A Bantry woman, now living in Stockholm, is doing her bit to promote the West Cork way of life and its take on the active outdoor life favoured by Swedes.
BY HELEN RIDDELL
A BANTRY woman, now living in Stockholm, is doing her bit to promote the West Cork way of life and its take on the active outdoor life favoured by Swedes.Â
Bernadette Anderson, originally from Bantry, ended up in Stockholm, via Dublin, where she worked in a computer software company. It led to Bernadette meeting and marrying a Swede and moving to Stockholm, where she has now lived for the past 30 years with her husband and son. Â
Bernadette has always made a point of visiting Ireland on a yearly basis, travelling to Bantry and Castletownbere. But since joining a Swedish hiking club, she is now encouaging other members of the club to make the trip to Ireland, specifically for a hike on the Beara peninsula. Â
Togther with Swedish hiking tour leader, Ewa Hedlund, Bernadette and 12 members of the hiking group headed to Beara for a six-day visit recently. The group covered over 90k on their trip, taking in the length and breadth of the peninsula, staying in local B&Bs along the way.Â
âThey were all so helpful, and gave us top standard service,' she said. Â
She mentioned how the Swedes took a particular liking to Irish brown bread, and Barry's tea, which many of the group stocked up on to take home with them. The Swedes were enthralled by the beauty of Beara, and its hiking trails, and managed to include a visit to Dursey Island during their stay.
 Bernadette was delighted with the group's reaction to West Cork.Â
âI felt honounred to be able to bring the group back to my home area, and I plan to continue to bring more Swedish business back here in the future.'Â