Slieve Felim Mountains facts for kids
The Slieve Felim Mountains (Irish: Sliabh Eibhlinne) are a group of hills in Munster, Ireland. They are found in parts of County Limerick and County Tipperary.
Long ago, the name "Slieve Felim" covered a much bigger area. This included the mountains between Murroe, Silvermines, Borrisoleigh, and Dundrum. It even included the Silvermine Mountains. But today, the name usually means only the southwestern part. This part includes peaks like Slieve Felim (427 metres (1,401 ft)), Cullaun (460 metres (1,510 ft)), Knockastanna (444 metres (1,457 ft)), and Gortnageragh (418 metres (1,371 ft)).
What's in a Name?
The name Sliabh Eibhlinne means "mountains of Ébliu." Ébliu was an ancient goddess. In an old Irish book called Lebor Gabála Érenn (which means "The Book of the Taking of Ireland"), the first people to arrive in Ireland, called the Milesians, met a goddess named Fódla on these mountains. She asked them to name the island after her. Because of this, "Fódla" became a poetic name for Ireland.
Later, the name Eibhlinne got confused with a more common boy's name, Féilim. That's how the mountains became known in English as Slieve Felim.
The Slieve Felim Way
The Slieve Felim Way is a special walking path that goes through these mountains. It is a long-distance trail, which means it's quite long! The path is 43 kilometres (27 miles) long. It starts in Murroe, County Limerick, and finishes in Silvermines, County Tipperary.
This trail is officially recognized as a National Waymarked Trail. This means it's a well-known and cared-for route for walkers. The National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council helps to make sure it's a good path. It is managed by Shannon Development and Coillte, which are organizations that look after land and development in Ireland.
The Slieve Felim Way starts in the village of Murroe. It follows a road past Glenstal Abbey, which is a famous monastery. Then, it goes through forests along the slopes of the Slieve Felim Mountains until it reaches the village of Toor. From Toor, the path crosses the side of Keeper Hill, which is in the Silvermine Mountains. Finally, it follows a road into Silvermines village.
