The 100th anniversary of the Bere Island Internment Camp is to be marked by a special ceremony on the Co Cork island tomorrow.
The prison camp was constructed by the British Authorities for convicted Republican prisoners in 1920 and after they were transported to Spike Island, the camp became a War of Independence internment camp only.
At its peak, it held 284 men. Among them were Seán Collins, a brother of General Michael Collins, and Professor Alfred O'Rahilly who would later become President of University College Cork.
The camp was in operation between April and December 1921, and during this time there were a number of successful and attempted escapes.
One of the best known was made by Murt Ó Connaill who escaped while on a swimming parade and successfully made it to Dublin to take part in the Truce negotiations.
Today there is no trace of the camp and its buildings, but tomorrow a plaque will be unveiled at the site by members of the Bere Island Projects Group as part of National Heritage Week, with a flag ceremony provided by the Defence Forces from Collins Barracks in Cork.
