The Bere Island Military Heritage Festival will take place on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd June 2025 at the Drill Hall, Rerrin.
Now in its third year, the festival includes talks, exhibitions and displays on Bere Island’s military heritage. Bere Island was one of the most fortified locations in Western Europe. Some of the earliest military incursions date to 1602 when Carew’s forces landed on Bere Island ahead of the Siege of Dunboy. Following the attempted invasion of Bantry Bay in 1796 by a French Armada four Martello Towers were constructed on Bere Island, two of which still remain. These towers were later supplemented by extensive fortifications by the British Admiralty which included seven gun batteries. During the War of Independence an internment camp was in operation on Bere Island. Following the signing of the Anglo Irish Treaty in 1922, Bere Island remained under British control as one of the three Treaty Ports. Fort Berehaven was handed back to the Irish Government on September 26th 1938. Bere Island continues to be used as a training base by the Irish Defence Forces.
The Military Festival takes place in the Drill Hall Rerrin, just a 5 minute walk from Rerrin Village. All events are free and refreshments will be provided throughout the festival. For ferry times to Bere Island see here.
| SATURDAY 21ST JUNE |
| 11.30am Festival opening Eugene Glendon, Bere Island Projects Group CLG |
| 11.45am Donal Cam O’Sullivan Beare Between June-December 1602 Ted O’Sullivan, Bere Island historian and author of Bere Island A Short History and the Bere Island Internment Camp. |
| 1.30pm Irish Military Archives – Sources on Women in the War of Independence and Civil War Noelle Grothier, Archivist, Irish Military Archives. |
| 2.15pm Breaking Stereotypes and Unveiling the Shadows: Women as Terrorists. Dr Rory Finegan, Deputy Director, Centre for Military History & Strategic Studies, Maynooth University |
| 4.00pm The Siege of Dunboy Michael Hall, author of The Untold Story of O’Sullivan Beare. |
| SUNDAY 22ND JUNE |
| 11.30am Baltimore and the Barbary Pirates Owen Foley, lecturer at Galway ATU. |
| 1.00pm Screening of The Bere Island Internment Camp A short film made to commemorate the centenary of the camp in 2021. |
| 2.00pm The Attack on Allihies Barracks 1920 Fachtna O’Donovan, Beara Historical Society. |
| 3.30pm Guided Tour of Lonehort Battery Barry Hanley, Bere Island historian – bus transport will be available from the Drill Hall. |
Bere Island Projects Group are grateful to The Heritage Council Heritage Organisations Support Fund and Cork County Council’s Commemorations Department for funding this festival. For further details contact 027 75099 or bipginfo@gmail.com
