Slieve Coillte
| Slieve Coillte | |
| County Wexford | |
|---|---|
| |
| Summit: | 881 feet S72792134 52°20’21"N, 6°55’58"W |
Slieve Coillte is a hill in the south of County Wexford, Ireland. The hill is the highest point on the Hook Peninsula, with an elevation of 881 feet.
The name is from the Irish language; Sliabh Coiltair, meaning 'mountain of Coltar[1]
Villages around Slieve Coillte include New Ross, Slaught, Cassagh, Gusserane, Campile, Ramsgrange and Duncannon. On a good day the whole of the Hook Peninsula can be seen, up to the 12th Century Hook Lighthouse on Hook Head, one of the oldest operational lighthouses in the world.[2]
Hillwalking
Slieve Coillte is popular with hillwalkers, with thousands of people climbing the mountain every year. A two-mile road leads to a viewpoint on the summit. The road is accessible by car, so the view from Slieve Coillte can also be enjoyed without a walk to the top. Starting from the viewpoint is a circular track of just under a mile that is also suitable for inexperienced walkers.[3]
On the south side of the hill is the John F. Kennedy Arboretum with approximately 4,500 species of trees and shrubs on 620 acres.[4]
History
At the summit there is also a memorial stone to the Irish Rebellion of 1798 that states: "The rebels camped on Slieve Coillte from the 7th to 10th June. Bagenal Harvey resigned his command here. He was succeeded by Fr Philip Roche. A detachment under the command of Thomas Cloney attacked the gunboats on the river Barrow at Fisherstown."[5] Slieve Coillte was picked because of the excellent view of the other camps in Wexford such as Lacken Hill, Carrigbyrne Hill, Forth Mountain and Oulart Hill.
The hill is about three miles from Scoil Mhuire and you can see several counties from its summit, including Waterford, Carlow, Kilkenny and Tipperary.
Mythology
Slieve Coillte is alleged to play a role in Irish mythology. The hill outside New Ross is Ireland's Mount Ararat where the first invasion of Ireland took place in 2242 B.C. when Cessair the granddaughter of Noah, escaping the flood, made the first incursion or invasion into Ireland.[6]
References
- ↑ MountainViews.ie: Slievecoiltia
- ↑ "Hook Lighthouse". https://www.irishtourism.com/scenic-attractions-in-ireland/hook-lighthouse-visitor-centre/1574. Retrieved 2019-08-11.
- ↑ "Explore Slieve Coillte lookout". https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/ireland/county-wexford/slieve-coillte-lookout?ref=sidebar-view-full-map. Retrieved 2019-08-11.
- ↑ "John F Kennedy Arboretum & Slieve Coillte". https://visitnewross.ie/listings/john-f-kennedy-arboretum-new-ross/. Retrieved 2019-08-11.
- ↑ "Slieve Coillte in 1798". http://homepage.eircom.net/~horeswoodns/slieve_coillte.htm. Retrieved 2019-08-11.
- ↑ "Sliabh Coillte's hidden history revealed at talk". 2011-08-30. https://www.independent.ie/regionals/newrossstandard/news/sliabh-coilltes-hidden-history-revealed-at-talk-27509290.html. Retrieved 2019-08-09.