(Photos: Anne Marie Cronin)
Bere Island’s first cruise tour visitors called to the island on Thursday on the MS Bremen and enjoyed a great day’s exploring!
Some of the visitors set out on bikes or on foot to discover the island for themselves and discovered the island’s fantastic views over Bantry Bay and the island’s neighbouring peninsulas.
Others gathered at the island’s heritage centre where local musicians greeted them with some wonderful traditional Irish music.
Bread-making, pint-pouring, and lots more music played their part in what was a wonderful morning. The visitors enjoyed the opportunity to meet the locals and learn about how island life has changed over the centuries.
It’s an exciting development for Bere Island which is benefitting from international enthusiasm for Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way and Cork County Council’s initiative to attract small cruise ships to West Cork.
The island looks forward to playing host to MS Bremen and other small cruise ships in the months and years ahead.
Cruise Director MS Bremen: “Thanks to each and everyone who put so much effort into having us that morning. … We hope that we will be back soon! It was really great, the music following us, the buses, the people, just everything!