Our last full day in Castletownbere heralded our traditional trip to Bere Ireland - the ancestral home of the Irish side of my family and where the semi-derelict farmhouse where my Mother and her brothers (including Uncle K) and Sister used to live before they all moved (along with my Grandparents) still - just about - stands with its amazing views across Bantry Bay towards Hungry Hill on the mainland.
As usual boarding the ferry over to the Island was an exciting affair. - particularly in the huge Volvo that we were driving which required much gunning of the engine to make it - in reverse - up the steep ramp from the landing stage on to the ferry (and then a more delicate touch to manoeuvre the car into the tiny gap between two other cars (including K’s car) already parked on either side of the deck).
Whilst I successfully navigated this stage of the process through judicious use of the rear view mirror and trying as best I could to follow the shouted directions of the ferry captain, there was no room to open the door to join the rest of the family in the boat’s seating area (they had wisely decided to admire the spectacle from outside the car) so I had a ringside view as the two cars earmarked for the remaining spaces at the front of the deck came up the ramp.
The first car was driven by D.who carefully manoeuvred his car into the tiny gap in front of the right hand side of my car.
The other car clearly decided that extra power was going to be needed to get up the ramp and so I was very well placed (I would probably say too well placed) to see it suddenly hurtling up the ramp at top speed towards me with much roaring both from its engine and from the ferry captain who sensed - rather belatedly in my view- that the driver had perhaps over-estimated the power required to board his vessel.
It crested the top of the entrance ramp at a rate of knots, barely missing D’s car by a matter of inches, and screeched to a stop in response to the Captain’s admonishments a hair’s breadth from my front bumper.
Fortunately the rest of the visit was somewhat less traumatic although disappointingly the former School and now Heritage Centre was closed.
We were able to have a tour around the Island including into Rerrin where we spent a pleasant 1/2 hour skimming stones and buying Bere Island themed warm weather gear from the village shop before a visit to the fort and then a stop off at the Hotel at the top of the Island for a quick snack before a photo opportunity by the old house and then catching the 2:30pm ferry back to the Mainland.
After stopping off for some lunch at the Buddhist centre (they have now finished the Temple - will try to post some pictures below) and admiring the beautiful views, we drove around the peninsular to Allihies beach where we were able to take full advantage of the sunshine for a walk amongst the crashing surf.
We were back in CTB in time for Dinner (again at Murphy’s after the success of yesterday’s meal) before a visit to Twomeys bar and then a valedictory pint in the snug of MacCarthy’s Bar (very much quieter than last night) before heading home at a halfway reasonable time (ie just before Midnight!).
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