Recalling ‘American days’ on Cork’s Bere Island 

Over the years Bere Island has witnessed many incursions and invasions by foreign forces – from the vikings in the early 800s to an attempted French invasion of Bantry Bay in 1796 which led to a 300-year presence by the British military.

However, it is perhaps the presence of the US Navy on the island during World War One that is more fondly recalled by islanders in the history books.

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 still remain.

In 1898 the…