|
Gougane Barra
find holiday homes in Gougane Barra
|
Gougane Barra is
situated just off the Macroom - Glengarriff road, 5km west of
Ballingeary near the Pass of Keimaneigh.
Gougane Barra was Ireland's very first National Park when it opened
to the public in 1966. The park is located in the Shehy mountains
and extends from the sheer slopes of Cuain Rua through Green Valley
Desmond to the shores of Gougane Barra lake. The magnificent Forest
Park covers an area of over 400 hectares (1,000 acres). Guágan Barra
is unusual among forest parks in that it provides drive around
facilities for the motorist and a motor trail can be followed right
along the ring road. There are also a number of signposted paths.
The River Lee rises here in Gougane Barra and flows through
beautiful scenery to reach Cork Harbour after a distance of some
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.
Eric Cross wrote the controversial book "The Tailor and Ansty", a
witty collection of sketches commemorating the talk of his friend
Tim Buckley, the tailor of Gougane Barra.
Activities in Gougane Barra include cycling; the Cork City-Beara-Gougane
Barra cycle route passes through Gougane Barra and finishes here.
Gougane Barra is a favourite location for trout anglers and
painters.
|
Gougane Barra Holiday Homes - County Cork, Ireland