GOUGANE BARRA

History: The name Guágan Barra derives from St. Finbar, who according to tradition, built his monastery on the island here in the 6th century. Guágan was at one time part of the territories of the O'Leary's who lost possession of the land in the plantation that followed the Cromwellian wars. Subsequently it passed to the Townsend family and ultimately the farming tenants under the Land Acts in the early part of this century. The ruins on the island are not part of St. Finbar's original settlement but were erected around 1700 by Rev. Denis O'Mahony who, following the footsteps of St. Finbar, retired to a life of asceticism here. Because of its isolation, in the days of the Penal Laws people travelled from areas far beyond the bounds of the valley to hear Mass in Guágan Barra. One of the most famous 'Mass Path' was that which led from the Borlin Valley to the west via Gowlane Stream and down into Com Rua by way of the savage cleft of Poll.

Habitat: The Guágan Barra area, and indeed the whole of south Cork, south Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula, is composed of old red sandstone. The characteristic layering or bedding of the sedimentary rocks can be clearly seen in the high cliffs around Com Rua at the head of the Guágan Barra valley. Guágan Barra Lake lies in a rock basin carved out by the ice but nowhere does it reach depths greater than 12 meters.

Forest Walks: 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.

Tree Species: The Forest Park comprises some 142 hectares. The area was virtually treeless until 1938 when the afforestation programme began. Plantings were largely of lodgepole pine, Sitka spruce and Japanese larch - three species that thrive in poorer soils and stand up well to exposure. Sitka spruce, which is particularly resistant to constant winds and suits a wide variety of soils, accounts for 40% of the area.

Biodiversity: Flora - In the Park natural vegetation occasionally reaches down to the roadside on rock outcrops and on stream banks but it is to be seen to better advantage as one approaches the upper fringes of the forest. On drier slopes fringe grasses such as brents and fescues, with heather and ling are abundant. Moist slopes have a large collection of purple moor grass while wet hollows harbour bog mosses and cotton grasses. Sedges and rushes flourish well here as do fox's cabbage, butterworths and sundews. Rock faces are covered with lichens.
Fauna - The otter hunts and fishes in secluded spots by night and day as does the stoat. The nocturnal badger, the brown rat, the fox and rabbit are all present in the park. Very occasionally the shy field mouse, pigmy shew and the pine marten can be spotted. Other common species to be found are the coal tit, wren, robin, wood pigeon, blackbird and chiffchaff. Other birds include the willow warbler, pied and grey wagtail, dock dove, cuckoo, thrush and starlings. Red buntings, cormorants and herons, moorhens and one or two mute swans may be seen by the lake.

Facilities: Slí Loai follows the course of the infant Lee from the lower car park to the head of the great coum - a distance of about 1.5km. From the lower car park there is a choice of several other walks, including the ever-popular Nature Trail which is quite short - under 1km. For the more energetic there is a very fine walk called Slí Easa which commands magnificent views of the whole glen and the great mountain wall that encloses it.