to Australia for a 1 year working holiday. We hope they enjoy their time there." Sept. 25, 2007 Son of Catherine and Dan of Ardagh.
The Look Out on Bere Island has re-opened as of March 12th under new management.
We wish Deirdre, Catherine and Eileen the best of luck with their new venture. This is a cafe / restaurant conveniently located by the ferry at the West End.
Bere Island News 2007 March 6, 2007
"ON the Beara, the massive mountains of the Caha range fill the central part of the peninsula, dividing Cork from Kerry to the north and creating an atmosphere of grandeur in contrast to the intimacy of the Mizen and Muntervary peninsulas. Between Adrigole and Casteltownbere, Hungry Hill towers above all the other peaks. The copper mines in the area caught the fancy of many an entrepreneur, but following the pattern of other mines throughout West Cork, they failed to fulfill their promise and closed one after another when better sources of copper were discovered in Africa. Daphne du Maurier chronicled the story of these mines in her novel "Hungry Hill," which was inspired by the dealings of the notorious Puxley family, Welsh settlers who came to the Beara to seek their fortune."
[Read the whole article in the New York Times "West Cork's Wild Peninsulas" by Christing S. Cossens, June 30, 1991]
"Condolences to the family and friends of the late Mrs Mary White, Greenane, Bere Island . May she rest in peace." Bere Island Newsletter. October 10, 2006 Our longtime family friend and Bere Island resident passed away just recently. She had been in St. joseph's Hospital in Castletownbere. The American family was fortunate to have visited with her recently on a trip to Ireland in Septembrr / October. She looked beautiful and lovingly familiar with her white hair and special smile. She will always have a place in our hearts.
We were very saddened today to learn of the death
of our dear cousin Mary
Finn,
of Cobh, Ireland, who fought
a courageous battle against breast cancer. January 27, 2006
FINN (Cobh): On January 27, 2006,
peacefully, at the Mercy University Hospital,
MARY (nee Hallahan), late of 1 Coolamber Crescent, beloved wife of Brendan,
and fond mother of Dominic, Paul, Catherine and Claire and sister of the
late Elizabeth and mother-in-law of the late Michelle. RIP. Sadly missed
by her loving husband and family, brothers Bernard, Dominic and Denis,
daughter-in-law Cheralyn, son-in-law John, grandchildren Mariah, Evan,
Cormac and Aled, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives,
and a large circle of friends. May she rest in peace. Removal on tomorrow
(Sunday) at 8pm from her home to St. Colman's Cathedral.
Funeral on Monday, after 11am Requiem Mass, to St. Colman's Cemetery.Irish Examiner,
January 28, 2006
"Bernard
Hallahan & Margaret
Harrington would
like to wish everyone a happy new year and thank everyone who supported
the sale of their CD "Up Cloughland." The
proceeds of the CD which amounted to EUR 7,200 has been donated
to a very worthy cause, St Theresa’s Cancer Ward, Mercy Hospital,
Cork. Well done to both Bernard and Margaret."
Bere
Island News 2006 January 17, 2006
Congratulations to our cousins Bernie and Margaret!
"Congratulations to Brendan & Edel Murphy,
Rerrin on the birth of their fifth child, a baby boy." Bere
Island News 2006 January 17, 2006
If you've stayed at the hostel on Bere Island, Lawrence Cove Lodge, you no doubt met Edel
(pronounced ee-DELL) and likely Brendan as well. They stay across
the road from the hostel with their little ones and have a home in
Castletown. The hostel is a wownderful place for a short-term stay
with up-close harbor views in the village.
"Birthday greetings
to Mrs Mary White, Greenane who celebrates her birthday this
week."
Bere Island News 2005 October 4, 2005.
"It is with
deep regret the community of Bere Island learned of the sudden
death of Paul Elphick, Greenane, Bere Island over the weekend.
We extend our deepest sympathy to his family, relatives and
many friends."
Bere
Island News 2005 September 20, 2005
This was Brenda's husband, Mary White's
neice.
"The community of Bere Island were saddened
this week to learn of the death of Brendan
Murphy. Brendan was
a well-respected member of the community and in GAA circles in
Bere Island, Beara and Cork. He was president of the Bere Island
and Beara Board and played for Cork in 1945. Sympathy is extended
to his family, relatives and many friends."
and ...
"There was great shock last week when
the news broke of the fire at the Hotel
on Bere Island. Two units
of the Castletownbere Fire Brigade and the water tanker from
Bantry attended the scene and with the help of local people,
managed to save the bar and the shop, but the house was completely
destroyed."
Bere Island
News 2005 July 12, 2005
"The
'Up Cloughland' CD will be released
on Sunday next 27th March at the Hotel at 10pm in aid of Breast
Cancer. A raffle will be held for various prizes. Proceeds in
aid of Breast Cancer."
Bere Island
News 2005 March 22, 2005
Our cousins' first CD together!
Bartley Dennehy RIP
The body of twenty year old Bartley Dennehy, Greenane,
Bere Island, was recovered on 5th April, following a search operation organised
by the Castletownbere Lifeboat. The search also involved BIM Fisheries
College, Castletownbere Coastguard and a team of local divers. The
Marine Times extend their deepest sympathy to Michael and Noreen Dennehy and their
extended family in their tragic loss.