Bere-ing all for beauty

THOUGH Bere Island lies just 2km offshore from the busy fishing port of Castletownbere, in West Cork, it manages to retain that special ‘’island feel’’ and a sense that you are away from a noisier and more rushed world.

This year, the island won the Tidy Island Award for the eight consecutive time in the Tidy Towns competition and the local tourism and environmental group now has a dedicated committee which helps run a year-round clean-up and also focuses on minimising waste.

Paper is shredded in a recycling centre and reused by islanders as bedding for farm and domestic animals. A glass crusher renders all glass into reusable fragments, which is then used in the construction industry or as gardening mulch. The glass was also recently used to form an art installation on the island by glass artists Michael Ray and Marie Brett.

On a first visit recently, it was a delight to take a long walk along the island’s peaceful roads and view the Bantry Bay panorama. You also get the feeling that the 200 souls that live there take a deep pride in their own place.

Before trekking around Bere Island, a visit to the local heritage centre in what once a schoolhouse, is highly recommended. Here, you can get an outline of the island’s history from visuals and text on display, as well as any advice you require from the helpful people who run the facility.

FÁS and Rural Social Scheme workers help the island put on its best face, overseeing the upkeep of the graveyard, maintaining walkways and staffing the recycling centre. Islanders do regular litter picks, and school children are also involved.

Using the proceeds from last year’s Tidy Island win, over 500 saplings were planted on the island and local school children were each given saplings to plant at home. St Michael’s national has also won its third green flag.

Except for seabirds and a few wild goats running around the remains of part of an old British military installation, I didn’t see any wildlife on the day. But, whales, sharks and the like can be observed in the general area, according to local people.

The island has numerous archaeological sites dating from the Bronze Age to medieval times, including ring forts, standing stones and wedge tombs. The British-built Martello towers, a signal tower, military barracks and a military fortification, which hosts two six- inch guns, all of which can be seen — though entry to the installations is not permitted.

There’s a regular ferry service and the island, which measures 11km x 5km, is easy to get around for walkers and cyclists, with something to catch the eye at every glance. The village of Rerrin is a relaxing haven in which to rest weary limbs and, maybe, slake a thirst.