Gougane Barra is situated in the heart of West Cork made famous by Saint Finbarr whose feast day is today September 25th. Gougane Barra stands out as a place of unparalleled natural beauty.
At the heart of Gougane Barra lies the iconic St. Finbarr’s Oratory, a tiny chapel perched on a small island in the lake, with a history dating back to the 6th century. The oratory stands as a testament to Ireland’s rich religious heritage.
One of the most captivating features of Gougane Barra is the glacial lake surrounded by the imposing Shehy Mountains. The green surroundings and the tranquil waters of the lake provide a perfect ecosystem for various animal species. Fish such as brown trout thrive in the clear waters of the lake. The area is teeming with diverse flora and fauna. If you are visiting Gougane Barra you could spot the elusive red deer, majestic eagles, and a variety of waterfowl in this beautiful region.
Spiritual Thought For The Week🙏
Today September 25th is the feast of St. Finbarr. He is the patron saint of Cork and has very close ties with Gougane Barra in West Cork. The world that Finbarr lived in was radically different to the one we live in now. The world back then was much less complicated, life was lived simply with fewer distractions. But they too had their challenges and difficulties. Finbarr believed strongly that God was the one who gave us hope and strength to get us through everything. This was the message that he brought from Gougane Barra to the people of Cork and beyond. His message is still so relevant today.
Psalm 86 echoes a very similar expression of God. It puts before us an alternative to hopelessness. The psalm reminds us that God is kind and full of compassion. We are told that the God we follow, ‘Abounds in love’. If you translate the word ‘abound’, the dictionary says, ‘full of’, ‘overflowing with’, ‘teeming with’ or ‘alive with’. The writer of this psalm adds the word ‘love’. This then translates beautifully in the Psalm as ‘full of love’, overflowing with love’, ‘teeming with love’, ‘alive with love’. To say that God is ‘alive with love’ is such a beautiful description of God.
It means that God is with us right now and with us through everything that is going on in our lives – not last week or next week, but alive in the moment that is now. The spirituality of St. Finbarr makes a lot of sense today. It is not some old outdated notion of God but is still so relevant for the world we live in today and for our own personal lives too.
Thought For The Week is updated each Monday
