MacGillycuddy's Reeks

MacGillycuddy's Reeks

Coomloughta Glen

Carrantuohill and Hag's Tooth

Beenkeragh

Caher

MacGillycuddy's Reeks (Irish: Na Cruacha Dubha) are a mountain range in County Kerry, amongst which Ireland's highest mountains are found.

The range stretches for about 12 miles, and includes the highest peaks in Ireland and the only peaks on the island of 3,300 feet. The highest of these is Carrauntoohil (3,406 feet), which is the highest mountain in Ireland, followed by Beenkeragh (3,313 feet), while Caher falls just short of the number at 3,284 feet. The range also includes many other peaks of over 2,000 feet.

The mountains are on the Iveragh Peninsula near the Lakes of Killarney.

The origin of the mountains is as part of the Armorican Highlands, formed of glacially carved sandstone.

The name of the range dates to the 18th century. It is derived from the family or clan MacGillycuddy (Irish: Mac Giolla Mochuda) who are a sept of the O'Sullivan's. The clan chief, McGillycuddy of the Reeks, owned land in this part of Munster for a long time before they received his name, and continued to do so until the end of the 20th century. The word reek is a Hiberno-English version of the English word rick, meaning a stack.

List of hills

The main 27 hills and peaks of the reeks are:

#	Hill	Gaelic name	Height	Grid ref
1	Carrauntoohil	Corrán Tuathail	3,406 feet	[V80368442 V80368442]
2	Beenkeragh / Benkeeragh	Binn Chaorach	3,314 feet	[V80138525 V80138525]
3	Caher	Cathair na Féinne	3,284 feet	[V79268389 V79268389]
4	Knocknapeasta	Cnoc na Péiste	3,241 feet	[V83598418 V83598418]
5	Caher West Top	Cathair Thiar	3,199 feet	[V78998401 V78998401]
6	Maolán Buí		3,192 feet	[V83218382 V83218382]
7	The Bones / Carrauntoohil Tooth		3,146 feet	[V80078469 V80078469]
8	Cnoc an Chuillinn		3,143 feet	[V82348334 V82348334]
9	The Big Gun	An Gunna Mhór	3,081 feet	[V84078450 V84078450]
10	Cruach Mhór		3,058 feet	[V84088482 V84088482]
11	Cnoc an Chuillinn East Top	Cnoc an Chuillinn Thoir	3,038 feet	[V82808343 V82808343]
12	Knockbrinnea West Top	Cnoc Broinne Thiar	2,802 feet	[V80788582 V80788582]
13	Stumpa Bharr na hAbhann		2,792 feet	[V79638586 V79638586]
14	Skregmore	Screig Mhór	2,782 feet	[V79218604 V79218604]
15	Knocnbrinnea East Top	Cnoc Broinne Thoir	2,779 feet	[V80788582 V80788582]
16	Cnoc na Toinne		2,772 feet	[V81128340 V81128340]
17	Cnoc Íochtair		2,451 feet	[V78498598 V78498598]
18	Cnoc an Bhráca		2,398 feet	[V85858545 V85858545]
19	Cnoc na dTarbh		2,149 feet	[V86238500 V86238500]
20	Hag's Tooth / Stumpeenadaff	Stumpa an tSaimh Stuimpín an Daimh	2,133 feet	[V809448506 V809448506]
21	Brassel Mountain	Cnoc Breasail	1,886 feet	[V830823 V830823]
22	Skregbeg	Screig Bheag	1,880 feet	[V78728743 V78728743]
23	Beann Bhán		1,512 feet	[V756828 V756828]
24	Beann Dubh		1,483 feet	[V749829 V749829]
25	Beendarrig	Beann Dhearg	1,480 feet	[V762821 V762821]
26	Strickeen	Struicín	1,444 feet	[V86638822 V86638822]
27	Knockbrack	Gulba Mór	1,394 feet	[V80198810 V80198810]

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about MacGillycuddy's Reeks)