| Gougane Barra Guagán Barra |
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|---|---|
| — Settlement — | |
| Church at Gougane Barra - built on island near monastery/well site at end of 19th century. | |
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Gougane Barra
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Munster |
| County | County Cork |
| Time zone | WET (UTC+0) |
| • Summer (DST) | IST (WEST) (UTC-1) |
Gougane Barra (Irish: Guagán Barra, meaning "the rock of Barra")[1] 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.
Afforestation of the area around the settlement began in 1938 and Gougane Barra is now home to a 1.42 square kilometre forest park which is home to a number of mammal and bird species.