Slieve Donard

About this place

Slieve Donard ( SLEEV DON-ərd; from Irish Sliabh Dónairt, meaning 'Dónairt's mountain') is the highest mountain in Northern Ireland, the highest in Ulster, and the seventh-highest in Ireland, with a height of 850 metres (2,790 ft). The tallest of the Mourne Mountains, it is near the town of Newcastle on the eastern coast of County Down, overlooking the Irish Sea. It is also the tallest mountain in the northern half of Ireland. The Mourne Wall – built in the early 20th century – runs up the western and southern slopes of the mountain, joining a small stone tower at the summit. Also on the summit are the remains of two ancient burial cairns, one of which is the remains of the highest known passage tomb in Ireland. In Irish mythology the mountain was associated with the mythical figures Boirche and Slángha. It was later associated with, and named after, Saint Donard, who was said to have made the summit his hermitage. Up until the 1830s, people would climb the mountain as part of a yearly pilgrimage, which may have originally been a Lughnasadh (harvest) ritual. Royal Engineers camped on the summit for four months in 1826 as part of the Ordnance Survey's Principal Triangulation.

Visitor Information

Elevation

849 m

Getting There & Parking

Slieve Donard is located in County Down, roughly 59 km (50 min drive) from Belfast and 122 km (1h 50m) from Dublin. Nearby highlights within a short drive include Eagle Rock (0.8 km away).