Gougane Barra Hotel

 Óstan Gúgan Barra

J.J.Callanan

Jermiah Joeseph Callanan.

Poet and translator of Irish verse, born in Ballinhassig Co. Cork.

Died in Lisbon in exile from his native home.

Gougane Barra

There is a green island in lone Gougane Barra,

Where Allua of songs rushes forth as an arrow;

In deep-valley'd Desmond - a thousand wild fountains 

Come down to that lake from their homes in the mountains.

There grows the wild ash, and a time stricken willow

Looks chidingly down on the mirth of the billow;

As, like some gay child, that sad monitor scorning,

It lightly laughs back to the laugh of the morning.

And its zone of dark hills - oh! to see them all bright'ning,

When the tempest flings out its red banner of lightning;

An the waters rush down, 'mid the thunder's deep rattle,

like clans from their hills at the voice of the battle.

And brightly the fire-crested billows are gleaming,

And wildly from Mullagh the eagles are screaming,

Oh! where is the dwelling in valley, or highland,

So meet for a bard as this lone little island!

Máire Bhuí Ní Laoghhaire.(1774-c.1849)

Irish-language poet and songwriter who lived, after marriage, close to the entrance to the pass of Keimaneigh, the place she has made famous. She had little formal education, but a great store of traditonal learning, handing her ballads, aislings and laments down orally in the locality.

Máire Bhuí's most famous work, 'Cath  Chéim an Fhia' (Battle of Keimaneigh) is a vigorous rousing and partisan account of a battle between local Whiteboys and a battalion of Yeomanry in 1822.

Robert Gibbings.

Robert Gibbings was born in Cork and educated in University College, Cork, and the Slade School in London. A writer of fascinating travel books he was a very skilled artist and illustrated many of his  own books including 'Lovely is the Lee' and 'Sweet Cork of Thee'.

                                                           On these I ponder

                                                         Where'er I wander,

                                                      And  thus grow fonder,

                                                         Sweet Cork of thee.

Eric Cross.

See 'The Tailor and Ansty".

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                               Óstán Gúgán Barra Teoranta. company no.441893        
                                    Copyright © 2006 Gougane Barra Hotel         Last modified: 12-08-08