Ballyhoura Mountains

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Ardpatrick with a spur of the Ballyhoura Mountains in the background

The Ballyhoura Mountains (Irish An Sliabh Riabhach, Eng. Misc of Bealach Eabhra, the Irish ref for the Town Ballyhoura Country ) form a mountain range in the northeast of County Cork and the South East of the County Limerick. It runs in an east-west direction along the boundary of the two counties in the Irish province of Munster.

Description

The highest mountain in the Ballyhoura Mountains is the 528 m high Seefin ( Suí Finn ). He is not to be confused with the Seefin in County Wicklow. Near the Seefin is located in the northwest of the 516 m high BlackRock. East of Seefin is the Knockea ( Cnoc Aodha, about 400 m ) and east of this the Knockeennamroanta (402 m). Between the two connects the pass Barnaderg ( Bearna Dhearg, today also called Redchair ) the level of Limerick with the level of Cork. At the time of the Irish High King Brian Boru in the 10th and 11th centuries numerous battles took place in this pass. On the north side of the valley the summit of Barnageeha is (approx. 365 m). About 5 km west of the Seefin the Carron Mountain is (approx. 445 m ) on the border between Cork and Limerick.

Many mountain slopes in County Cork were reforested with conifers, but in County Limerick, there are still many extensive grazing, heaths and moorland.

Sports

The Ballyhoura Mountains are known for their mountain bike trails. Numerous circular routes and descents of varying difficulty form the largest cycling network in Ireland. It offers more than 90 km of signposted routes which are traveled in only one direction. There are also wooden walkways across the moor, reaching a total length of 1 km. At the starting point for the routes in the vicinity of Ardpatrick, parking, shower facilities, wheel washers were built in 2008.