The Bere Island Projects Group (BIPG) was formed in 1987 as a community development project by a group of island residents with the aim of creating employment on Bere Island in a bid to sustain the island’s population. Its remit soon widened to include supporting several island voluntary groups and to work with Government departments and agencies to improve access to the island and maintain and improve the island’s infrastructure, document and protect the island’s heritage and highlight issues facing islanders.
BIPG are a voluntary committee of island residents. With funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development through Comhar na nOileán the committee employs three staff, a Project Coordinator, a Development Worker and a Project Administrator to work on the community development project. The funding also facilitates a community office which is open five days a week providing administrative services, support and advice to islanders. BIPG are also tasked with providing community support to Whiddy and Dursey Islands.
BIPG have successfully undertaken numerous initiatives to ensure that Bere Island continues to remain a vibrant and viable community, for further details click here
The community office is open Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm (closed for lunch 1.00pm to 2.00pm).
The current BIPG board of directors are:
Eugene Glendon (chair)
Teresa Hall
Angela Sullivan
Colum Harrington
Brenda Elphick
Siobhradh O’Shea
Tony Murphy
Vincent Harrington
Company Secretary: Bernie Orpen
BIPG employ three staff members and one contractor:
Bernie Orpen
Acting Project Co-ordinator
Working days: Monday to Friday
027 75099 / 086 3863508
berniebipg@gmail.com
Oscar Daly
Development Worker for Bere Island, Whiddy Island and Dursey Island.
Working days: Monday to Friday.
027 75099 / 085 1679052
oscardalybipg@gmail.com
Leila Sidley
Project Administrator
Working days: Monday to Friday
027 75099/087 3877943
leilabipg@gmail.com
Helen Riddell
Development Worker (contractor) to implement the Bere Island Conservation Plan.
Working days: Monday to Thursday.
027 75099
bereconservation@gmail.com
