Mountains of the Central Dingle Peninsula

Mountain range in County Kerry, Ireland From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Mountains of the Central Dingle Peninsula are the generic name given to the mountains that lie on the Dingle Peninsula between the Brandon Group of mountains in the west, and the Slieve Mish Mountains at the eastern end of the peninsula.[2]

PeakBeenoskee
Elevation826 m (2,710 ft)[1]
Prominence491 m (1,611 ft)[1]
Coordinates52°12′50″N 10°04′39″W[1]
Quick facts Highest point, Peak ...
Mountains of the Central Dingle Peninsula
Beenoskee and Stradbally Mountain from Gowlane Strand
Highest point
PeakBeenoskee
Elevation826 m (2,710 ft)[1]
Prominence491 m (1,611 ft)[1]
Coordinates52°12′50″N 10°04′39″W[1]
Dimensions
Length20 km (12 mi) E/W
Width11 km (6.8 mi) N/S
Geography
Mountains of the Central Dingle Peninsula is located in island of Ireland
Mountains of the Central Dingle Peninsula
Mountains of the Central Dingle Peninsula
Location of Slieve Mish Mountains
LocationCounty Kerry
CountryIreland
Provinces of IrelandMunster
Topo mapOSI Discovery 71/70
Geology
Rock ageDevonian[1]
Rock typePurple cross-bedded sandstone[1]
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Geology

Like many of the mountain ranges in County Kerry, such as the MacGillycuddy Reeks, the mountains of the Central Dingle peninsula are composed predominantly of Devonian period Old Red Sandstone, with a band of Ordovician period metasediments.[3][4]

The rocks date from the Upper Devonian period (310–450 million years ago) when Ireland was in a hot equatorial setting.[5] During this 60 million year period, Ireland was the site of a major basin, known as the Munster basin, and Cork and Kerry were effectively a large alluvial floodplain.[5] Chemical oxidation stained the material with a purple–reddish colour (and green in places from chlorination), still visible today.[5] There are virtually no fossils in Old Red Sandstone.[5]

The composition of Old Red Sandstone is variable and includes sandstones, mudstones, siltstones, and conglomerates (boulders containing quartz pebbles are visible throughout the range).[5] The mountains were subject to significant glaciation with corries and U-shaped valleys, however the range does not have the sharp rocky arêtes and ridges of the MacGillycuddy Reeks range.[5]

List of peaks

Main article: Lists of mountains in Ireland

The following is a download from the MountainViews Online Database, who list 23 identifiable Central Dingle peaks with an elevation, or height, above 100 metres

  Marilyn: Any height, and prominence over 150 metres (492 ft).
More information Height Rank, Prom. Rank ...
Peaks of the Central Dingle Mountain range (MountainViews Online Database, July 2019)
Height
Rank		 Prom.
Rank		 Name Irish Name (if different) Translation Height
(m)		 Prom.
(m)		 Height
(ft)		 Prom.
(ft)		 Topo
Map		 OSI Grid
Reference
11BeenoskeeBinn os GaoithMountain above the Wind/Estuary[a]8264912,7101,61170Q580089
220Stradbally MountainCnoc an tSráidbhaileHill of Stradbally798402,61813170Q587092
32Slievanea NE Top——6712652,20086970Q515064
412An Cnapán Mór—The Big Lump[b]649812,12926670Q522045
56Cnoc na Bánóige[c]—Hill of the Grassy Patch6421762,10557770Q548048
621SlievaneaSliabh Macha RéMountain of the Smooth Plain[d]629222,0637370Q508057
719Coombane[e]An Com BánThe White Hollow610422,00113870Q568092
823CroaghskeardaCruach SceirdeStack of the Exposed Place[f]608131,9954370Q509039
918KnockmulananeCnoc MhaoilionáinMulfinan's hill593481,94615770Q568049
1015BeenatoorBinn an TuairPeak of the Bleaching Green592661,94221770Q559089
1122Knockmulanane West Top——563151,8474970Q560048
125Dromavally MountainCnoc Dhroim an BhaileHill of Dromavally[g]5522061,81167671Q606067
139Sliabh na nGabhar[h]—Mountain of the Goats4861201,59439470Q539072
147Cummeen[i]Sliabh an ChoimínMountain of the Little Hollow4771621,56553171Q630077
1517Gob an Iolair[j]—Beak of the eagle477481,56415870Q545074
1614An Starraicín—The Steeple[k]458711,50423370Q528064
1716Cnoc na Bánóige N Top—448521,46917070Q552061
1813Knocknakilton(unknown)[l](unknown)[l]423791,38825971Q638062
194Brickany[m]BreicneachSpeckled Place3742191,22771971Q632022
203KnocknanacreeCnoc na nAcraíhill of na hAcraí/Acres[n]28626093885370V572998
218Cnoc an Ghleanna—Hill of the Glen25213682744670V502987
2211CarrigadavCarraig an DaimhThe Rock of the Bull2409678731571Q626097
2310FarrandalougeFearann DealúighThe Land of the Two Hollows1449747231870Q546115
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See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    This name is locally understood to mean 'mountain above the wind', but as wind speeds tend only to increase the more height one gains, one has to ask what this could possibly mean. Another possibility is that gaoth is rather an archaic word for a water feature (possibly Lough Gill or the estuary of the nearby Owenmore River), and that the name was no longer understood once this word had fallen out of common use.[2]
  2. [b]
    An Seabhac also gives the alternative name An Sliabh Dubh ("the black mountain"). Previously Gowlane Beg.[2]
  3. [c]
    Also known as Banoge North.[2]
  4. [d]
    The anglicised form Slievanea would appear to derive from Ir. Sliabh an Fhia, 'mountain of the deer'. The deer is also an important symbol in Celtic mythology. In many tales they lure people into the realm of the gods. Remains of several fulachta fia (venison-cooking pits) can be found around Lough Adoon.[2]
  5. [e]
    Marked as 'Coombane' on the 6 map. The name refers originally to a hollow in the upper reaches of Kilcummin Beg townland.[2]
  6. [f]
    Near a path over the brow of the hill between Gowlin and Lisdargan there is an underground passage called Staighre Chaitlín (Cathleen's Stairs) which leads to a cave.[2]
  7. [g]
    Three cairns on the summit ridge of Dromavally Mountain are named Cú Chulainn's House, Cú Chulainn's Bed and Cú Chulainn's Grave.[2]
  8. [h]
    The Irish form is given as Slí na gCorr on the OS Discovery map. However, this is clearly not the name of a mountain. It either refers to a track or is perhaps a corruption of Sliabh na nGabhar.[2]
  9. [i]
    An Seabhac also mentions a peak called An Bhinn Bháin above Lough Acummeen, but this may refer to a cliff rather than the summit.[2]
  10. [j]
    Since Beenbo is clearly a separate name (probably from Ir. Binn Bó, 'peak of the cow'), it seems likely that it is the true name of the summit, while Gob an Iolair applies originally to the sharp point just N of the summit.[2]
  11. [k]
    This peak earns its name with its pointed peak.[2]
  12. [l]
    This name is not mentioned by An Seabhac in TCCD. It is unclear what the second element is.[2]
  13. [m]
    This hill, located in the townland of Ballynane, is unnamed on OS Discovery map but named on the old ½ series and on road atlases. Has been called Tullig.[2]
  14. [n]
    Acres (na hAcraí) is a townland name.[2]

References

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