Slieve Gullion
| Slieve Gullion (Sliabh gCuillinn) | |
|---|---|
 Slieve Gullion from Aughanduff |
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| Elevation | 573 m (1,880 ft) |
| Listing | Marilyn |
| Location | |
| Location | County Armagh, Northern Ireland |
| Range | Ring of Gullion |
| OSI/OSNI grid | J024201 |
Slieve Gullion (from Irish: Sliabh gCuillinn meaning "Mountain of the hillslopes")[1][2] is a mountain in the south of County Armagh in Northern Ireland. The mountain forms the core of the Ring of Gullion and stands as the highest point in the county with an elevation of 573 metres. Slieve Gullion plays a prominent role in the mythology and history of the area surrounding it and dominates the countryside around it, offering views of as far away as Connacht and Dublin Bay in favorable weather conditions.
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[edit] Features
Slieve Gullion is the eroded remains of a Paleocene volcanic complex. It is surrounded by a ring dyke. Slieve Gullion has been shaped by glaciation and exhibits a classic 'crag and tail' glacial feature. The 'tail', composed of glacial deposits, points south, ending at Drumintee.
Two cairns exist on top of the mountain on either side of the lake - the Northern one is a circular mound of stones approprimatley 40 feet in diameter whilst the Southern one is a large, well preserved passage grave which is the highest yet discovered in Ireland[3] and aligned with the setting sun on the winter solstice. [4]
Much of the surface of Slieve Gullion is covered with forest, heather, or raw stone while an amount of 612 hectares of dry heath on the mountain have been designated a Special Area of Conservation,[5] an Environmentally Sensitive Area,[6] and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In July 2006, some areas of gorse was destroyed by a wildfire which may have been started deliberately.[7]
Traces of fields on the mountain's poor soil from farming in earlier times can still be seen as well as evidence of quarrying. Today Slieve Gullion is used for little economic production but is popular with visitors and trekers with scenic road access up to about half of the mountain's elevation and remains of an old trail allowing easy access to the summit. Drumintee, Mullaghbawn, Lislea, Forkhill and Meigh lie in Slieve Gullion's immediate hinterland.
[edit] In mythology
The mountain features in the epic poem Táin Bó Cuailnge. It is also suggested that this is the area where Cuchullain lived as a child. There are many local legends about Slieve Gullion involving the Cailleach Beara (a witch who transforms into a hare). Slieve Gullion also features in the Fenian Cycle, where a tale is told of Finn McCool being tricked by the Cailleach Beara into jumping into the Mountain's lake, from which he emerges an old and withered man. The Fianna force the Cailleach Beara to restore the erstwhile hero back to his former self but Finn never regains the true color of his hair, with it remaining white as an old man for the rest of his life.
[edit] Other
Slieve Gullion gives its name to the surrounding countryside, and is the name of an electoral area within Newry and Mourne district council.
[edit] External links
- Slieve Gullion forest park
- Slieve Gullion, Co. Armagh: A mythical mountain with two cairns on the summit
- A virtual-reality tour of Slieve Gullion and its monuments
[edit] References
- ^ 'Cuileann in áitainmneacha' by T.S.Ó Máille in 'Béaloideas' The Journal of the Folklore of Ireland Society. XXV111 1960.
- ^ Placenames Database of Ireland
- ^ [1]
- ^ 'Mystery and magic in megalithic Ireland' Irish Times, December 3rd, 2011
- ^ Slieve Gullion Special Area of Conservation
- ^ Environmentally Sensitive Areas (Slieve Gullion) Designation (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 1997
- ^ Arsonists Strike 2,500 Times In Ulster In Last Three Years
