Chapel In The Mist - Gougane Barra - County Cork - Ireland

St Finbarr's Oratory on Holy Island at Gougane Barra (Finbarr's Hollow) in County Cork, Ireland.... more

by Tony Crehan

Title

Chapel In The Mist - Gougane Barra - County Cork - Ireland

Artist

Tony Crehan

Medium

Photograph

Description

St Finbarr's Oratory on Holy Island at Gougane Barra (Finbarr's Hollow) in County Cork, Ireland.

I was a little disappointed that our visit to Gougane Barra, the source of the River Lee, was on a rainy, misty afternoon. It was on my list of "must visits" after seeing several lovely images of St Finbarr's Oratory and the surrounding trees and mountains reflected in the placid lake on a sunny afternoon.

However, the mist gave it a serene beauty and spiritual quality, which was quite fitting really.

Finbarr was born near Crookstown in County Cork in the sixth century. He was the son of a Connaught metal worker called Amergin whose tribe was descended from Eochaidh Muidmheadoin who was the brother of the king of Munster. Amergin inherited land at a place called Achaidh Durbchon near Gougane Lake and became the chief smith to Tighernach, king of the Hy Eachach of Munster.

Amergin eventually married a young slave woman in the king's household, but the king was against the union, so he summoned the couple before him and sentenced them to be burned alive. When a heavy rain storm prevented the order from being carried out, the king took this as divine intervention and the couple were granted clemency and set free.

Amergin and his bride soon had a son whom they baptized as Luan, or Lochan, then returned to Gougane Lake to set up their own household. Things were relatively peaceful for the next seven years. At that time, three Munster clerics visited Amergin's home They were so taken with Luan and felt the Holy Spirit shone from the boy's face. They appealed to Amergin to let them take Luan away for religious schooling.

Luan studied at a place called Slieve Muinchill where he was tonsured (received the traditional hair cut with the bald patch in the back) and had his name changed. The cleric who did the barbering commented on how fair Luan's hair was, saying, "Fair (fionn) is the hair (barra, meaning crop) of Luan." Another cleric replied, "Let this be his name." Fionn Barra eventually became Finbarr.

Finbarr's education continued when he went to Scotland to study. When he returned to Ireland he established several hermitages around the country to educate his followers.

The monastery at Gougane Lake was Finbarr's most important settlement and became known as Gougane Finbarra, eventually becoming Gougane Barra. It's set on Holy Island, which is just off the shores of Gougane Lake. Today, access onto the island is via a foothpath that connects to the mainland; original access was only by boat.

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December 26th, 2015