Near the village of Ardgroom, County Cork, Ireland there is a distinct hill, smaller than the rest, in the forefront of the others. Hidden behind it is a real gem, the magnificently deep Glenbeg Lake.
We followed the road around the curve of the small mountain to find Glenbeg empty of visitors, except for the ever present sheep dotting the hillside of course. The peace and tranquility of the place conjured up the myths of the land. One could understand why some local people believe that this was the final resting place of the Children of Lir.
In the summertime this lovely lake becomes a favoured spot for anglers as it is stocked with trout. The old Beara Breifne Greenway site described Glenbeg Lake as being less than 2km from Ardgroom and “is a very striking fjord-like lake formed by a glacier movement in the ice age. There is a mass rock (where mass was celebrated during Penal times) at the far end of the lake.” Local stories tell of a priest who was beheaded on the Mass Rock, his body buried in the landscape nearby.
The place was so quiet we found ourselves speaking in hushed tones, as if we were in a most sacred place. I know we will be coming back time and again to visit the ghosts who dwell here.
Would you like to discover Glenbeg Lake yourself? Please click on the map link below.
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Thanks for the beautiful pictures and narrative. I’ll add Glenbeg Lake to the list of places I want to see in Beara if I ever get there.Also, thanks in general for this blog. You take beautiful pictures and tell wonderful stories. It’s a treat.
Let me add my thanks, Susanne. I have always been drawn to Beara, as it is the home of my ancestors as well as a place of phenomenal beauty. These images inspire my art a great deal. It is a goal to come there one day and paint, and that will undoubtedly be a high point in my artistic career.Best,Rob
wow that is a really pretty place i am glad i was able to read the story to go with it thanks!
mike said,glad you like glenbeg.it really is majestic.i grew up there and my family still lives there.its an unspoilt hidden gem with lots more wonderfull stories to go with it!nil aon tintean mar a thintean fein!
hi
my uncle jer and aunt hannah /nee sullivan/ crowley, and their son lived in the glen, for many years, raising sheep, i spent part of a summer, visiting them about 50 years ago, it was like being in a different world, what an experience.
jack sullivan, vero beach florida. ps my father john, son of denis, grew up in inchintaglin, adrigole/ sept 07, 2012
ps their son was joe crowley
Hello, my name is Julie Crowley from Butte, Montana. My great Uncle was Jer Dan and Hannah my aunt. I have family photos of Jer Dan and Hannah at the ancestral home on Glenbeg Lake. My grandfather was Jer Dan’s brother John Dan who marrie Julia Sullivan from Aardgroom. Con Dan, Mary Dan, Tim Dan and Dan Dan are all buried here in Butte, Katie Dan moved to San Francisco.
Dan Dan helped save lives in the Granite Mtn. Speculator hard rock mining disaster here in Butte. He went on to invent an individual breathing apparatus on display at Butte’s World Museum of Mining.
I believe we are related…. I’ll be exited to find out. Julia
Hi Julie , I just got your msg yesterday sept 23, 2014, I can fill you in on more family details, if you will e mail me directly jack sullivan at jacksull3368@gmail.com
Julie
Was jer dan your great uncle or did you mean grand uncle , your fathers uncle ?
I listened to your family interview
Jer dan did in fact go to butte to work the copper mines he had worked the mines in ahhiles cork
He went to butte via Canada I believe they all went that way as ireland and Canada were both under the British crown he returned to ireland and married my aunt Hannah sullivan of inchintaglin adrigole they took up residence in the glen
Julie
In your interview u spoke of visiting the beara peninsula and glenbeg
Go as soon as u can as the area will not be irish if u wait much longer
The beara is one of the few last true irish areas in ireland
Hello Mike! Glenbeg is truly gorgeous. If you would like to share any stories here, please feel free to do so. All the best to you!
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