Beal Athan Ghaorthaidh under 15's receiving their Mid Cork medals

Beal Athan Ghaorthaidh fé 15 receiving their Mid Cork Medals from Alan O Connor (St Colums and Cork senior team) in Ballingeary on the 27/12/2009

Team captain Conor O Luasa receiving his Mid Cork under 15 medal

Beal Athan Ghaorthaidh under 21's also receiving Mid Cork medal's from Alan O Connor

Comhgairdeas all round!!

Christmas Eve 2009 in Gougane Barra

These are photos from a cold and spectacular Christmas Eve in Gougane Barra and surrounds;Lough Allua

An Faill DubhGallaun in Currahy

Currahy

lighting up our school...

Scoil Fionnbarra lighting up evening.

We had a great evening recently in Scoil Fhionnbarra with a lighting up ceremony, cake sale and brilliant carol singing by the pupils from the school. This fundraising event was organised by the new 'Coiste na Tuismitheoirí'(parents association), Coillte supplied a 7 m Christmas Tree and we sponsored the lights which were switched on as as part of the evenings entertainment.

Where do we belong?

I was very dissapointed with this most recent well presented publication from Failte Ireland which is badly represented...

CORK’S COASTAL
FOOD TRAILS

A nice piece of work which represents the following;

'THE INTERNATIONAL SLOW FOOD MOVEMENT BEGAN IN IRELAND WHEN THE FIRST CONVIVIUM SET UP IN THE REGION TEN YEARS AGO AND HAS SINCE SPREAD TO CORK CITY, EAST CORK, AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. WEST CORK CERTAINLY LED THE WAY, BUT NOW THE WHOLE OF CORK COUNTY IS RICH WITH ARTISAN AND SPECIALIST PRODUCE.'

This brochure goes off in a well presented way through Cork City, East Cork as far Youghal and from Kinsale to Bantry.

Nicely Done!

What about Beara?

Why have they missed out on our 'Cork's Coastal Food Trail'??
What has the Artisan and specalist food producers of Ardgroom, Eyeries, Allihies, Castletownbere, Adrigole, Glengarriff done to be excluded from this??

and the following is Failte Ireland's Last Line!!


THE WEST CORK AREA IS SPECTACULARLY BEAUTIFUL...IRELAND’S
FOOD REVOLUTION IN FACT BEGAN IN WEST CORK

The Pastry Bit...

Sweet Pastry

225g slightly softened butter
2 Egg Yolks - free range are best
450g Plain flour
Zest of one Orange - wash and dry the orange before zesting it to remove any sprays
150g Icing sugar -sieved if you have time
3 Tablespoons Milk or water - you may need a little more liquid..we use milk.

For the pastry;

Cream the butter and icing sugar together in a food mixer, or with a hand held mixer,until white and creamy.

Add the egg yolks and the orange zest.

Add in the flour, do not over mix, until the pastry comes together, which is very quickly, stop the mixer and bring together gently into a ball.

Leave to chill in the fridge covered with cling film for at least 1 hour.- it lasts for at least 1 week in the fridge but is usually used up in a day or two.

Preheat the oven to 150C/300F/gas mark 2.

Roll out the pastry on a well floured surface, do not overfill with the baked mincepie filling as it will spill out and be sticky and look messy. Individual mince pies take about 25 mins to cook you can brush the top with a little egg yolk and milk mixed, before they go in the oven, if you want them to be golden in colour. Dust them with sieved icing sugar before serving, enjoy. Imagine it's nearly Christmas...

The best oven-baked mincemeat

This is an old seasonally suitable recipe from my parents restaurant 'Mr Eamonn's in Lahinch, it is a different take on Mince Pies for Christmas, it's a baked mince pie recipe and is really yummy.

Ingredients Bake at 110c or gas 1/2

1lb Raisins
1lb Sultanas
8oz Butter
2lbs Dark Brown Sugar
1lb cooking apples, peeled cored and grated
4 tsp. Mixed spice
1 tsp. Ground cinnamon
1 tsp. Grated nutmeg
1 orange and 1 lemon- zest and juice
6 tbsp of Brandy

Method

Mix all ingredients together, except the brandy and turn into a large ovenproof dish-big enough to allow for expansion, bake for 3 hours stirring occasionally. Allow to cool and then splash in the brandy. This mix makes 6lbs of Mincemeat and will last forever...

We did it again, John!

Launch of 'lovely Flows the Lee'

with John Spillane.

