Mount Leinster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Leinster |
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| Stua Laighean | |
Mount Leinster with its transmission mast
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 794.4 m (2,606 ft) |
| Prominence | 706.42 m (2,317.7 ft) |
| Listing | County Top (Carlow and Wexford), P600, Marilyn, Hewitt |
| Geography | |
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| Location | Counties Wexford and Carlow, Ireland |
| Parent range | Blackstairs Mountains |
| OSI/OSNI grid | S826525 |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Granite |
Mount Leinster (called Stua Laighean in Irish) is a tall mountain in Ireland. It stands about 794 meters (2,605 feet) high. This mountain is special because it sits right on the border between Counties Carlow and Wexford. Both counties are in the Leinster area of Ireland.
Mount Leinster is the fifth-highest mountain in Leinster. It is also the tallest mountain in the Blackstairs Mountains range. At the very top of Mount Leinster, there is a large antenna mast. This mast is 122 meters (400 feet) tall and is used for broadcasting TV and radio signals.
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Getting to the Top
Most people who want to climb Mount Leinster start from a place called the Nine Stones. This landmark is about 8 miles east of Borris. From Borris, there is a road that leads to a car park on the mountain.
From the car park, a steep access road goes all the way to the summit. This road is usually closed to regular cars. The company that owns the antenna mast has also put up a fence around it. This helps to protect the equipment.
The Nine Stones and the car park are located between Mount Leinster and a smaller mountain called Slievebawn. Even though it's called the Nine Stones, there are actually ten stones lined up. The biggest stone is about 50 centimeters (20 inches) tall. No one is completely sure why these stones are there or how they got their name.
Fun Activities
Mount Leinster is a popular spot for different outdoor sports.
Cycling Challenges
Cyclists love Mount Leinster because it offers challenging climbs. The mountain has been part of famous bike races like the Tour of Ireland and the FBD Insurance Rás. You can cycle up Mount Leinster from two sides: the Borris side in County Carlow or the Bunclody side in County Wexford.
The climb from Borris is about 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) long. It has an average slope of 6.9%. The last 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) are very tough, with a slope of almost 16%. The climb from Bunclody is a bit longer, about 13 kilometers (8.1 miles). Its average slope is 5.9%, but the last 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) is also very steep, reaching 16.3%. There's also a mountain biking club called The ML Syndicate that uses the area for trail riding and events.
Soaring with Hang Gliders
The top of Mount Leinster is a great place for hang gliding. People also use it to fly radio-controlled gliders. In 2003, a hang glider pilot had an accident after launching from the mountain. There is a memorial at the peak of the mountain.
A Look Back: Plane Crash
On September 7, 1983, a small plane crashed near the summit of Mount Leinster. The plane was flying from Birmingham to Kilkenny. Sadly, everyone on board passed away.
The Big Antenna: Broadcasting from Mount Leinster
The Mount Leinster transmitter is a very important site for broadcasting in Ireland. It is owned and run by a company called 2RN. At 796 meters (2,612 feet) above sea level, it is the highest broadcasting site in all of Ireland.
This site was one of the first five main television transmitters in Ireland. It started broadcasting in December 1962. It became fully active in June 1963, sending out TV signals. Radio stations started broadcasting from here in 1966. Over the years, more TV channels were added.
The original mast from 1962 was replaced in 2010 with a taller one, standing 122 meters (400 feet) high. This was done to get ready for digital television. On October 24, 2012, the old analogue TV broadcasts from Mount Leinster stopped. Today, the site provides the Irish digital television service called Saorview. It also broadcasts eight FM radio stations to a large part of Southeast Ireland.
See also
In Spanish: Monte Leinster para niños
