SCENES from IRELAND

18. Gougane Barra and Kealkill prehistoric stone circle, County West Cork

The church on the 'island' in the lake at Gougane Barra. By tradition, this early Christian settlement was supposed to have been founded in the 6th century by St Finbar. The ruins on the island actually date from around 1700. The lake has formed in a glacial depression carved out in the last ice age.

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The start of the walk over the hills around Gougane Barra.

On the hills above Gougane Barra.

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Looking down on the lake at Gougane Barra.

Gougane Barra, Co. West Cork, Ireland: After an invigorating walk on the hills above the ancient religious centre (an 'island church') of Gougane Barra, County West Cork, Ireland. The lake is set in a glacial valley well away from any town. The lake and 'adjacent' cafe-tearoom seemed at times an awful long way away, and they were!, but the friendly welcome and good budget food proved a fitting end to the day of excellent hill work - quite a circuit over the surrounding hills around the lake.

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More on Gougane Barra (adapted from Wikipedia)

Gougane Barra (Irish: Guagán Barra, meaning "the rock of Barra")[1] is a settlement, west of Macroom in County Cork, Ireland. Historically the name Gougane Barra comes from Saint Finbarr, who is said to have built a monastery on an island in the lake nearby during the 6th century. The present ruins date from around 1700 when a priest called Denis O'Mahony retreated to the island. During the times of the Penal Laws, Gougane Barra's remoteness meant that it became a popular place for the celebration of the Roman Catholic Mass. The nineteenth century oratory which stands near the original monastery is famous for its picturesque location and richly decorated interior and is a popular place for wedding photography. St Finbar's Oratory is the final destination for one of the five Pilgrim Paths of Ireland, St. Finbar's Pilgrim Path, which starts 35-kilometres away in Drimoleague.

Today at in the Gougane Barra area afforestation around the settlement began in 1938 and Gougane Barra is now home to a 1.42 square kilometre (or 138 hectare) forest park with 20 different species of tree, mainly Sitka spruce, Japanese larch, Scots pine and Lodgepole pine, and a large number of native species of flora and fauna. The source of the River Lee rises in the hills above the park and flows into Gougane lake. The forest park has 5 km of motor trail and 10 km of hill walks, nature points and vista trails.[6] The Coillte-owned forest at Gougane Barra was temporarily closed in 2014 to allow felling of 16,000 trees, mostly larches, infected with or susceptible to Phytophthora ramorum, a pathogen responsible for Sudden Oak Death. These trees were to be replaced with other species such as oak and Scots pine.

On the way back to Durrus we called in at the Kealkill prehistoric megalithic recumbent stone circle, north east of Bantry. A wonderfully situated and atmospheric monument to long forgotten 'ceremonies'!

There is a small complete circle of 5 standing stones, two large 'lined up' standing stones ('megaliths')...

... and, on the right a stone ringed cairn.

The views across the hills towards the sea are quite spectacular and this archaeological site is well worth a visit when on another wonderful holiday in Ireland.

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