Shehy Mountains facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shehy Mountains
Shehy Mountains as seen from Gougane Barra
Highest point
Peak	Knockboy
Elevation	706 m (2,316 ft)
Naming
Native name	Error {{native name}}: an IETF language tag as parameter {{{1}}} is required (help)
Geography
Country	Ireland
Range coordinates	51°52′0″N 9°26′34″W / 51.86667°N 9.44278°W / 51.86667; -9.44278
Geology
Age of rock	Devonian
Type of rock	Old Red Sandstone

The Shehy Mountains are a beautiful range of low mountains in Ireland. You can find them right on the border between County Cork and County Kerry. In the Irish language, they are called Cnoic na Seithe, which means "Hills of the animal hides."

Discover the Shehy Mountains: Location and Landscape

The Shehy Mountains are not super tall, but they are very important to the area. They stretch across parts of two counties in the southwest of Ireland.

What are the Shehy Mountains Like?

The highest point in the Shehy Mountains is a peak called Knockboy. It stands tall at 706 metres (about 2,316 feet). This makes it the tallest mountain in County Cork. Most of the other mountains in the range are a bit shorter, usually between 500 and 600 metres high.

The famous River Lee starts its journey right here in the Shehy Mountains. It begins in a small valley called Coomroe, on the eastern side of the range. From there, the river flows east until it reaches Cork Harbour and then the sea.

How Were the Mountains Formed?

The rocks that make up the Shehy Mountains are mostly a type called Old Red Sandstone. These rocks were formed a very, very long time ago during a period called the Devonian period. This was millions of years before dinosaurs even existed!

The mountains got their current shape during the Ice Age. Huge sheets of ice, called glaciers, moved across the land. These glaciers were like giant carving tools. They dug out many deep valleys in the area. They also wore down the mountains to their current height. When the ice melted and moved away, it left behind hundreds of sparkling lakes. You can still see these lakes in the valleys and even on top of the mountains today.

Plants and Animals of the Shehy Mountains

The Shehy Mountains are home to many interesting plants and animals. The landscape is mostly covered in peat bogs and rough grasslands. You might also see some small areas of conifer trees that have been planted.

What Plants Grow Here?

Many special plants thrive in the wet and boggy conditions of the Shehy Mountains. You can find plants like butterworts, which are sticky and catch insects. There are also sundews, which are also insect-eating plants. Other common plants include heather, which makes the hills purple in summer, and bilberry bushes.

What Animals Live Here?

Most of the animals you'll find in the Shehy Mountains are also common in the lower lands of Ireland. However, some animals are seen more often in these mountains.

• Mammals:
  • Irish hare: These fast animals are a type of rabbit that lives in the mountains.
  • Sheep: You'll see many sheep grazing on the hillsides.

• Birds:
  • European stonechat: A small bird often seen perched on bushes.
  • Raven: These large, smart black birds are common in the mountains.

A Look at Shehy Mountains History

People have lived in the Shehy Mountains area for a very long time. We know this because there are signs of human life going back at least 5,000 years!

Ancient History and Monuments

You can find many ancient sites in the valleys and foothills of the Shehy Mountains. These include Neolithic megalithic monuments, which are huge stone structures built by early people. There are also ringforts, which were old circular settlements, and fulachta fia, which were ancient cooking sites.

One of the most famous historical spots is Gougane Barra. This beautiful place in the Coomroe valley was where Saint Finbarr started a quiet place for prayer in the 6th century.

Modern History and Conflicts

More recently, the Shehy Mountains played a role in Irish history. During the Irish War of Independence, the mountains were a strong base for the IRA. They continued to be important for the anti-treaty forces during the Irish Civil War that followed.

Highest Peaks of the Shehy Mountains

Here are the five highest major mountain peaks in the Shehy Mountains. All of these peaks are at least 625 metres (about 2,050 feet) high. After these top five, the other peaks in the Shehy Mountains are generally between 450 and 600 metres high.

Images for kids

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