Ted O Sullivan was born on Bere Island before his family moved to Cork City. As a young man, he realised his father, who had lived through much of the Island's tumultuous war years would not live forever, and began recording his memories. This became a passion project, visiting many of the Island's oldest inhabitants and chronicling their experiences, as well as consulting written records of the Island's history. In 1992, he published 'Bere Island; A short history'.

In 2022, he published 'Bere Island Internment Camp 1921', based on the autograph book of Nora O'Neill. Nora O’Neill was the Captain of the Castletownbere company of Cumann na mBan, and provided vital support and communication lines for the hundreds of men interned at the camp. These included poets, writers, intellectuals, and committed War of Independence volunteers, including Professor Alfred O’Rahilly, Peadar Ó hAnnracháin, Dr Jim Ryan and Pádraig Ó Siochfhradha (An Seabhac).  The book includes details of some of those who signed Nora's autograph book, as well as a pen portrait of Nora herself. The book is published with the support of Cork County Council.