Muckish () is a distinctive flat-topped

mountain A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited summit area, and is usually highe ...

in the

Derryveagh Mountains The Derryveagh Mountains () are the major mountain range in County Donegal, Ireland. It makes up much of the landmass of the county and is the area of Ireland with the lowest population density. The mountains separate the coastal parts of the count ...

County Donegal County Donegal ( ; ga, Contae Dhún na nGall) is a county of Ireland in the province of Ulster and in the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the town of Donegal in the south of the county. It has also been known as County Tyrconn ...

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 ...

. At , it is the third-highest peak in the Derryveagh Mountains and the 163rd highest in

. Muckish is also the most northern and second highest of the mountain chain called the " Seven Sisters" by locals. The Seven Sisters are Muckish,

Crocknalaragagh Crocknalaragagh is a mountain in County Donegal, Ireland with a height of 471 m.Hendroff, Adrian. ''From High Places: A Journey Through Ireland's Great Mountains''. 1st edition. Dublin: The History Press Ireland, 2010. 87. Print. Geogr ...

Aghla Beg Aghla Beg ( ga, Eachla Beag) is a mountain in County Donegal, Ireland. Of its two summits, one has a height of , and the other, Aghla Beg South Top . Geography The mountain is the third-most northern and fifth-highest of the mountain chain, c ...

Ardloughnabrackbaddy Ardloughnabrackbaddy ( gle, Ard Loch na mBreac Beadaí) is a peak in County Donegal, Ireland, with a height of 603m. Geography

It sits above Loughnabrackbaddy (a lake) and is the middle summit and third highest of the "Seven Sisters, Donega ...

Aghla More Aghla More () is a mountain in County Donegal, Ireland with a height of 581 metres. Geography The mountain is the third most southern and fourth highest of the mountain chain, called the ' Seven Sisters' by locals ( Muckish, Crocknalaragagh, ...

Mackoght Mackoght or Macoght (), also called Little Errigal or Wee Errigal (), is a tall mountain in County Donegal, Ireland. Geography The mountain is the second most southern and second lowest of the mountain chain called the '' Seven Sisters'' b ...

, and

Errigal Errigal () is a mountain near Gweedore in County Donegal, Ireland. It is the tallest peak of the Derryveagh Mountains and the tallest peak in County Donegal. Errigal is also the most southern and the highest of the mountain chain called the ...

Overview

High-grade

quartz Quartz is a hard, crystalline mineral composed of silica ( silicon dioxide). The atoms are linked in a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon-oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall chemical ...

sand was mined on the flanks of the mountain; the remains of the quarry workings can be seen on its northern side. The "Miner's Path" is a route to the summit up the northern side of the mountain. Part of this route follows the path used by the workers to reach the quarry. The sand was exported and was mainly used in the manufacture of optical glass. A less difficult route to the summit begins from the Muckish Gap on the southern side of the mountain. A large cairn (man-made mound of stones), visible from sea level, can be found on the summit plateau. This marks a Bronze Age court tomb. In 2000, a large metal cross was placed on the summit, replacing a wooden one that had been destroyed in a storm. The new cross was placed much closer to the northern end of the mountain, while the cairn is towards the south.

Falcarragh An Fál Carrach (anglicized as Falcarragh), sometimes called Na Crois Bhealaí ("the crossroads") is a small Gaeltacht town and townland in north-west County Donegal, Ireland. The settlement is in the old parish of Cloughaneely. Irish language A ...

, Moyra,

Dunfanaghy Dunfanaghy () is a small town, former fishing port, and commercial centre on the north coast of County Donegal, Ireland. It lies on Donegal's North West coast, specifically the west side of Sheephaven Bay, on the N56 road (the West Donegal Coas ...

, and

Creeslough Creeslough ( , locally ; ga, An Craoslach ) is a village in County Donegal County Donegal ( ; ga, Contae Dhún na nGall) is a county of Ireland in the province of Ulster and in the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the t ...

are the villages nearest to Muckish. On the Falcarragh side lies ''Mám na Mucaise'' ("gap of Muckish") in which one finds ''Droichead na nDeor'' ("bridge of tears"). It was from this bridge that many thousands of Cloughaneely emigrants bade farewell to family members.

Percy French William Percy French (1 May 1854 – 24 January 1920) was an Irish songwriter, author, poet, entertainer and painter. Life French was born at Clooneyquinn House, near Tulsk, County Roscommon, the son of an Anglo-Irish landlord, Christopher F ...

, the famous poet, visited the district at the beginning of the 20th century and while in Falcarragh Hotel he wrote a poem called "An Irish Mother". In 2012, a 40-minute documentary about Muckish was released, called "Glass Mountain: The Story of Muckish Sand".

Gallery

File:Towards Muckish - geograph.org.uk - 901363.jpg, Muckish from Roshin, near Croaghaderry File:Muckish.JPG, Muckish from

Horn Head Horn Head (Irish: ''Corrán Binne'', meaning "Hollow in the Hills") is a peninsula in Donegal, North West Ireland, close to Dunfanaghy. It forms part of Sheephaven Bay. Archeological significance Horn Head has many remains of Neolithic sto ...

File:Lough Naboll below Muckish Mountain - geograph.org.uk - 1052622.jpg, Muckish from Lough Naboll

References

External links

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Photograph from side of Muckish

Walking Ireland’s Iconic Mountains – Number 2: Muckish. An article from Walking & Hiking In Ireland
{{Mountains and hills of Ulster Marilyns of Ireland Mountains and hills of County Donegal Hewitts of Ireland Mountains under 1000 metres