Tuesday 3rd December 2019
Congratulations are offered to Laura and Michael Walsh, Derrycreeveen on the birth of a baby girl Saoirse, a baby sister for James.
The Active Retirement Group’s Christmas shopping trip to Killarney will take place on Monday 16th December leaving on the 7.45am ferry west. To book contact Tim on 027 75099.
Tuesday 26th November 2019
We offer sincere sympathy to Fiona Harrington and Dwain Rodgers on the passing of their baby daughter Willow.
Monday 11th November 2019
Sympathy is extended to the family of the late Larry Walsh (RIP), father of our colleague John Walsh, BIPG office will be closed on Tuesday 12th November and will reopen on Wednesday 13th November at 9AM. Funeral arrangements are available here. May he Rest in Peace.
Tuesday 5th November 2019
Fiona Harrington, Bere Island undertook a charity swim from Owey Island to Cruit Island, Donegal last Saturday 2nd November in aid of the children’s charity Bumbleance. To date Fiona has raised over €25,000 for the charity. To donate click here
Save the date – Santa will be paying his annual visit to Bere Island on Sunday 8th December.
This month marks 65 years since the Bere Island Grotto was officially opened and blessed. To mark the event, Fr Noel Spring will hold a service at the Grotto on Wednesday November 27th at 12noon. All are welcome to attend. To prepare for this event, Bere Island Tourism and Environment Group are asking volunteers to help them clean up the grotto over the weekend of Saturday 16th and Sunday 17thNovember, meeting at the grotto at 12 noon each day. Bags will be provided, but please bring gloves and secateurs if you have them.
Bere Island Projects Group will hold their AGM on Thursday 21st November at 7.30pm in the Community Centre. All are welcome to attend.
Tuesday 15th October 2019
This Friday 18th October is the final deadline for all submissions for the Bere Island Christmas Newsletter. Items can be sent to Helen Riddell at bereconservation@gmail.com
Bere Island Community Radio will broadcast this Sunday 20th October from 11am to 2pm on 100.1FM and online.
We offer sincere sympathy to the family of Pat Spillane, Mayfield, Cork who died last Wednesday 9th October and was laid to rest on Bere Island.
Tuesday 1st October 2019
Bere Island has won the Tidy Island category of the Tidy Town’s competition for the 12th consecutive year. The island’s entry into this competition is overseen by the Bere Island Tourism and Environment Group. Volunteers are always welcome to help with preparing the island for this completion. If you would like to get involved, please contact a member of the Tourism Group or call 027 75099.
Submissions are sought for the Bere Island Christmas Newsletter. Family news events, stories of the island in days gone by, photos, etc all are welcome. The deadline for all submissions is Friday 18th October. Items can be emailed to Helen at bereconservation@gmail com or dropped into the Project Group Office.
The Bere Island Active Retirement Group are currently enjoying a two day trip to Dingle as part of Positive Ageing Week.
Congratulations are extended to Oscar Daly Ballinakilla, and Jenny O’Neill Castletownbere who announced their engagement recently.
Tuesday 17th September 2019
The After School Club is now back and running after the holidays. The club meets every Monday from 3pm to 5pm in the Community Centre.
We offer congratulations to Adrian Moriarty, Bere Island and
Sinéad NíLaoire, Ballincolling who were married in the Sacred Heart Church, Glengarriff on 6th September.
Congratulations also to Redmond Hallahan and Mairead Murray who were married in the Berehaven Lodge on 7th September. The couple held their drinks reception on Bere Island.
Congratulations are extended to Neil Murphy Cahirkeem, Eyeries and Marion Lynch Caherdaniel Bantry who were married on August 10th at Coomhola Church. Neil is the son of John Michael (Ardagh, Bere Island) and Joan Murphy.
Tuesday 30th July 2019
Calling all Bere Islanders, and Beara people who are home on holidays over the next few weeks, if you’re interested in taking part in our Postcard from the Past series on Bere Island Community Radio, talking about your memories and stories of growing up on the Beara Peninsula please contact bereislandradio@gmail.com
The Bere Island Festival runs from Tuesday 4th to Sunday 11th August with activities to suit all. For the full schedule click here.
