Introduction

Our next pilgrimage follows the steps of the holy St. Finbarr through the rolling green hills of Ireland. It was said that St. Finbarr had the touch of God leaving his hand gleaming with light and when he died the sun did not set for 12 days. When the Saint began his journey in the 6th century, he intended to spread the word of Christ throughout Ireland. Today, people embark on this journey for many different reasons. Some travelers walk in service to Christianity as St. Finbarr did, some travelers walk to challenge themselves, some travelers walk to connect with others, and some travelers walk just to walk. Either way, when you reach the destination point, you will take away a sense of accomplishment and an appreciation of nature’s creations. 

The pilgrimage is about 23 miles in length starting from Top of the Rock in Drimoleague and ending in Gougane Barra. The path takes travelers up three different mountains and down through four Irish valleys. Along the way you will be greeted with relics of the past, welcoming faces, and the iconic Irish climate. Now, this journey can be taken on your own account but travelers can also sign up to take on the pilgrimage with a group. For travelers that want to take on the pilgrimage without an organized group, they can access the AllTrails details. 

Top of the Rock

The pilgrimage begins just as St. Finbarr’s did, starting from Top of the Rock which is now a family owned farm. The Ross family has owned this land for three generations and has dedicated the lands to education, fun, and to the St. Finbarr pilgrimage. Visitors can book accommodations at one of the many unique farm pods, interact with the farm animals, or partake in one of their St. Finbarr walking tours. You can learn more about the happenings of this bustling farm here. Once you have your bags packed and have taken one final view of the surrounding Irish knolls, it’s time to take your first steps of the pilgrimage. The day’s journey will take about seven hours and walkers will travel about 12 miles towards the midway point of Kealkil. Along the way, you will see ancient remnants of St. Finbarr’s time along with gorgeous sweeping views of the Irish countryside. 

The small village of Kealkill will greet you with open arms after a long day’s journey. Weary travelers can rest your achy legs and reflect on your journey thus far. Overnight accommodations are limited in this tiny village but if you are hoping to stay in the area, be sure to check out West Cork Way Bed and Breakfast. Before you head out for the final stretch of the pilgrimage be sure to check out the Carriganass Castle and the Kealkill Stone circle, both of which are portals to the ancient past. The Kealkill Stone circle is actually said to be from the Bronze age which was well before St. Finbarr’s time. There is a good chance St. Finbarr himself stopped at this ancient site to ponder and reflect on his journey.

Gougane Barra

The pilgrimage reaches its conclusion once travelers reach the Gougane Barra which was named after St. Finbarr. It is quite obvious why St. Finbarr arrived at this location and decided to build his monastery. The tranquil waters of the lake invite visitors to sit and reflect on their journey as the fog rolls in over the hills. Travelers are invited to peer inside St. Finbarr’s Oratory and explore its grounds. Many boast that the ruins at this location are from St. Finbarr’s time but in fact they were built in the early 1700’s by a priest seeking isolation just as St. Finbarr had. To learn more about the area of Gougane Barra click here. You will be able to learn about the hotel nearby and the Gougane Barra National Forest Park. Let me know what you think of this walking tour of the Irish countryside below!