Slieve Anierin

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Slieve Anierin
County Leitrim

Slieve Anierin (right) viewed from Lough Allen
Range: Cuilcagh Mountains
Summit: 1,919 feet H019159
54°5’33"N, 7°58’20"W

Slieve Anierin is a mountain in County Leitrim, rising to 1,919 feet and standing east of Lough Allen and northeast of Drumshanbo. It is part of the Cuilcagh Mountains. The mountain was shaped by the south-westward movement of ice age glaciers over millions of years, the morainic drift heaping thousands of drumlins in the surrounding lowlands.[1] Historically there were many iron ore deposits and ironworks in the area. Irish mythology associates the mountain with the Tuatha Dé Danann, particularly the smith god Goibniu. Slieve Anierin is an important natural heritage site with exposed marine and coastal fauna of paleontological interest

The name of the mountain is from the Irish Sliabh an Iarainn, which means "mountain or moor of iron".[2] This refers to the many iron ore deposits in the area.[3] Boate (1652) said "the mountains are so full of this metal, that hereof it hath got in Irish the name of Slew Neren, that is, Mountains of Iron".[4] It is sometimes anglicized 'Slieve Anierin' or 'Slievanierin'.

The mountain was anciently named Sliab Comaicne,[5] or the "mountain of the Conmaicne Rein in Connacht".[6]

Natural heritage site

Goniatite fossils at the shores of Lough Allen
Goniatite Fossils found by Lough Allen
Fossils found at Lough Allen

Slieve Anierin is an important natural heritage site due to unbroken sequence of carboniferous marine fossils present in the rock layers spanning the Namurian (326-315 million years ago) and lower Westphalian (313-304 million years ago) stages of the Silesian (series).[7] The Geological survey of Ireland (1878) wrote "the Geologist may examine all the formations of the district from the Lower Silurian up to the outlier of Coal-measures that crowns Slieve-an-Ierin… It is a rare thing in most countries to find so much comprised in so small a space}}".[8]

In her landmark study "The Palaeontology of the Namurian rocks of Slieve Anierin, Co. Leitrim, Eire", Patricia Yates (1962) demonstrated a "remarkable extent" of Namurian marine fauna bands, abundant with goniatite-Bivalvia, at Slieve Anierin. [9] She described some rock layers as particularly fossiliferous,[10] the shale bands abundant with goniatite faunas and Bivalvia marine and freshwater molluscs. The unfossiliferous shales often contain numerous clay-ironstone bands making conditions intolerable for marine organisms.[11] At most of the fossiliferous levels in the Namurian beds the number of goniatites and Bivalvia are usually very high with the diversity of species low.[12] The richest and most diverse band in the succession at Slieve Anierin, in terms of species present, contains Trilobites, brachiopods, gastropods, echinoids and Bryozoa.[13] Fragments of trilobites occur abundantly at particular bands.[14] Overall, Yates documented nearly 120 distinct fossiliferous sites around Slieve Anierin, her work complemented by extensive photographs of often beautifully preserved fossils.[7] Her study of Slieve Anierin is considered important, being housed at the Murchison Museum, Imperial College, British Geological Survey Museum, and the Natural Museum in London.[15]

Geography

Slieve Anierin is an imposing hill, towering over and dominating the rugged landscape. It rises from the eastern shore of Lough Allen to a summit elevation of 1,923 feet.[16][17][18] On this summit at 1,706 feet, a Triangulation station of the Ordnance Survey is fixed on a low concrete plinth. It is part of the Cuilcagh Mountains, which stretch from Slieve Anierin to Cuilcagh.

Geology

Slieve Anierin is composed of Carboniferous shales, and sandstones blanketed by heather-covered moorland, and located in an area of Upper Carboniferous rocks extending from the northern extremity of Lough Erne for about 30 miles to the southern tip of Lough Allen. Shale is the dominant rock type throughout the Carboniferous succession, but a thick grit, with coal seams, occurs in the lower rock layers of 326-315 million years ago.[10] At its greatest width the outcrop stretches eastwards towards Swanlinbar 20 miles distant. The outcrop narrows northwards, interrupted by a deep shoreline indentation of Carboniferous Limestone around the Belcoo area, to the north of which it widens before rapidly narrowing towards Lough Erne.

