The early trace of this settlement is of a monastery founded here by St. Finbarr in the 6th century. The name Gougane Barra derives from the Irish for Barra's Hermitage. Saint Finbarr died in Cloyne on September 25th, 623.
At this place a holy well, the ruins of an old oratory with 8 monks' cells and a more recent church, called the St. Finbarr's Oratory, can be found.
The modern Oratory was open the day we were here.
The holy well is the first thing visitors see upon entering this peaceful place. There are some patterns to follow before getting the water from the well.
UPDATE: June 24th, 2013 - A new visit to this breathtaking location. We also took some new photographs. The first two photos are from the previous visit. A wedding was going to be celebrated in the St. Finbarr's oratory, the bride was accompanied by a Scottish bagpipe player.
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