"The site of St Finbarr's monastery on the island" Top 5 Page for this destination County Cork Things to Do Tip by evaanna

The tiny island on which St Finbarr set up his monastery in the 6th century is situated on a lake in the midst of the National Park. It can be reached by a causeway and, as you approach the island, you can see the ruined walls which were once part not of St Finbarr's monastery - nothing had been left of that - but of a later settlement built on the same site around 1700 by Rev. Denis O'Mahony. This beautiful isolated spot in the midst of the mountains used to be the object of pilgrimage for people from far and wide who came here to attend Mass. Even now, on the Sunday after the Feast of St Finbarr (25th September) a pilgrimage is held to the Holy Island. The present Oratory was built there in modern times and has interesting stained glass windows representing County Cork's saints. The remains of the former construction include a square court with cells, the Holy Well and Father O'Mahony's tomb nearby.
It's a magical place, the magic being spoilt a little by the constant flow of tourists, all eager to see it.

Directions: 5 km west of Ballingeary on Road 584 to Bantry