Slieve Anierin, at the southern end of this mass, and east of Lough Allen, is a flat topped mountain with a prominent and steep grit slope, easily mistaken for the summit from a distance, when in fact another 164 feet of shales form a small residual outlier overlying this grit. There is a thick obscuring mantle of peat bog and glacial drift below the steep grit slope, with heather and peat bog forming a thick mantle over most of the upland plateau at the summit. Rocks are typically horizontal or gently dipping, except in land-slipped areas.[19] Impressive landslides have occurred along the western face, and at the south-western and south-eastern corners of the mountain, indicating an appreciative magnitude of land-slipping.[20]

  • Slieve Anierin Escarpment
    Slieve Anierin Escarpment
  • Hillside above Timpaun
    Hillside above Timpaun
  • Footbridge and Cliffs
    Footbridge and Cliffs
  • Moorland and scattered trees at Ardlougher
    Moorland and scattered trees at Ardlougher
  • South-eastern flanks of Slieve Anierin
    South-eastern flanks of Slieve Anierin
  • The Yellow River
    The Yellow River
  • Channel eroded in the peat close to summit
    Channel eroded in the peat close to summit

Coal field

Slieve Anierin is the most eastern part of the Connaught coal field. Well-marked escarpment lines are visible, partly exposed by lines of geological fault on all sides of the mountain valleys, the collapsed layers removed by denudation. The outcrop of two coal seams, crow coals with a sandstone roof and middle coal under a slate roof, are traceable some difficulty along the grit escarpment on the western side of Slieve Anierin towards the Stony River valley, becoming completely obscured by drift deposits on the southern flanks, and on the eastern flanks to a mile North of Lough Nabellbeg continuing through the townlands of Sradrinagh and Cornamucklagh South obscured by a thick blanket of peat bog, becoming visible again further north on the western side of the hill at Cleighran More and Cleighran Beg where faults are evident.[21][22] The outcrop of both coal seams is also traceable for half a mile along the south-eastern slopes of Bencroy. More than two coal seams may be present at Slieve Anierin, though the only rocks observable over the coal seams (in the millstone grit) are the lower coal measure containing black and brown splintery shales of a considerable thickness at Bencroy to the east and Barnameenagh to the west.[23][24][22]

Heritage

Disused Mineshaft near to Mullaghgarve and Moher

Literary project

The Sliabh-an-Iarainn Project is a literary initiative started in 2004 to write about the history of the people who inhabited the necklace of townlands on the flanks of Slieve Anierin and Ben Croy, in County Leitrim. The goal was to preserve a memory of the Ultachs, Roman Catholic refugees displaced out of Ulster in 1795 who made a home on the mountain, their experiences of famine and emigration, and the resilience of the remaining communities.[25] This social history was released in three volumes-

  • Mountain Echoes, Sliabh an Iarainn's Story (Vol. 1)
  • Mountain Shadows, Sliabh an Iarainn's Story (Vol. 2)
  • Mountain Roots, Sliabh an Iarainn's Story (Vol. 3)

Ulster Plantation

In the 1609 Plantation of Ulster, Slieve Anierin formed part of lands which were granted to John Sandford of Castle Doe, County Donegal (the father-in-law of Thomas Guyllym of Ballyconnell) by letters patent dated 7 July 1613 (Pat. 11 James I – LXXI – 38, Slewenerin).[26][27] It was later sold by Sandford to his wife's uncle Toby Caulfeild, 1st Baron Caulfeild, Master of the Ordnance and Caulfield had the sale confirmed by letters patent of 12 July 1620 (Pat. 19 James I. XI. 45 Slewnerin).

