Gougane Barra Church

St. Finbarr's Church - Gougane Barra, Ireland

Aerial footage of St. Finbarr's Church, Gougane Barra, West Cork.

St Finbarr's Church - Gougane Barra

Aerial footage of St Finbarr's Church, Gougane Barra in West Cork.


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.

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.

Gougane Barra Church Wedding Video in Macroom Cork Ireland

wedding video in gougane barra,
Gougane Barra is known for its unspoilt beauty and tranquillity, but fortunately its secret isn't out just yet! The sweeping glens surrounding the Gougane Barra Lake provide the source for the River Lee, which meanders through the mountains, before reaching Cork City and the Atlantic.


Gougane Barra is one of the most spectacular wedding locations in the Ireland - a scene of absolute serenity - an oratory on a lake-island among the rolling, wooded hills of West Cork.

Hidden away in one of Ireland's most romantic glens, on the scenic borders of County Cork and County Kerry, this is an intimate, set overlooking the lake of Gougane Barra and the ancient hermitage of St Finbarr.

Gougane Barra

A beauty spot beyond compare, Gougane Barra

Gougane Barra, Co. Cork

The stunning Gougane Barra, Co. Cork. © AirCam Ireland | aircamireland.ie

Gougane Barra wedding video Ireland // Fernhill House Hotel, Clonakilty, Cork

No, it's not Italy -- it's Ireland, our beautiful little country. And no, the sun is not CGI. It really happened. Gougane Barra, Co. Cork to be precise, and later on to the Fernhill House Hotel in Clonakilty.

I'd shoot every wedding here if I could -- it's spectacularly beautiful. Enjoy Jamie-Lee and Stephen's stunning wedding film from a day that was filled with Color. Fun. Smiles. Laughter. Vibrancy. Love.

If you want to see full quality go to

Bookings and enquiries through the website:

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Saint Finbarr Gougane Barra Island Shrine County Cork Ireland

The name Guágan Barra derives from St. Finbar, who according to tradition, built his monastery on the island here in the 6th century. Guágan was at one time part of the territories of the O'Leary's who lost possession of the land in the plantation that followed the Cromwellian wars. Subsequently it passed to the Townsend family and ultimately the farming tenants under the Land Acts in the early part of this century. The ruins on the island are not part of St. Finbar's original settlement but were erected around 1700 by Rev. Denis O'Mahony who, following the footsteps of St. Finbar, retired to a life of asceticism here. Because of its isolation, in the days of the Penal Laws people travelled from areas far beyond the bounds of the valley to hear Mass in Guágan Barra. One of the most famous 'Mass Path' was that which led from the Borlin Valley to the west via Gowlane Stream and down into Com Rua by way of the savage cleft of Poll.

An Awesome trip to Gougane Barra, Cork County, Ireland

Gougane Barra, meaning the rock of Barrais a settlement, west of Macroom in County Cork, Ireland.



Its nearly 1 hour journey(70km) from Cork, Ireland.

Gougane Barra Church During the 'Penal Law' times, when Catholics were forbidden to worship, this was one of the places that people would travel considerable distances in order to hear mass because it was very isolated.
The Church is very photogenic but extremely small, so filming is somewhat limited inside, but the exterior more than makes up for it – the perfect place for a film wedding.

Flight at Gougane Barra, Cork, Ireland

Music: ‘Coinleach Glas An Fhómhair’ by Clannad.



Video © 2014 Raymond Fogarty

Ireland - Gougane Barra

The source of the river Lee, Gougane Barra is a remote old monastic site, full of mountain beauty, nestled in the Sheehy Mountains close to the equally fantastic Pass of Keimaneigh in County Cork, at the edge of County Kerry. Taking the videos, I was struck that whoever might have been here before, be it a hundred or a thousand years before, would likely have seen the same thing as I did in these videos. A sobering thought.

Gougane Barra (St. Finbarr's Oratory) Wedding Video in Cork

Gougane Barra was Ireland's first National Park when it opened to the public in 1966. This contributes greatly to the reputation which Gougane Barra has as an area of wild and beautiful scenery. The magnificent Forest Park covers an area of over 400 hectares (1,000 acres).

The River Lee rises here in Gougane Barra and flows through beautiful scenery to reach Cork Harbour after a distance of approximately 50km. There is a tiny island in the lake at Gougane Barra connected to the shore by a causeway. It was here that St. Finbarr, patron saint of Cork, founded his early Christian monastery, before moving down the River Lee to establish a monastery at what is now St. Finbarrs Cathedral in Cork City. There is a small church on the island in this beautiful and serene location away from the hustle & bustle of daily life.

There are a number of walks in Gougane Barra forest park comprising some 350 acres. Nature lovers will revel in the extensive areas of natural and cultivated forestry which abounds in wildlife.
You can drive along the ring road in the forest or take some of the very enjoyable walks. Sli Laoi a delightful walk along the floor of Cumrua follows the course of the infant Lee to the head of the valley.

Gougane Barra, Ireland

song, Hans Zimmer Black Hawk Down

2017-07 Ireland, Gougane Barra - slide show

I created this video with the YouTube Slideshow Creator (

Gougane Barra in Co.Cork

gougane barra co cork - Church Show Reel

Gougane Barra - Early Christian Refuge - Cork, Ireland

Backroads & Byways is a short video detailing a nice day out in West Cork. The site is so stunning and textured I couldn't resist shooting some footage. Enjoy! Share! But ultimately visit, it's on your doorstep.

Gougane Barra (Irish: Guagán Barra, meaning the rock of Barra) is a settlement, west of Macroom in County Cork, Ireland. 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 weddings.

Afforestation of the area 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.

Gougane Barra Church David & Brid Wedding 22.07.17

Must be one of the most scenic church's in Ireland.



Music Credit: Flowing Air is a composition of the Italian composer Mattia Vlad Morleo.

Gougane Barra Church Skating

Saby skating around Gougane Barra Church 08-01-2010

Gougane Barra with BMW Club Irish Section

The Near end of a long day surviving the BMW 2018 Boreen Run.
Gougane Barra stunning lake and Church.

Gougane Barra Forest walk, Walking in Ireland, Cork,

This is a nice off road path loop walk, with a 30 minute path climb, well worth a visit.
Walking time 1hr 45min off road path walk

From Ballingeary, travel 7 km on the R584 to Guagán crossroads, take a right and travel past the Oratory and Gougane Barra lake to the park entrance. From Bantry take the N71 to Ballylickey, turn right travel 25km to Guagán crossroads, take a left, travel past the lake and Oratory to the park.

The name Guagán Barra means 'Rock cleft of St. Finbar'. St Finbarr built his monastery on the lake island in the 6th century. There is an Oratory on the island close to the entrance of the Forest Park which is to this day a major site of worship.

Guagán Barra was developed as a forest park in the early 60's and was officially opened in 1966. It is unique in having a looped motor trail of almost 5 km with spectacular views of the deep valley and its walled sides. Walking in Guagán is an energetic undertaking but one can be assured that it is a rewarding experience. There are 6 different trails to whet the appetite of the walking enthusiast. These are of varying distances and degrees of difficulty. Each one has its own story to tell and show off the spectacular panoramas of mountain, valley, stream and lake.

The park and surrounding countryside boasts a rich diversity of plant, animal and bird life. Ling heather and Moor grasses are abundant on the slopes while rock faces are sometimes covered with Mosses, Lichens and primitive plants. A rare plant called Fox's Cabbage is to be found on rock faces near to mountain streams. This plant is one of the Hiberno-Lusitanian group whose distribution in Ireland is confined to small areas in the south west.