Tuesday, 20 October 2015

Gougane Barra and Bantry Bay.

I've been wanting to post these photos for a while, but due to our terrible broadband connection I haven't been able to until now, so apologies for them being a bit dated.

A couple of months ago we had a jaunt down to West Cork to Gougane Barra, Ireland's first National Park which opened in 1966,  near the town of Macroom.

In the distance, you can see St. Finbarr's Oratory, which stands on a small island on the lake. St. Finbarr is the patron saint of Cork, who died in 623 A.D.


Built at the end of the 19th century, the church is very popular place for weddings and pilgrims still gather there each year on the 25th September for the feast of St. Finbarr.


   
There's a hotel, small gift shop and bar/café, which you can just see on the right of the photo. Sorry it's in the distance, but a coach full of people had just turned up so it was quite busy.
 



Inside the church.


Next to the church are the remains of St, Finbarr's monastery from the 6th century.

 
 
 
 
 



Very quaint public loos.


 
Before we headed back home we went on a bit further down the coast towards Bantry Bay.
 
 
 
 
We didn't stop for long as we had to head back, but hopefully we'll get back down that way again next year and have a good look around.

 
 



On the way home, my OH took this shot of this beautiful garden as we were going over a bridge, (I was driving).



I hope to be able to upload photos of the Forest Park in the next post, if the broadband lets me. :-)

Thanks for dropping by.
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22 comments:

  1. Breathtaking20 October 2015 at 06:28

    Hello Deb!:) Everywhere you look there are scenes of great beauty. The church is situated in such a picturesque setting ..a perfect place for a wedding, and the loo is right out of "Lord of the Rings" Lovely bay and garden shots also.

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    1. Deb21 October 2015 at 00:44

      Thanks BT. I thought the loos looked like a Hobbit's house when I first saw them too. :-)

      Delete
  2. Ragged Robin20 October 2015 at 10:16

    I am just so very glad that you have finally managed to get enough of an internet connection to post - it was worth the wait :) What beautiful scenery and photographs. Bantry Bay is just stunning and I would love to be able to visit the Oratory. You live in a very beautiful part of the world!

    Hope broadband lets you upload photos of the Forest Park.

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    1. Deb21 October 2015 at 00:49

      Thanks Caroline. It is lovely down there, it's a shame we didn't have time to explore Bantry Bay more, but hopefully we will next summer.
      The broadband seems to be behaving at the moment. ;-)

      Delete
  3. Teresa Ashby20 October 2015 at 11:39

    It looks beautiful. Lovely photos - everywhere looks so clean and clear and fresh. Hope the broadband behaves itself :-) xx

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    1. Deb21 October 2015 at 00:55

      Thanks Teresa. It is very clean, even the loos won an award!
      Broadband seems ok at the moment, maybe they've actually listened to all the customer's complaints at last. :-) xx

      Delete
  4. Anonymous20 October 2015 at 12:37

    The quality of light in your pictures is beautiful.

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    1. Deb21 October 2015 at 01:01

      Thanks CT and thanks for dropping by.:-)

      Delete
  5. Anne Wilson20 October 2015 at 17:12

    Great photos, it looks a lovely place to visit, unfortunately for us it is just too far as we have all the animals to consider.

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    1. Deb21 October 2015 at 01:06

      Thanks Anne. It is a lovely place, one of Ireland's hidden gems. :-)

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  6. northsider 21 October 2015 at 09:32

    Great Photos Deb. Thanks for visiting West Cork. I always wanted to live here on the Sheeps Head Peninsula.

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  7. Deb21 October 2015 at 23:44

    Thanks Dave. You live in a lovely part of Ireland.:-)

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  8. Millymollymandy23 October 2015 at 00:46

    Good to see you back and I hope the broadband continues to behave itself. Stunning landscapes, Deb, and those loos are really cute! xx

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    1. Deb23 October 2015 at 04:36

      Thanks Mandy. Fingers crossed on the broadband. The loos are good aren't they. :-) xx

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  9. Pauline23 October 2015 at 14:35

    Hello, I spotted the words Gougane Barra on CJ's sidebar and just had to visit. I stayed there on my second to last night in Ireland and it was my favourite. Such beauty and that light is amazing. Thanks for the photos and the happy reminders.

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    1. Deb24 October 2015 at 01:01

      Hi Pauline, I wish that we could have stayed longer too, it is such a tranquil place. Thanks for dropping by and thanks for following. :-)

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  10. Amanda Peters24 October 2015 at 14:35

    What a lovely place and your photos are great too.. Thanks for the kind comments on my blog..
    Amanda xx

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    1. Deb25 October 2015 at 05:01

      Thanks Amanda and thanks for dropping by :-)

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  11. Jacqueline @ HOME29 October 2015 at 04:46

    Absolutely beautiful ..... I have travelled quite a lot in my life but, I'm ashamed to say that I've never been to Ireland !! I must do something about that !! XXXX

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  12. Deb29 October 2015 at 10:44

    Yes do Jackie, I think you'll like it. :-) xx

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  13. Young at Heart5 November 2015 at 05:10

    What beautiful light... gorgeous!!

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