April 11, 2022
December 8, 2021
October 13, 2021
August 18, 2021
August 16, 2021
Every wondered what the names of the Mourne Mountains actually mean? With the help of some fantastic shots from Peter Lennon Photography we have put together a collection of summits (or Slieves from the Irish word ‘Sliabh’ meaning mountain) and the meanings behind their names.
Slieve Meelmore (682m) meaning mountain of the large (Mor) animals.
Walk routes incorporating Slieve Meelmore
The Mourne Wall climbing up Slieve Meelmore
Looking across at Meelmore in the middle distance (with the wall on it.) from Bearnagh
With two impressive rocky tors and a col lying between them it is easy to see where Slieve Bearnagh (739m) from the Irish “Sliabh Bearna” meaning “Gapped Mountain” gets its name.
Walk routes incorporating Slieve Bearnagh
Looking across at Bearnagh on the right with Ben Crom Reservoir hidden below walkers in the distance.
View from the slopes of Slieve Bearagh looking towards Carlingford with Binnian on the left, Ben Crom reservoir, around to Slieve Loughshannagh
The Tors of Slieve Bearnagh
The name Lamagan (704m) means “by hands and feet!!”giving a hint at how steep this summit is.
Walk routes incorporating Slieve Lamagan
Slieve Lamagan from the footpath which starts at Carricklittle car park, Annalong
View from Slieve Lamagan - taken from the summit looking across a Slieve Binnian (left) and Ben Crom reservoir below with the tip of the Silent Valley reservoir just coming into view.
Slieve Binnian (747m) is named from the Irish Sliabh Binneáin after the rocky tors across it’s summit, also known as the Mountain of the little horns
View of Binnian from Bearnagh
Taken from the Buzzards Roost on Slieve Binnian looking over Ben Crom reservoir at Ben Crom mountain and Slieve Bearnagh to the left
Slieve Donard (850m) is named after Saint Donard, known in Irish as Domhanghairt or Domhanghart. A follower of Saint Patrickand he founded a monastery at Maghera, north of Newcastle. According to tradition he was appointed by Saint Patrick to guard the surrounding countryside from the summit.
Walk routes incorporating Slieve Donard
Slieve Donard framed by the rocks at the top of the Devils Coachroad
View more of Peter Lennon's fantastic photography of hte Mournes and other landscapes on his Facebook or Twitter pages.
Visit WalkNI for more information on walking in the Mourne Mountains.
Sarah joined the marketing team of Outdoor Recreation NI in 2011. A firm believer in giving anything a go at least once (unless it involves jumping out of a plane at 6,000ft!) she is always looking for new adventures in the outdoors and can often be found wandering the Mournes or Glens of Antrim attempting not to get lost!
| Share on: |  |  |  | Digg |  | StumbleUpon |  |  | Delicious | What's this? |
'Maol' means 'bald'. Sliabh Maol Mór and Beag are the big and small round-topped, bald mountains respectively. While 'Míol' does mean a large animal it's generally only used of whales or insects. Sliabh Míol Mór would mean 'the mountain of the blue whale'.
A great article. Ideal to match wonderful photographs to each story.
Copyright © Outdoor Recreation Northern Ireland • All rights reserved • Privacy policy
Posted by Niall Murphy on June 26, 2016 @ 1:15 PM
Go raibh maith agat/Thanks.