The church at Gougane Barra (Irish: Guagán Barra, meaning "the rock of Barra“) is the smallest church in Ireland. The name Gougane Barra comes from Saint Finbarr who built a monastery on an island during the 6th century. It is picturesquely located on a lake on the border between Co. Cork and Co. Kerry, not far from the town of Bantry. Gougane Barra's remoteness meant that it became a popular place for the celebration of the Roman Catholic Mass during the Penal Times when it was illegal to hold Mass and today it is a popular wedding venue.