Muckish facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Muckish
Mucais / an Mhucais
Highest point
Elevation	667.1 m (2,189 ft)
Prominence	522 m (1,713 ft)
Listing	Marilyn, Hewitt
Geography
Muckish Location in Ireland
Location	County Donegal, Republic of Ireland
Parent range	Derryveagh Mountains
OSI/OSNI grid	C004287
Topo map	OSi Discovery 2

Muckish (which means "the pig's back" in Irish) is a special flat-topped mountain in the Derryveagh Mountains of County Donegal, Ireland. It stands at about 667 meters (2,188 feet) tall. This makes it the third-highest peak in the Derryveagh Mountains. It is also the 163rd highest mountain in all of Ireland.

Muckish is known as the most northern mountain in a group called the "Seven Sisters". Local people gave this name to the chain of mountains. The Seven Sisters include Muckish, Crocknalaragagh, Aghla Beg, Ardloughnabrackbaddy, Aghla More, Mackoght, and Errigal.

About Muckish Mountain

What Makes Muckish Special?

Muckish is famous for its flat top, which looks a bit like a pig's back, giving it its name. It is a very noticeable landmark in County Donegal. The mountain is part of the Derryveagh Mountains range.

The Seven Sisters Mountains

Muckish is part of a beautiful mountain chain known as the "Seven Sisters". This group of mountains stands tall in County Donegal. Muckish is the most northern mountain in this chain. It is also the second highest among them.

Exploring Muckish

Mining for Quartz Sand

Long ago, a special type of sand called high-grade quartz sand was dug up from the sides of Muckish. You can still see the remains of the old quarry (the place where they dug) on the northern side of the mountain. This sand was very important. It was sent to other places and mainly used to make optical glass, which is used in things like telescopes and cameras.

Paths to the Top

There are different ways to climb to the top of Muckish.

• The Miner's Path: This path starts on the northern side of the mountain. Part of it follows the route that workers used to take to reach the sand quarry.
• The Muckish Gap Route: A different way to reach the summit begins from the Muckish Gap. This is on the southern side of the mountain. Many people find this route easier to climb.

What You Find at the Summit

At the very top of Muckish, there is a large pile of stones called a cairn. This cairn was built by people a very long time ago, during the Bronze Age. It is a type of ancient burial site. You can see this cairn from far away, even from the sea.

In the year 2000, a big metal cross was placed on the summit. It replaced an older wooden cross that had been broken in a storm. The new cross is closer to the northern end of the mountain.

Nearby Villages and History

Several villages are close to Muckish Mountain. These include Falcarragh, Moyra, Dunfanaghy, and Creeslough.

Near Falcarragh, there is a place called Mám na Mucaise, which means "gap of Muckish". In this gap, you will find Droichead na nDeor, or the "bridge of tears". This bridge has a sad history. Many thousands of people from the area said goodbye to their families here before leaving Ireland to find new lives.

A famous poet named Percy French visited this area in the early 1900s. While staying in Falcarragh Hotel, he wrote a poem called "An Irish Mother".

In 2012, a 40-minute movie about Muckish was released. It was called "Glass Mountain: The Story of Muckish Sand".

Gallery

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  Muckish from Roshin, near Croaghaderry

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  Muckish from Horn Head

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  Muckish from Lough Naboll