Muintir-Eolais lake

In the remote mountainous Cuilcagh-Anierin uplands, an oligotrophic lake called "Lough Munter Eolas" is named after Eolais Mac Biobhsach and the Muintir Eolais, the most famous of the Leitrim sub-septs of the Conmaicne Rein). This lake straddles the border of Moneensauran townland in west County Cavan and Slievenakilla townland in south County Leitrim.[5][28]

Iron industry

Iron Ore has been dug at Slieve Anierin since the 1600s, the Ore rather tough like Spanish Iron.[4] Commercial Iron works existed around Slieve Anierin 1630, and though nearly all were destroyed during the Irish Rebellion of 1641, they were revived after the Irish Confederate Wars at the earliest, or in the 1690s after the Battle of the Boyne.[29] Many smelting works employed Englishmen or foreigners instead of Irish labour which generated much local hostility.[29] The siting of Smelting works contiguous to Lough Allen allowed for the transportation of Pig Iron in boats of up to forty tons.[30] Commercial iron mining declined after about 1750 to 1760 as deforestation exhausted the fuel for burning charcoal.[31][32][33]

Cornashamsoge townland

In the 17th century the Cornashamsoge smelting works founded.[34] There was a leat connecting with Cornashamsoge smelting works, supplying water.

After the ironstone melted, the Pig iron was brought to Drumshanbo Finery forge to the south of Lough Allen to produce the malleable iron product which was transported to Dublin and Limerick by boat.[30]

Ballinamore Iron works was established sometime after 1693 and continued production until probably 1747 when the business was put up for sale, the assets including a furnace, forge, slitting mill, mine yards, coal yards, large quantities of pig iron, mine and coals.

The last Iron works in Ireland, located at Creevelea in County Leitrim, closed around 1770 though they reopened again years later again.[29] Crevelea works ceased production in 1858, and later attempts to revive the industry here complete failures.[35]

There was an Iron works at Swanlinbar in County Cavan, right at the far north-east corner of Slieve Anierin,[36] though it had closed by 1785 according to an observer who wrote- "The furnaces of Ireland were never so forsaken and deplorable a way as they are at present... The great iron-works which were at Swanlinbar ... are abandoned".[37]

Coal industry

In 1962, an attempt to mine the lower four-foot thick coal-seam located about 400 yards west of the Rocking Stone was abandoned, the coal being poor quality and seams non persistent. On the eastern side of Slieve Anierin there is another abandoned level in the upper seam which is one foot thick, the location possibly being above Aughacashel House.[22]

In mythology

Tuatha De Dannan

The Book of Invasions (Lebor Gabála Érenn) describes the Tuatha Dé Danann, tribe of the goddess Danu arriving in Mesolithic Ireland through the air before landing their floating-ships on the summit of Slieve Anierin. The men included Nuada the king, Manannan the powerful, Neit the battle god, and Goibniu the Smith. The women included Badb the battle goddess, Eadon the poets nurse, Brigit a goddess, and Dagna the goddess mother. Messengers informed Eochaid son of Ere, and king of the Fir Bolg, that a new race of people had settled in Ireland. The Firbolgs sent forward their champion Sreng and the Tuatha De Danann getting sight of his approach sent their champion Bres. The two champions had a meeting at Magh Rein below Slieve Anierin but no peace was concluded. The Tuatha Dé Danann defeated the Firbolg at the Battle of Moytura.[38] Three centuries later the De Danann retreated to the Celtic Otherworld on being displaced by the Milesians, mythological ancestors of the Irish race.

For there by old tradition the Tuatha de Danann had first descended from heaven, giving to Sliab in larainn its peculiar sanctity. Among the old races skilled craftsmen, as we may still see in the Dublin Museum, proved their talent.

