Gougane Barra

Pilgrimages to Gougane Barra

The Story of Gougane Barra

The hallowed shrine of Saint Finbarr dates back to the sixth century. Here the saint communed with God. The surrounding mountains were his cloister and the lake was for him the mirror of God’s grandeur. Stone cells commemorate his hermitage. From here he journeyed the river-way of the Lee to become the first bishop and founder of the church and city of Cork. He died in 623 AD and his feast-day is celebrated on September the 25th

Text inscribed at the entrance to the Island, attributed to Timothy Manning, Cardinal Archbishop of Los Angeles, native of Uibh Laoire parish.

Each year, pilgrims gather at Gougane on the Sunday following 25 September to honour St Finbarr and ask for his blessing.

St Finbarr is patron of Cork, one of the patrons of the Diocese of Cork and Ross, and is also honoured at University College Cork on whose gate pillars is engraved the phrase “Where Finbarr taught let Munster learn”

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