Very strong sense of community

Resilient Bere Island has kept a steady population of 200, writes Denise Hall

I WASN’T surprised to hear that our former President Mary McAleese and her husband Dr Martin McAleese were to visit the historic Bere Island to open the impressive new Heritage Centre. Pleased, but not surprised.

It is a well-known fact that the people of Bere are nothing if not resourceful and were obviously well able to convey their pride in their homeplace to the people at the Áras. And despite the many odds they have had to contend with, islanders have managed to maintained a population of 200 — a testimony to their resilience.