“
”
History of the Irish State to 1014.[39]

Gobán Saor

Metal workers were held in high esteem, and the Irish Pantheon Gobán Saor is synonymous with the legendary Scandinavian named Vaeland Smith and Goibniu of the Tuatha De Dannan. According to oral tradition, Gobán Saor ("Goibhenen"), Tuatha De Danann metalsmith, worked the mines here.[40][41][42]

Hunger stone

In the parish of Kiltubrid the term fear gorta (Irish for "hungry man") refers to a hunger which may supposedly afflict a person on the mountains, proving fatal if not quickly satisfied. This hunger is said to immediately seize any person who walks on a legendary "fear-gorta stone" at the base of Slieve Anierin.[43]

Fairies revenge

Oral tradition in Cavan described how a local man, "Turlough the Yellow-haired", asked the mountain fairies to destroy the Swanlinbar Iron works and send the foreigners away, and "the flood came rushing down from the mountain, from Binn Eachlainn, and it left neither mill nor wig nor man behind but swept them all down to Lough Erne".[44]

Outside links

 ("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Slieve Anierin)

References

  1. ↑ Moody 1976, pp. 48.
  2. ↑ Mark Bulik (2015). The Sons of Molly Maguire: The Irish Roots of America's First Labor War. Fordham University Press. ISBN 9780823262236. https://books.google.com/books?id=ekpGCgAAQBAJ&q=%22Slieve+Anierin%22+walk&pg=PA26. Retrieved 31 October 2015. 
  3. ↑ Joyce & Sullivan 1902, pp. 47.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Boate 1652, pp. 128.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Ó Duígeannáin 1934, pp. 134.
  6. ↑ Connellan & O'Clery 1846, pp. 361.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Yates 1962, pp. 433-438.
  8. ↑ Geological Survey Ireland 1878, p. 159.
  9. ↑ Yates 1962, pp. 355.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Yates 1962, pp. 356-357.
  11. ↑ Yates 1962, pp. 360-361.
  12. ↑ Yates 1962, pp. 362.
  13. ↑ Yates 1962, pp. 377.
  14. ↑ Yates 1962, pp. 408.
  15. ↑ Burek & Higgs 2007, pp. 150.
  16. ↑ Ireland Guide. Gill & Macmillan Ltd. 2000. ISBN 9780717128877. https://books.google.com/books?id=e49jod4ikfIC&q=Slieve+Anierin&pg=RA1-PA775. Retrieved 31 October 2015. 
  17. ↑ Meehan 1906.
  18. ↑ Geological Survey Ireland 1878, p. 162.
  19. ↑ Yates 1962, pp. 358.
  20. ↑ Yates 1962, pp. 360.
  21. ↑ Geological Survey Ireland 1878, p. 186.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Yates 1962, pp. 359.
  23. ↑ Geological Survey Ireland 1878, p. 169.
  24. ↑ Geological Survey Ireland 1878, p. 187.
  25. ↑ Sliabh-an-Iarainn Project.
  26. ↑ Chancery, Ireland (1800). "Calendar of the Patent Rolls of the Chancery of Ireland". https://books.google.com/books?id=XD5JAAAAcAAJ&q=Glangewley&pg=PA257. 
  27. ↑ "Calendar of the state papers, relating to Ireland, of the reign of James I. 1603-1625. Preserved in Her Majesty's Public Record Office, and elsewhere". 1872. https://archive.org/details/cu31924091770846/page/n405/mode/2up. 
  28. ↑ Templan 2010, pp. 14.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 Mulvihill 2003, pp. 248.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Buchan 1860, pp. 12.
  31. ↑ Boate 1652, pp. 131.
  32. ↑ Buchan 1860, pp. 15.
  33. ↑ Cooke 1906, pp. 24.
  34. ↑ McLoughlin 1938, pp. 528.
  35. ↑ Meehan 1906, pp. 133.
  36. ↑ Meehan 1906, pp. 126.
  37. ↑ Gribbon 1969, pp. 75.
  38. ↑ Gregory 1904, pp. 1-3.
  39. ↑ Stopford Green 1925, p. 32.
  40. ↑ O'Donovan 1858, pp. 353,n.3.
  41. ↑ Bolt Brash 1878, pp. 516.
  42. ↑ Beveridge 2014, pp. 67.
  43. ↑ Duncan 2013, pp. 10.
  44. ↑ Mag Uidhir 1931.
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