Gougane Barra Hotel wins AA Hotels Innovation award 2008/2009

Gougane Barra Hotel has scooped the AA's newest award, the 2008 AA Tourism Innovation award. The award was announced at a ceremony at the Guinness Gravity Bar in Dublin recently and the ceremony was attended by leading figures in Irish tourism, including Minister Martin Cullen. It was awarded to Katy and Neil Lucey of Gougane Barra Hotel for the great success of their "Theatre by the Lake" concept.
The couple enjoyed a great night in Dublin with family and staff, meeting people from all parts of the industry, also present were Neil's Mum Breda, who ran the hotel in Gougane for many years and Katy's Dad Eamonn Vaughan who is well known in the industry for having run Mr. Eamonn's restaurant in Lahinch for many years.
by Catherine Ketch

The Turas 'A perspective'

Image by Valerie O’ Sullivan

"The Turas was epic…a true amazing Journey, for me it was physically fantastic but the mental pressure - exhausting! My favourite parts of the Turas had to be with Con Moriarty on Bolus Head, watching the cyclists descend over the cliff face of the most westerly point in Europe looking over The Sceiligs. My rowing colleagues of South Kerry coxing teams from Killmacilogue Harbour to Sneem at Dawn. Cheering on Eoin Keith over Coomsathairn and on top of Mount Brandon and on his 3km swim as his team mate Marcel was attacked by the Kerry Gannet!!. Also on top of Faill Ceoil with Con Moriarty, Our Medic Dr Jo and Volunteer Wayne, hanging out over that beautiful cliff face in the Gap of Dunloe. On the zipline with Mike O’Shea across Ballaghbeama, and most of all in the back kitchen with The Lucey's of Gougane Barra Hotel drinking coffee and eating ham sandwiches at 3am waiting for teams to arrive. Central to all that was the amazing communities in West Cork and South Kerry who welcomed all the athletes and volunteers with much needed food and assistance."

Valerie O Sullivan June 2008

Image by Valerie O’ Sullivan

Team AR Denny arriving at the Transition Point in Gougane Barra Hotel.

Image by Valerie O’ Sullivan

The Turas arriving in Gougane Barra Hotel

Image by Valerie O’ Sullivan

The Turas arriving in Gougane Barra Hotel June 2008

Image by Valerie O’ Sullivan

The first eagerly awaited World Series Adventure Race teams were;
Sport 2000 Vibram La Fuma
followed by
Orion Health
and Hot on their tail were
Adventure Sport NZ

Image by Valerie O’ Sullivan

Teams rushed in all night long, checked in their race times at Gougane Barra Hotel Transition point, changed from their cycling gear into their cross country gear and headed out into the Wild mountains of west Cork on their next stage.

Image by Valerie O’ Sullivan

Some Teams had to sit out time penalties and others called it a day after terrible weather conditions on the course and overnighted everywhere! Image by Valerie O’ Sullivan

Féile Tine Gúgán Barra for The Turas

Féile Tine Gúgán Barra

Festival of Fire in Gougane Barra

17th of June 2008.

Image by Valerie O’ Sullivan

Programme of Events:

Wildside Picnic Mhór
le margadh bia agus deoch dúchasach
‘picnic and market of native Food and Drink’

Ceol um Trathnóna le /
‘Music in the evening with’:
Nell Ní Chróinín
Sean Ó hArgain/Barra
McCanna
Matt Cranitch le ‘Sliabh
Notes’
Eleanor Shanley,
Frankie Lane agus
Paul Kelly.

Image by Valerie O’ Sullivan

Lasadh na Tine Spioradálta.
Lighting of the midsummer fires.
Imeachtaí eile taobh Líne
Other Events
Chriochnu le Tinte Ealaine
End of evening Fireworks

Image by Valerie O’ Sullivan

The Turas 2008

Image by Valerie O’ Sullivan

Ireland’s first World Series Adventure Race

650 kilometres, 160 athletes, 10 disciplines, 7 days, 6 festivals, 5 peninsulas, 1 journey Ireland's most exciting new summer festival and adventure race

Image by Valerie O’ Sullivan
Imagine the world’s toughest athletes, pushed to their limits and beyond, day and night, as they journey over some of the most iconic land and seascapes on the planet.

Image by Valerie O’ Sullivan
The Turas World Series Ireland 2008, offered the most stimulating adventure race to date, promising an immersion in the rich traditions and culture of our land, with a race course that is nothing short of spectactular.

Con Moriarty June 2008.