Bere Island was once the most fortified locations in Western Europe. Following the attempted French invasion of Bantry Bay in 1796, four Martello Towers were built on the island, two of which still remain. In the early 1900s the British Admiralty constructed a base on Bere Island along with seven gun batteries to protect the British fleet as it lay at anchor off the island, along with US battleships whilst protecting Atlantic convoys during WW1. During the War of Independence an internment camp was in operation on the island. The Bere Island Military Heritage Festival will feature talks from military experts from throughout Ireland, along with an exhibition of old photos and artefacts.
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