We had a great night at the launch of lovely flows the lee at the fabulous CIT School of Music on Union Quay on the 2nd of December. Authors Tony McGettigan and Frank Twomey gave the introductions and John Spillane did the offical launch with his own composition ' Swimming in the Holy Waters of the River Lee'. He then followed with some more of his classics such as 'Dont need no church made out of stone' and 'Passage West'. Lovely flows the Lee is and account of the river Lee from it small beginnings in the mountains over Gougane Barra to the end of it's 90km journey at Roches Point. John finished up the night with a medley from his present album; 'More Irish songs we learned at school'.

Lovely flows the Lee is available at 026 47069 and at http://www.gouganebarrahotelshop.com/

price € 25.00

Lovely Flows the Lee......

This is a really good book by Francis Twomey and Tony McGettigan which follows the River Lee from it tiny beginnings above Gougane Barra to the Estuary in Cork. The route of this river is well documented in the book along with a great selection of photographs from source to finish.
Excerpts from 'Lovely Flows the Lee'
"On the way to Gougane Barra, the rugged hills
and overhanging trees bear in closer and ever
closer upon the road, until it seems that they will
swallow it up. Then a corner is turned and
suddenly the lake and its garden setting reveal
themselves in the arms of the cliff fringed
mountains. A serenity and joyful uplifting of the
spirit is felt immediately. The experience is like
rummaging through old, treasured souvenirs and
suddenly discovering a splendid jewel".

"The intriguing ruins of a chapel and group of
cells, that one explores today, are those of the
pilgrimage centre built in the late 17th century by
an extraordinary man, Father Denis O Mahony, a
Carmelite priest, who lived as a devout,
contemplative recluse at this spot for 28 years. He
is buried in a low, arched recess or alcove, made of
rough stone, a short distance from the entrance to
the island. The recess is built into the side of the
hill on which the local graveyard is situated. Its
opening looks out upon his beloved place of
seclusion. The Latin inscription on the grave is
dated 1700. The cells were restored in the early
20th century."
Tony McGettigan

Gougane Barra on a mid November morning.

Gougane Barra on a cold November morning is still worth a picture with its lovely early winter colours and complete stillness.
This lovely calm reflective scene was also enjoyed by walkers heading out on the Beara-Breifne route this morning...

Chocolate Heaven in Bonane, Co.Kerry

Lorge Chocolatier

We went on one of those days out today to escape from the office and to wander in the places we do not get to during the busy summer season. With no proper agenda we headed from Gougane(R584) to Glengarriff and over the Caha Pass (N71) in the direction of Kenmare. On our way down into Bonane we found the front door of Lorge Chocolatier open and we had to stop!!

Inside the door, we were greeted by Eva with samples of their creations, i got a homemade chocolate and honey taster. These are created by Benoit Lorge (and his team), award winning chef, who makes high quality chocolates for gourmet shops and high class hotels and restaurants and his own welcoming shop in Bonane, just 5 Km from Kenmare on the Glengarriff road.

Benoit also runs a number of specialist courses for aspiring chocolate makers, teaching them the finer points of preparing, handling and finishing many different types of chocolate. His most popular event is the bi-monthly children’s workshop, although sometimes his greatest critics, all the children go home delighted by what they have experienced with plenty of stories to tell.

Well worth a visit to this Chocolate Heaven with delicious homemade chocolates, loads of great gift ideas and courses on Chocolate making, Yum!!
Lorge Chocolatier, http://www.lorge.ie/
Bonane, 064 6679994
Kenmare,
Co. Kerry

Fwd: Supporting our team!!

We are greatly impressed by the growing number of fans who now want to put on the jersey and be our international supporters! This is our latest fan 'Rolando' from the Republic of Dominica who now wants to support our team! The Beal Athan Ghaorthadh under 15 team won the Mid Cork final recently in grand style!!

Gougane Barra Hotel supporting our team

Congratulations to Beal Athan Ghaorthaidh who won the under 15 Mid Cork Final at the weekend. The replayed final was a great success with the lads winning by 3 points and we were delighted to be supporting them all the way. The picture tells its own story how their international support is going.

Gougane Barra Sunset from the Other side.....

The restaurant was full of people having dinner and admiring the incredible light of evening fade, Neil jumps on his bike camera over his back and off to Nellie's to catch the moment, we are so lucky to live in such an unspoilt place of natural beauty.

At the end of the day

Autumn mornings Gougane Barra

Waking up and getting out of bed is very easy these mornings in Gougane Barra when you get blue skies and reflections like these.

