Minister for Defence Helen McEntee made her first visit to Bere Island on April 23rd to tour Department of Defence properties on the island and meet with representatives from the local community development company Bere Island Projects Group CLG, writes Helen Riddell.

The minister was accompanied by Senator Noel O’Donovan, Cllr Caroline Cronin, Noreen O’Manony of Cork County Council and Lt Colonel Peadar Ó Catháin and Colonel Robert Hurley from Collins Barracks Cork.

She was taken on a tour of the island which included a visit to Lonehort Battery, a historic World War One gun battery which is currently being restored by Bere Island Projects Group as a visitor attraction.

There has been a military presence on Bere Island since the early 1600s, when Sir George Carew’s forces landed on Bere Island ahead of the Siege of Dunboy.

The island was a key British Admiralty base during World War One, with US Navy warships and submarines also availing of it’s safe anchorages in 1917 while escorting Atlantic convoys. Following the signing of the Anglo Irish Treaty in 1922 the island became one of the three Irish Treaty ports.

In September 1938, the military fortifications of Fort Berehaven, Bere Island were formally handed over to the Irish Government.  The island fortifications still used by the Irish Defence Forces for training purposes.

Minister McEntee visited Rerrin Military Barracks for a meeting with representatives from Cork County Council and Bere Island Projects Group.

Angela Sullivan, chair of Bere Island Projects Group said: ‘Our group, and the island community have always had a positive relationship with the Department of Defence. Over the years they have been very supportive of community events on the island and allow their premises to be used to facilitate these and we look forward to working with the Department of Defence and Cork County Council to enable more of these historic buildings to be used by the island community.’

During her visit, Minister McEntee highlighted the strategic importance of Bere Island, particularly in relation to its historical military installations and reaffirmed her support for initiatives that support the island community and the work undertaken by Bere Island Projects Group.

She also welcomed the co-operation between the islanders and the Defence Forces over the years and assured continued collaboration between the Department of Defence and the local community.