Shehy Mountains
The Shehy Mountains are a range of low mountains situated on the border between County Cork and County Kerry, in the Republic of Ireland. Their name in the Irish language is Cnoic na Síofra, meaning "Hills of the animal hides".
Geography and geology
The highest peak (also the highest mountain in County Cork) is Knockboy, on the border of Cork and Kerry, which reaches 2,316 feet. Most of the other peaks in the range are between 1,600 feet and 2,000 feet high.
The River Lee rises in Coomroe, a small valley at the eastern end of the range, before flowing eastwards towards Cork Harbour, where it enters the sea.
The peaks of the Shehy Mountains mostly consist of Old Red Sandstone laid down in the Devonian era. During the Ice Age, the Shehys took their present form, when glaciers carved the many deep valleys in the area and also eroded the mountains down to their present height. When the icecaps retreated, they left behind hundreds of glittering lakes in the valleys and tarns on the mountain tops.
Birds, beasts and blooms
The Shehy Mountains are mostly covered with peat bogs and coarse grassland, but there are also some small conifer plantations scattered around the area. Plants typically found here include butterworts, sundews, heather, and bilberries, among many others.
The animal species found in the Shehies are mostly the same as those found throughout the lowlands, but some are more often seen in the mountains than elsewhere, including the Irish hare, the stonechat and the raven.
History
The area has a very long history of human habitation, going back at least 5000 years. Numerous Neolithic megalithic monuments are found in the foothills and valleys. Later ages have left ringforts, fulachta fia and later antiquities.
One of the most historic sites in the Shehy mountains is Gougane Barra in the Coomroe valley, where Saint Finbarr established a hermitage in the 6th century.
During the Irish War of Independence, the mountains were an IRA stronghold, and continued to be so for the anti-treaty forces during the Irish Civil War which followed.
Highest Points
The following table lists the 5 highest major mountain peaks of the Shehy Mountains, all with a topographic elevation of at least 2,000 feet. After the top five, height does not vary much in the Shehy Mountains, with most peaks ranging between 1,500 and 2,000 feet.
| Rank | Mountain / top | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Knockboy | 2,316 feet |
| 2 | Caoinkeen | 2,270 feet |
| 3 | Knockboy North Top | 2,129 feet |
| 4 | Knocknamanagh | 2,090 feet |
| 5 | Knocknamanagh NE Top | 2,051 feet |