Military history to be celebrated on Bere Island

Bere Island’s rich military heritage will be celebrated later this month with a festival.

Now in its fourth year, Bere Island Projects Group will hold the 2026 Military Festival over 20 and 21 June on the island.

Bere Island was once one of the most fortified locations in Western Europe and was one of Ireland’s former treaty ports. The festival takes place in the historic Drill Hall, Rerrin which was constructed in 1915 and used by the British Admiralty for drill practice and at one time as a cinema for both the military and islanders.

Bere Island, located at the entrance to Bantry Bay, West Cork has a military heritage which spans four centuries. The island is said to be one of the best preserved military landscapes in Ireland.

Following the attempted invasion of Bantry Bay in 1796 by a French Armada and realising the strategic location of Bere Island as an entry point to Ireland, and eventually England for foreign invading forces, the British built four Martello Towers on Bere Island, two of which remain. In 1898 the British War Department issued a compulsory purchase order for the eastern end of the island. Islanders living in this area were allowed to remain, but as tenants of the War Department.

This area became known locally as ‘inside the red line’ which referred to a red line marking it on maps.

Fort Berehaven, Bere Island was handed back to the Irish Government in September 1938.

The festival will feature an exhibition of military photographs and artefacts along with talks from military experts.