Slieve Donard
Sliabh Dónairt
Slieve Donard and Newcastle from Murlough Beach
Elevation	850 m (2,789 ft)[1][2]
Prominence	822 m (2,697 ft)[1]
Listing	Hewitt, Marilyn
Translation	Dónairt's mountain (Irish)
Location
Slieve Donard Location of Slieve Donard in Northern Ireland
Location	County Down, Northern Ireland
Range	Mournes
OSI/OSNI grid	J357276
Coordinates	54°10′49″N 5°55′15″W / 54.180238°N 5.920898°W / 54.180238; -5.920898Coordinates: 54°10′49″N 5°55′15″W / 54.180238°N 5.920898°W / 54.180238; -5.920898
Topo map	OSNI Discoverer 29

Slieve Donard (pronounced /ˌsliːv ˈdɒnərd/ SLEEV DON-ərd, from Irish: Sliabh Dónairt, meaning "Dónairt's mountain")^[3] is a 850 m (2,789 ft)^[1][2][4] mountain in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is part of the Mourne Mountains and the highest peak in Northern Ireland and in the wider province of Ulster.^[1] It is the 19th highest peak on the island of Ireland.^[1] Slieve Donard sits near the town of Newcastle on the eastern coast of County Down, only 2 miles (3 km) from the Irish Sea.

Summit[link]

The summit has views stretching to Belfast and Dublin and has a small stone tower. There are two geocaches on the summit and near the summit and there are two cairns. The idea is that you take a rock from the bottom car park and place it on one of the cairns at the top.

Etymology[link]

Slieve Donard is named after Saint Donard, known in Irish as Domhanghairt or Domhanghart.^{[5] [6][7]} Dónairt is a modernised spelling. He was a follower of Saint Patrick and 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 of Slieve Donard.^[1] He is supposed not to have died, but to have become a "perpetual guardian".^[1]

In pagan times the mountain was known as Sliabh Slainge—named after Sláinge mac Partholóin (Sláinge son of Partholón), who was allegedly the first physician in Ireland.^[1] According to Annála na gCeithre Máistrí (Annals of the Four Masters), he died in Anno Mundi 2533 (2533 years after the creation of the world) and was buried under a cairn on the mountain.^[1]

Geography[link]

Slieve Donard sits at the northeastern edge of the Mournes, overlooking Newcastle and Dundrum Bay. It has three subsidiary peaks on the seaward side—Millstone Mountain (460 m),^[8] Thomas's Mountain and Crossone. Two glens separate Slieve Donard from the neighbouring mountains of Slieve Commedagh (to the northwest) and Chimney Rock Mountain (to the south).^[2] Slieve Commedagh, at 767 m, is the second-highest of the Mourne Mountains.^[9]

At the summit of Slieve Donard there is a cairn and a small stone tower, which was built as a shelter. This tower is part of the Mourne Wall, which passes over the mountain's southern and western shoulders.^[1] A triangulation pillar sits on top.

Climbing Slieve Donard[link]

The mountain is an easy climb although the path is very eroded at places. In recent years a stone path has been made on the steepest parts of the mountain. The summit provides spectacular views of the coast and as far afield as Belfast, 30 miles north, and Dublin, 55 miles to the south.

Gallery[link]

Slieve Donard Panorama taken from roughly 30m below the summit, looking North to Castlewellan   Slieve Donard from Newcastle   Slieve Donard from Newcastle   Slieve Donard from Murlough Beach   Slieve Donard from Slieve Commedagh   The Mourne Wall on Slieve Donard   Slieve Donard (left) from Murlough Beach   Slieve Donard from Dundrum   Slieve Donard from Dundrum Bay   Slieve Donard (middle) from Downpatrick   Slieve Donard (right) and Newcastle   Slieve Donard and Slieve Commedagh (right) from the northeast   The small stone tower at the summit

See also[link]

• List of mountains in Ireland
• List of Irish counties by highest point

References[link]

External links[link]