Mass will be celebrated at the Holy Year Cross on Saturday 4th August at 6.30pm. Ferries leave from the Pontoon and Castletownbere at 5.30pm.
The annual graveyard Mass will be celebrated on Bere Island on Sunday 11th August at 10am.
Tuesday 23rd July 2019
Bere Island Community Radio will hold their next broadcast on Sunday 27th July 11am to 2pm on 100.1FM locally throughout Beara and Sheep’s Head and worldwide on the internet. For news items or requests please email bereislandradio@gmail.com For further details click here.
Bere Island artist Mary Sullivan will hold her first solo exhibition as part of the Beara Arts Festial opening on Sunday 4th August at 3pm at Lonehort Battery. Mary Sullivan is a graduate of DIT Dublin School of Creative Arts, Sherkin Island, where she was awarded a first-class honours BA in Visual Art. In 2018, she was selected to participate in the RDS Visual Arts Awards Exhibition, where she was awarded the acclaimed Taylor Art Award for her installation and video sculpture At Home, At War. Mary’s first solo exhibition which has been commissioned by Beara Arts Festival is Breathe, an immersive visual and sound installation in an underground tunnel at Lonehort Battery, Bere Island. For further details see www.maryksullivan.com
The 2019 Bere Island Festival will run from 2nd-11th August, for the full list of events click here.
Tuesday 16th July 2019
Sympathy is extended to the family of the late Winnie Murphy (nee O’Sullivan), Ballinakilla, Bere Island.
Bere Island Community Radio will hold their next broadcast on Sunday 21st July 11am to 2pm on 100.1FM locally throughout Beara and Sheep’s Head and worldwide on the internet. For further details click here.
Over 150 took part in the Bere Island Midsummer Run which was held last Saturday 13th July. For the full list of results click here.
Tuesday 2nd July 2019
Bere Island Community Radio will hold their next broadcast on Sunday 7th July from 11am to 2pm on 100.1FM locally throughout Beara and Sheep’s Head and worldwide on the internet. For further details click here.
Congratulations are extended to Emer Harrington Derrycreeveen, Bere Island and Dave Neiland who were married recently.
The first of the Children’s Summer Camps will be held from Tuesday 10th to Thursday 12th July at the GAA Pitch. The camp will run from 11am to 2pm and is for children aged 6+. Contact Tim on 75099 to book.
Tuesday 18th June 2019
Congratulations are extended to Mike Crowley Rerrin, Bere Isalnd and Marta Olinkiewicz, Poland who were married in Opole, Poland last weekend.
Swim Week 2019 runs from 15th – 20th July. Registration takes place on Monday 15th July at 10.30am. For further details contact Edel on 027 75988.
Guided tours of phase one of Lonehort Battery are now available. Click here for further details.
Tuesday 4th June 2019
Both Bere Island Ferries are now operating their summer schedule. Click here for further details and timetables.
The Bere Island Tourism and Environment Group held a very successful table quiz over the Bank Holiday weekend in the Hotel. All money raised will be used to maintain community areas around the island. The organisers thanked all those for attending, and all the businesses who sponsored prizes.
Bere Island Restaurants, the Bakehouse Cafe, the Hotel and the Lookout are open for the 2019 summer season. Click here for opening times and contact details.
Sympathy is extended to the family of the late Nellie O’Brien (nee Greene) Ardagh and Cobh, who died in Cobh on 30th May.
Tuesday 21st May 2019
Bere Island Projects Group have been announced as the regional winner for the south in the heritage category in this year’s National Lottery Good Causes Awards. BIPG have now been invited to make a presentation in Athlone in October and have been invited to the finals in the Clayton Hotel, Dublin in November.
This year’s Corpus Christi procession will take place at St Michael’s Church, Ballynakilla on Sunday 2nd June.
Bere Island Tourism and Environment Group will hold a fundraising table quiz in the Hotel on Sunday 2nd June at 8pm. All money raised will be used to maintain community areas on the island.
