Hello – Colossus 215

Some time ago I wrote about my favourite place, Bere Island in Bantry Bay, Ireland, where my mother came from. Readers have since asked to hear more about its history and whether I’ve been back there recently.

I return every year and have just spent the summer there. It has a fascinating history. It lies opposite Berehaven Harbour and got its name, according to legend, from an Irish chief Owen Mór who was defeated in battle, fled to Spain and married Princess Beara. When he returned with a great army and navy, he named the area Berehaven in honour of his wife.

The prehistoric inhabitants of Bere Island left behind an ancient legacy of their time – a megalithic wedge tomb built circa 2000 BC, ringforts and a spectacular standing stone over 3m tall, which stands in the very centre of the island. At the eastern end of the island Lonehort Beach was once a Viking harbour, where a breakwater was built in the Scandinavian style.

Berehaven is the second deepest natural harbour in the world (after Sydney) and the deepest in Europe, and the scene of many a naval clash. Bere Island belonged to the O’Sullivan Beara Clan since the 14th C, but was taken at the The Battle of Dunboy in 1602, when Gaelic chieftain Donal Cam O’Sullivan Beare was defeated by Sir Carew and his people massacred.

The French Invasion of 1796 led to the need to build defences and four Martello towers were built on the island, each with a gun battery. Two towers still remain and afford commanding views of the island and bay.

Due to the strategic position of the island, the British maintained a military presence on the island from 1898, when tenants were cleared from the East End and seven gun batteries in all were brought in to protect the British Dreadnoughts when in port. A moat was built to surround the fortifications, prisons and army barracks, some of which can still be seen today. The British army departed in 1938 and in the 1950s the islanders were finally allowed to buy their land back.

The inclement weather has caused many shipwrecks, with ships smashed on rocks and islanders involved in courageous rescues over the years. Fishing has always been the main occupation, and the local fishermen risked their lives many times to ply their trade. Despite the fishing, the island population was greatly reduced by the Famine in the 1840s and later by emigration. In 1841 there were 2,122 inhabitants. Nowadays there are just over 200 permanent residents, although this number swells in the summer with visitors.

Much of the information here comes from Bere Island – A Short History by Ted O Sullivan. His account of the ingenious prison escapes is highly recommendable reading.

Happy Puzzling!