• Interactive 360° view from the summit
• Computer generated summit panoramas: North, South, index

v t e Mountains and hills of Ulster List of mountains in Ireland Antrim Hills Slemish Tievebulliagh Antrim Plateau Benevenagh Donald's Hill Belfast Hills Black Mountain Cavehill Carnmoney Divis Slieve True Croaghgorms Croaghgorm Derryveagh Seven Sisters: Aghla Beg Aghla More Ardloughnabrackbaddy Crocknalaragagh Errigal Mackoght Muckish Inishowen Slieve Snaght Mournes Slieve Bearnagh Slieve Binnian Slieve Commedagh Slieve Croob Slieve Donard Slieve Muck Sperrins Benbradagh Loughermore Mullaghcarn Mullaghmore Sawel Slieve Gallion Southwest Donegal Slieve League Others Belmore Mountain Benaughlin Cuilcagh Slieve Beagh Slieve Gullion Slieve Rushen

v t e Highest mountains of Ireland (by province) Munster Carrauntoohil (Corrán Tuathail) - 1,038 m (3,406 ft) Leinster Lugnaquilla (Log na Coille) - 925 m (3,035 ft) Ulster Slieve Donard (Sliabh Dónairt) - 849 m (2,785 ft) Connacht Mweelrea (Maol Réidh) - 814 m (2,671 ft) List of mountains in Ireland

v t e Highest mountains of the United Kingdom (by country) Scotland Ben Nevis / Beinn Nibheis – 1,344 metres (4,409 ft) Wales Snowdon / Yr Wyddfa – 1,085 m (3,560 ft) England Scafell Pike – 978 m (3,209 ft) Northern Ireland Slieve Donard / Sliabh Dónairt – 849 m (2,785 ft) List of mountains and hills of the United Kingdom | List of mountains of the British Isles by relative height | National Three Peaks Challenge

Donard Dún Ard
—  Town  —
Donard Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 53°01′00″N 6°37′00″W / 53.016667°N 6.616667°W / 53.016667; -6.616667Coordinates: 53°01′00″N 6°37′00″W / 53.016667°N 6.616667°W / 53.016667; -6.616667
Country	Ireland
Province	Leinster
County	County Wicklow
Elevation	180 m (590 ft)
Population (2002)
• Urban	201
Time zone	WET (UTC+0)
• Summer (DST)	IST (WEST) (UTC-1)
Irish Grid Reference	S929977

Donard (historically Dunard, from Irish: Dún Ard, meaning "high fort")^[1] is a small village in County Wicklow, Ireland located at the northern end of the Glen of Imaal, in the western part of the Wicklow Mountains.

Donard takes its name from Dún Ard - High Fort - the ruins of which are still somewhat visible on a rise above the town. The tranquil village is surrounded by Table Mountain (702m), Church Mountain (546m), Lugnaquilla (924m) and Keadeen (655m).

Nearby in Derrynamuck is a cottage dedicated to the memory of Michael Dwyer, a celebrated 1798 leader. It is now well known as the Dwyer-McAllister cottage for it was here that a group of Irish rebels led by Michael Dwyer were hiding when they were surrounded by British troops. Samuel McAllister died when he drew enemy fire to allow Dwyer to escape, and thereby prevent further bloodshed as the British troops were killing innocent farmers in nearby cottages to reach Dwyer.

The highest mountain in Wicklow and one of the highest mountains in Ireland, Lugnaquilla, can be accessed near here. It is advisable to remember that Lugnaquilla requires some hill-walking experience to climb, and should not be attempted alone, nor when there is a possibility of dense fog. The Wicklow Mountain Rescue team^[2] ask that those climbing alone alert the Rescue team as to their estimated time of climbing, to avoid false-emergencies due to delays in return.

Much of the surrounding Glen of Imaal (5,948 acres) has been used as an army artillery range since 1900, and caution is advised when attempting to use areas within the army range. However, notices are regularly posted at key entry points as to when the army are out on manoeuvres.

References[link]

v t e Places in County Wicklow County town: Wicklow Towns Arklow Bray Greystones Wicklow Unincorporated Towns Aughrim Avoca Baltinglass Blessington Carnew Dunlavin Enniskerry Newtownmountkennedy Rathdrum Rathnew Tinahely Villages Aghavannagh Annamoe Ashford Ballinaclash Charlesland Coolafancy Coolboy Delgany Donard Glendalough Glenealy Grangecon Greenan Hollywood Kilcoole Killincarrig Kilmacanogue Kilpedder Kilquade Kiltegan Knockananna Lacken Laragh Newcastle Rathdangan Redcross Roundwood Shillelagh Stratford-on-Slaney Valleymount Woodenbridge Townlands Ballinakil Ballyronan Butterhill Hempstown List of townlands in County Wicklow Category:Mountains and hills of County Wicklow Category:Rivers of County Wicklow Category:Geography of County Wicklow