Tuesday 14th May 2019
The West Cork Islands Community Council will hold their AGM on Tuesday 21st May 2019 on Sherkin Island at 11am. A ferry will leave at 10.30am.
Bere Island will host this year’s West Cork Island Soccer tournament on Saturday 22nd June at Rerrin GAA pitch, kick-off is at 12 noon. To register a team contact John Walsh on 087 387 7943.
The recent Berehaven Red Cross fundraising walk from Ardgroom to Bere Island raised a total of €2660. The money raised will be used to maintain defibrillators throughout the Beara Peninsula.
A recent beach clean organised by the Bere Island Tourism and Environment Group resulted in 60 bags of rubbish (200kg) being collected from the islands beaches and waterways. The group encourage everyone to continue to keep our island beaches clean. Clean Coasts waste bags can be collected from Murphy’s Shop, Rerrin and full bags can be left at Lawrence Cove Marina for collection.
Tuesday 16th April 2019
The annual Berehaven Red Cross fundraising walk from Ardgroom to Bere Island will take place on Saturday April 27th, leaving Ardgroom at 9am. Walkers will cross to Bere Island on the 1.30pm ferry from Castletownbere, walk across the island returning on the 4.30pm from the east end. All money raised will be used to maintain the defibrillators throughout the Beara Peninsula and all are welcome to come along for all or part of the walk.
Congratulations are extended to Sadhbh Sullivan, Bere Island who won the Blog of the Year award at the recent Student Media Awards. Sadhbh is a student at University College Cork.
Bere Island Tourism and Environment Group will hold a beach clean on Sunday May 5th meeting at Rerrin Village at 12 noon. Bags and gloves will be provided. After the clean up, refreshments will be served in the Hotel. Later that evening the Tourism Group will hold a fundraising table quiz in the Hotel at 8pm. All proceeds will go towards maintaining public areas around the island.
Tuesday 9th April 2019
Sympathy is extended to the family of Corrie Shanahan, Washington DC and Bere Island.
Holy Week services at St Michael’s Church Bere Island are as follows:
Palm Sunday 14th April Mass at 10am. Good Friday 19th April Stations of the Cross at 3pm. Easter Sunday 21st April Mass at 10am.
We wish Emily Murphy all the very best for her First Holy Communion Day on Sunday.
Cork County PPN (Public Participation Network) is a network of Community & Voluntary, Social Inclusion and Environment organisations that was established in 2015 and keeps organisations informed of funding opportunities, public consultations, plan making and policy development. Further details are available at http://corkcountyppn.com
Sympathy is extended to the family of John Crowley Castleknock Dublin and Bere Island.
Tuesday 2nd April 2019
Congratulations are extended to Fiona Harrington and Dwain Rodgers on the birth of their baby girl.
The Active Retirement Group will have an outing to Cork City Gaol this Wednesday 3rd April, to book a place contact Tim on 75099.
After the 10.30am trip on Tuesday 2nd April the ferry Ikom K will be going for her annual survey. There will be a foot passenger only boat until further notice. For enquiries contact Brendan on 086 8091204 or 027 75988.
The Beara Lifelong Learning Festival runs from 7th-13th April. Full details of the programme are available here.
Tuesday 26th March 21019
Sympathy is extended to the family of Paul Sidley, Cloughland Bere Island who died on 21st March.
The Department of Defence will be conducting an exercise on Bere Island from 29th-31st March with 50 troops around the camp, and range in the east end. Blank ammunition will be used.
Birthday wishes are extended to Sadhbh Sullivan who celebrated her 21st birthday recently.
The Beara Lifelong Learning Festival runs from 7th-13th April. Full details of the programme are available here.
Tuesday 19th March 2019
Sympathy is extended to the family of the late John McCarthy who died following an accident in Killybegs last Thursday March 14th. We offer our condolences to his wife Rita, daughter Debbie, sons Shane and Mikey, his grandchildren Danny, Jack and Alice, his brother Raphael sisters Margaret, Kathleen, and Mary, his uncle Vincie, and his cremates on the Menhaden and Seaspray.