Daonscoil an Fhómhair í Gúgán Barra

Daonscoil an Fhómhair
Óstán Gúgán Barra
1ú -4ú Deireadh Fómhair

Téama: “Bailitheoirí ceoil & bainis stairiúil”

Déardaoin: 7:00pm Dinnéar

Aoine: 11:00am Ceardlann Amhránaíochta

2:00pm Turas 7:00pm Dinnéar

9:00pm ”Cantaireacht Mhúscraí”

Satharn: 10:30am Léacht “Ceol Canon Goodman”

12:30pm Lon éadrom

2:00pm Turas Bus – Dónal Ó Mathúna á stiúrú

6:00pm Aifreann san Airgeal 7.00pm Dinnéar

9:00pm Léacht le Dónal Ó Loingsigh

“Wedding of the Century”

Sunday: 10:30am Léacht 1:00pm Lón

Ring of kerry autumn evenings

Brilliant Autumn weather will also bring fabulous evenings over looking the Iveragh peninsula from Eyeries.

waking up in Gougane Barra

We have been enjoying gorgeous autumn mornings in Gougane over the last week. The sounds of the over sized waterfalls have gone, thank goodness!!

Beal Athan Ghaorthaidh Abú

New jersey for 3 teams in Ballingeary! under 16's captain Liam Ó Criodain, Under 15's Captain Conor Ó Luasa and under 14's captain Barra Ó Shé.

Gougane Barra hotel supporting the under 15's

Launch of the new under 15's kit for Beal Athan Ghaorthaidh to get them on their winning ways!

Austin Healey feeling Blue??

Austin Healys are a classy car even in Blue!! We had a great time hosting the New Forest Austin Healey Club here in Gougane Barra Hotel, great club, great guests and great fun!!

Austin Healeys at Gougane Barra Hotel

We were delighted to have the New Forest Austin Healey Club with us here in July. The weather was not the kindest but still refreshing in a classic car like this in a West Cork summer.

Austin Healeys at Gougane Barra Hotel

Classic Cars getting ready for a days touring in West Cork

Tree time in Gougane Barra

Can you follow the straight lines in this picture?

John Spillane swimming in the Holy waters of the river Lee.

RIVER LEE

YOU'D WANT TO BE MAD TO GO SWIMMING IN THE RIVER
BUT THIS SUMMER
I'VE BEEN SWIMMING IN THE RIVER LEE
IN THE PLEASANT WATERS OF THE RIVER LEE
AND I HAVE BEEN SET FREE

I HAVE DIVED INTO THE HELL-HOLE
UNDER THE SYCAMORE TREE
AND I HAVE COME BACK TO TELL THE TALE
THAT I'VE BEEN SWIMMING IN THE LEE
AND THAT I HAVE BEEN SET FREE
I HAVE BEEN WASHED CLEAN

I HAVE DIVED INTO THE LAKE AT GOUGANE BARRA
AND SWAM WITH THE MONSTER
THE SERPENT LUGH
WHO WHIPPED THE SACRED VESSEL FROM THE SAINT'S HAND
THE LUNEEN
SHE BROKE THROUGH THE ROCK
AND FORMED THE RIVER LEE
I HAVE SWAM WITH THE MONSTER IN GOUGANE BARRA LAKE
AND I HAVE EMERGED UNSCATHED
I HAVE BATHED IN THE SACRED, CRYSTAL WATERS OF THE LEE
AND I HAVE BEEN SET FREE
MY SOUL HAS BEEN WASHED CLEAN

I DON'T NEED NO CHURCH MADE OF STONE
I HAVE SWAM IN THE HOLY WATERS OF THE RIVER LEE
AND I HAVE BEEN SET FREE

I'VE GONE OUT THE LEE FIELDS
BEYOND THE DINOSAUR
TO THE OLD MEN WHO GO THERE EVERY DAY
AND THEY SAYS TO ME JOHNNY BOY THEY SAYS
COME WITH US
WE WALKS UP AND WE FLOATS DOWN
AND THEY DOES
BUT I SAYS LADS I'M NOT GOING WITH YE
GIMME ANOTHER TEN OR FIFTEEN YEARS
AS I BREATHE IF I LIVE TO TELL THE TALE
I HOPE TO BE ONE OF THEM OLD MEN
WHO GOES THERE EVERY DAY
THEY WALKS UP AND THEY FLOATS DOWN

I DON'T NEED NO CHURCH MADE OF STONE
I'VE SWAM WITH THE GHOSTS IN INISCARRA GRAVE YARD
AND EMERGED ONCE AGAIN UNHARMED, A FEW GRAY HAIRS LIKE
AND COME BACK TO TELL YE THE TALE
TONIGHT IN THE MARQUEE
THAT I HAVE SWUM IN THE SACRED WATERS OF THE RIVER LEE
AND I HAVE BEEN WASHED CLEAN
I HAVE BEEN SET FREE

Printed with kind permission from John Spillane July 09

If you go down to the woods today you will get a suprise?

If you can see it please give us a call? You have to look very closely!!
353 26 47069