Page 30 - O Mahony Society Newsletter December 2024_Neat

St. Finbar and Gougane Barra
Excerpted from The O Mahony Society Journal, Vol. 2, 1972
The Association of Gougane Barra with
Saint Finbar, founder and patron of Cork,
has long been a subject of controversy
in antiquarian circles. Historians and
scholars have followed one another in
the quest to uncover from the sparse
evidence available to them the identity of
place-names with the small lough in West
Cork has led to contradictory views over
accepting the connection. The probability
remains, however, that Finbar did establish
a sanctuary or hermitage on the lake
island before he went east along the Lee
to make his famous foundation near the
marsh of Cork.
Certainly the name Gougane Barra
(the basin-shaped hill of Barr) is associated
with his memory. One important pointer is
a description in a 12th-century text of the
“Litany of the Saints” which refers to a Loch
Eirce as in “I cocrigh muscrai hUi Eachach
cruada.” This suggests an O’Mahony locality
in Muskerry. Moreover, the only lakes now
known in that direction are at Inchigeela
and Gougane.
Traditionally Finbar was born in about
570 at Rath Raithleann, at the time of
Tighearnach, king of the Cineal Aodha, from
whom the O’Mahonys are derived.
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Finbar’s father, Amergin, who came from
Connaught, was priomh gabha (metalsmith)
to the king of Raithleann. Amergin’s wife is
variously described as being a slave woman
of Tighearnach and, more colourfully, a
princess of the Cineal Aodha.
Their son, baptised Luan, later became
known as Fionn Barr, the fair-haired. He was
ordained and, according to the Irish “Lives,”
traveled to Leinster and founded many
churches.
At Loch Eirce—presumably Gougane
Barra—he established a school and religious
community before eventually founding
his monastery at Corce Luighe—the Lee
marsh—from which foundation flourished
the city of Cork. He died in 630 A.D.
The Church of Ireland Cathedral, its
majestic design dominating the skyline of
the modern city, stands on the reputed site
of Finbar’s monastery.
Gougane Barrs is the feast-place of Saint
Finbar and his memory is commemorated
on September 25th; the annual pilgrimage
to the island oratory takes place on the
Sunday following the feast-day.