Benglenisky () at , is the 368th–highest peak in

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

on the

Arderin Arderin () is a mountain on the border between Laois and Offaly in Ireland. With a height of 527 metres (1,729 ft) it is the highest point in the Slieve Bloom Mountains, and is the highest point in both County Laois and County Offaly. An ...

scale.Mountainviews, (September 2013), "A Guide to Ireland's Mountain Summits: The Vandeleur-Lynams & the Arderins", Collins Books, Cork, Benglenisky is the second most southern peak, after neighbouring

Benlettery Benlettery () at , is the 259th–highest peak in Ireland on the Lists of mountains in Ireland#Arderins, Arderin scale.Mountainviews, (September 2013), "A Guide to Ireland's Mountain Summits: The Vandeleur-Lynams & the Arderins", Collins Books, ...

, of the

Twelve Bens , photo=Boats and mountains, Roundstone (6047965086).jpg , photo_caption= View of the range from Roundstone village. , region = Connacht , region_type = Provinces of Ireland , translation = The peaks of Beola , language = Irish language ...

mountain range in the

Connemara National Park Connemara National Park ( ga, Páirc Naisiúnta Chonamara) is one of six national parks in Ireland, managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. It is located in the northwest of Connemara in County Galway, on the west coast. History ...

Galway Galway ( ; ga, Gaillimh, ) is a City status in Ireland, city in the West Region, Ireland, West of Ireland, in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Connacht, which is the county town of County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lo ...

, and is the lowest of the core ''

''.

Naming

According to Irish academic Paul Tempan, ga, Gleann Uisce, meaning "the glen of water", is from the glen on the south-east side of this peak. Tempan also notes that on the north-west side in the

townland A townland ( ga, baile fearainn; Ulster-Scots: ''toonlann'') is a small geographical division of land, historically and currently used in Ireland and in the Western Isles in Scotland, typically covering . The townland system is of Gaelic origi ...

of ga, Barr na nÓrán, Benglenisky is known as ga, Binn Dubh (meaning "Black Peak") or ga, Cnoc Dubh (meaning "Black Hill"). The green

Connemara marble Connemara marble or "Irish green" is a rare variety of marble found in Connemara, Ireland with a distinct green colour. It is commonly used as a gemstone and for decorations. Due to its colouration, it is commonly associated with the Irish identi ...

is quarried in Barr na nÓrán, which was first started by

Thomas Barnwall Martin Thomas Barnwall Martin (1784 – April 1847) was an Irish landowner and politician. Martin was the eldest surviving son of Richard Martin, humanitarian and Member of Parliament for Galway County, by his first wife Elizabeth Vesey. Following a ...

in the 1820s.

Geography

Benglenisky is the second southernmost peak of the Twelve Bens after

, and lies at the western edge of the range. Benglenisky is connected to the range by a high north-easterly ridge to the peak of

Bengower Bengower () at , is the 135th–highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin scale, and the 166th–highest peak on the Vandeleur-Lynam scale.Mountainviews, (September 2013), "A Guide to Ireland's Mountain Summits: The Vandeleur-Lynams & the Arderins ...

; this ridge forms a fork which also connects neighboring Benlettery to Bengower. Benglenisky sits off the main ridge of the six Bens that form a horseshoe around the valley of the Glencoaghan River (also known as the ''Glencoaghan Horseshoe''), and is thus less frequented. Benglenisky is the lowest of the core ''Twelve Bens'', and only meets the mountain classification of an Arderin. Its relative positioning at the southern end of the range, jutting out on its own ridge, means that it often appears as a scenic backdrop to

Ballynahinch Castle Ballynahinch Castle is a former Ireland, Irish country house and estate, built on the site of a former castle, which is now a luxury hotel set in a private estate in the Connemara region of County Galway, Ireland. The castle lies on the edge of ...

and the

Ballynahinch Lake Ballynahinch Lake () is a freshwater lake in the west of Ireland. It is located in the Connemara area of County Galway. Geography Ballynahinch Lake measures about long and wide. It is located about east of Clifden and about northwest of Gal ...

, however, it is still overshadowed by its more dramatic neighbour, Benlettery, with its striking "pyramidal" profile.

Hill walking

As with Benlettery, Benglenisky's accessibility means that it can be summited as a standalone 5-kilometre 2-3 hour climb (starting and ending at the Ben Lettery An Oige youth hostel); however, the high ridge Benglenisky shares with the peaks of Bengower and Benlettery, means that it is also climbed as part a 7-kilometre 3-4 hour horseshoe loop-walk with these peaks. Benglenisky does not feature on the core route of the more famous 16–kilometre 8–9 hour ''Glencoaghan Horseshoe'', considered one of Ireland's best hill-walks; or the even longer ''Owenglin Horseshoe'', a 20–kilometre 10–12 hour route around the Owenglin River taking in over twelve summits.

Gallery

File:Benbreen and Bengower from Benglenisky.jpg,

Benbreen Benbreen () at , is the 100th–highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin scale, and the 122nd–highest peak on the Vandeleur-Lynam scale.Mountainviews, (September 2013), "A Guide to Ireland's Mountain Summits: The Vandeleur-Lynams & the Arderin ...

(left), and

(right), from summit of Benglenisky File:Owenmore River and Benlettery - geograph.org.uk - 1425647.jpg,

(right) and Benglenisky (left), from the Owenmore River File:Benlettery (left) and Benglenisky (right) from Bengower.jpg,

(left) and Benglenisky (right) from summit of

Bibliography

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References

External links

MountainViews: The Irish Mountain Website
Benglenisky

the largest database of British Isles mountains ("

DoBIH The mountains and hills of the British Isles are categorised into various lists based on different combinations of elevation, prominence, and other criteria such as isolation. These lists are used for peak bagging, whereby hillwalkers attempt ...

")
Hill Bagging UK & Ireland
the searchable interface for the

{{IrishTrails Mountains and hills of County Galway Geography of County Galway Mountains under 1000 metres