AN ISLAND off west Cork celebrated its first official presidential visit at the weekend when President Mary McAleese opened a heritage centre which was built last year after years of campaigning for funding by locals.
President McAleese congratulated the 200-strong community at Bere Island for its determination in obtaining funding for the project, saying the building was a monument to their initiative.
Funding for the 1,500sq m building was secured from the Department of the Islands, Cork County Council and the now defunct ISLA project which assisted island communities throughout Europe.
Theresa Hobbs, manager of the Bere Island Heritage Centre, said it was a privilege to receive an official presidential visit on such a joyous occasion for islanders.
“It was such an honour to have her here. Everything was perfect and the President even thanked the weather committee as it had been raining all week but it cleared when she got off the helicopter! A committee of islanders fought for years to get funding,” Ms Hobbs said.
Since the centre opened last year it has become an important reference, meeting and information point for islanders and visitors to the island.
The centre has a craft shop and cafe with internet access, as well as an exhibition space, meeting room and conference facilities.
The active retirement group holds meetings at the centre, as does the youth group, but it also gives islanders and tourists an opportunity to try something new, like learning how to paint using watercolours.
The building, complete with a timber ceiling that is fashioned to replicate waves, was designed by DOD Architects and built by Jack Sullivan of Bere Island Construction.
It has come a long way from its origins as the island school of 1857. The existing national school, which is located nearby, opened in 1980. In the meantime, members of the Old School Committee joined forces with members of the Bere Island Projects Group and saw the potential to turn the ruin into a heritage centre. They envisaged a place where they could showcase important local archives, and allow people to find out more about the island’s culture and history.
IT funding allowed managers of the centre to stay connected with the island’s diaspora through its regular e-mail newsletter, and to promote the island as a popular tourism destination. Bere Island was a British defence base until 1938 and is a base for the Irish Defence Forces.