Beara's resilience brought to book by Transition Year students

A GROUP of transition year students from Scoil Phobail Bhéara have launched a new book 100 Years of Hope – Stories of Strength, Resilience and Courage from the Beara Peninsula.  

The students devised and compiled the book as part of a positive mental health project that looked at resilience in their wider community. 

They interviewed people of all age groups from different parishes in the peninsula, recorded their stories, and the advice they had to offer young people. They said the experience was educational and inspirational because it gave a voice to many people who had shown strength, resilience and courage in facing the many challenges of life. 

It is also a valuable record of the experiences, customs and events in Beara over the last one hundred years. 

Speaking at the launch on December 9th last, the school principal Mary O’Sullivan thanked everyone involved in the project, especially the students; their Transition Year co-ordinator Kathleen Dwyer; chaplain Marie Murphy; and psychologist Linda Stevens.  

The principal also thanked the sponsors, Marine Harvest, Cork Mental Health, Anam Cara Writer’s and Artist’s Retreat and SuperValu Castletownbere.

 Guest speakers on the night included Áine O’Sullivan, Fachtna O’Donovan and Mark Harrington, who spoke about their contributions to the book.

The students presented each contributor with a copy of the book and a Christmas candle and they rounded off their evening of celebration with some music, carol singing and refreshments.

Copies of the book are now on sale in the school for €5.