Glenshane Pass

The Glenshane Pass (from Irish: Gleann Seáin meaning "Seán's valley") is a major mountain pass cutting through the Sperrin Mountains in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is in the townland of Glenshane on the main Derry to Belfast route, the A6.

Features

It is a Special Area of Conservation. Carn/Glenshane Pass is a large area of intact blanket bog, characterised by undulating topography and including a large, well-developed hummock and pool system within a thick mantle of blanket peat. It is also classed as an Area of Special Scientific Interest.

History

The Glenshane Pass is named after Shane Crosagh O’Mullan a notorious highwayman who roamed the highways of Derry and Tyrone in late seventeen and early eighteen century.

Recent history

• The body of a man from Castledawson was found on the Glenshane Pass near Maghera on 4 February 2008. Two men from Maghera appeared in court the following week, one charged with falsely imprisoning the victim and the other with manslaughter.
• On the night of the 30 March 2010 300 people became trapped in their cars after heavy snow fall. The rescued motorists were initially taken to a leisure centre in Dungiven but had to be moved again after power cuts in the area. The road wasn't re-opened again until the following evening.

The Troubles

• On 24 June 1972, three British Army soldiers were killed by a landmine explosion on the Glenshane Pass. Their Land Rover was destroyed by two landmines consisting of 120lbs of explosive packed in milk churns.
• On 17 March 1978, a British Army soldier was shot dead in a gun battle with IRA gunmen near the Glenshane Pass. Some reports said he was involved in a covert observation post when he spotted two suspected gunmen. He stood up to challenge the men and was fatally wounded, but he shot back wounding one man.

Places of interest

• The Ponderosa is a popular attraction in the area. It is claimed to be Ireland's highest pub at 305m (947ft) above sea level.
• Glenshane Forest is 12km from Dungiven on the southern side of the Glenshane Pass, hugging the south eastern slopes of Corrick and Glenshane Mountains. The Ulster Way passes through the forest along the source of the River Roe.

Traffic

• In answer to a written parliamentary question in June 2006, it was revealed that the average daily flow of traffic over the Glenshane Pass between Dungiven and Maghera on the A6 was approximately 5,500 in each direction.
• In 2003, a major improvement scheme costing £1m was completed on the Glenshane Pass. The road was widened from Carruda Bridge for 2.2km uphill past the Ponderosa Bar, to provide two lanes for traffic travelling towards Belfast. Traffic travelling towards Derry already had the benefit of a similar overtaking lane on the south side of the Pass.