The Active Retirement Group will hold their fortnightly coffee morning on Wednesday 27th April at 11am in the community centre. All are invited to attend. The group will have an outing to Cork City Gaol on Wednesday 3rd April. To book a place contact Tim on 75099.
The Beara Lifelong Learning Festival will run from 7th-14th April. For events taking place on Bere Island please see the events page.
Bere Island Tourism and Environment Group recently held their AGM and elected a new committee: Chair Rachel Harrington, Treasurer David Andrews, Secretary Barry Hanley and PRO Leila Sidley. If you would like to get involved in the group, in particular the Tidy Islands campaign please contact a member of the group or the office on 75099.
Monday 4th March 2019
Sympathy is extended to the family of the late Mary Walsh (RIP), mother of our colleague John Walsh, BIPG office will be closed on Tuesday 5th March and will reopen on Wednesday 6th March at 9AM. Funeral arrangements are available here. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.
News for Tuesday 26th February 2019
The 2019 Women’s World Day of Prayer will take place on Thursday February 28th at St Michael’s Church, Bere Island at 7.30pm. A ferry will leave Castletownbere at 6.30pm and return at 9.30pm. Transport will be provided from the ferry to the church. This year’s prayer service is prepared by the women of Slovenia.The Active Retirement Group will hold their fortnightly coffee morning on Wednesday 27th February 2019.
Congratulations are extended to Carol Anne Newman and Michael Dennehy on the birth of their twin girls Grace and Ava.
Congratulations are extended to Jenny O’Neill and Oscar Daly on the birth of their son Quinlan, a baby brother for Isla.
If you would like to be involved in the Bere Island Community Radio station, please contact the office on 027 75099.
News for Tuesday 12th February 2019
What are your hopes and visions for Bere Island? Sarah Robinson, a researcher for UCC is interested in hearing more from islanders to understand how the new community radio might support community needs. If you would like to find out more about this research and if you are free to talk to Sarah, please ring the Bere Island Project Group office on 027 75099 or contact Sarah at sarah.robinson@ucc.ie or 086 1505061.
Congratulations are extended to Marie and Tony Murphy on the birth of a baby boy.
The 2019 Women’s World Day of Prayer will take place on Thursday February 28th at St Michael’s Church, Bere Island at 7.30pm. A ferry will leave Castletownbere at 6.30pm and return at 9.30pm. Transport will be provided from the ferry to the church. This year’s prayer service is prepared by the women of Slovenia.
The Active Retirement Group will host a visit from the Ardgoom Active Retirement Group on Wednesday 13th April from 12pm in the Community Centre. All are welcome to visit.
News for Tuesday 29th January 2019
The Active Retirement Group will meet for a coffee morning on Wednesday 30th January at 11am in the Community Centre.
Dates for summer camps, swim week, and sailing week can now be found on the events page.
Congratulations are extended to Michael Dennehy, Greenane who celebrated his 30th birthday recently.
News for Tuesday 15th January 2019
A WEE collection will take place on Bere Island on Thursday 24th January. If you have any electrical items such as kettles, toasters, washing machines etc you wish to dispose of please bring them to Oileáin na gCaorach on the day. Any items with plugs or batteries will be accepted. The collection is free of charge.
Please note gas appliances e.g. gas cookers will not be accepted. Please do not bring items after this date as they will not be collected.The after school club is now back and running after the Christmas holidays. The group meet on Mondays at 3pm in the Community Centre.
Sympathy is extended to the family of Denis Crowley, Derrycreeveen, Bere Island who passed away in Dublin.
News for Tuesday 8th January 2019
We wish everyone a very Happy New Year and are looking forward to a busy year on Bere Island in 2019.
Irish classes will start on Tuesday 8th January at 7pm at the Community Centre. Call 75099 to book a place.
Congratulations are extended to Bere Island National School teacher Katrina Ladden and her husband Denis on the birth of twin boys, Isaac and Denis.
Congratulations are extended to Adrian Moriarty, Greenane and Sinead O’Leary who announced their engagement over Christmas.