Slieve Foy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Slieve Foy |
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| Sliabh Feá | |
Slieve Foy from the northwest
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 589 m (1,932 ft) |
| Prominence | 494 m (1,621 ft) |
| Listing | County Top (Louth), Marilyn |
| Geography | |
 Slieve Foy
Location in island of Ireland
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| Location | County Louth, Ireland |
| Parent range | Cooley Mountains |
| OSI/OSNI grid | J168119 |
| Topo map | OSi Discovery 36 |
Slieve Foy, also known as Slieve Foye, is a tall mountain in County Louth, Ireland. Its Irish name is Sliabh Feá. It stands on the Cooley Peninsula.
At 589 meters (1,932 feet) high, it's the tallest mountain in the Cooley Mountains. It's also the highest point in all of County Louth. Slieve Foy looks over Carlingford Lough and the village of Carlingford. Because of this, some people call it Carlingford Mountain.
Contents
What Makes Slieve Foy Unique?
Slieve Foy is one of two main ridges that form the Cooley Mountains. The Windy Gap separates it from the rest of the mountain range.
This mountain is long and stretches from the northwest to the southeast. It includes several smaller peaks. These include places known as The Foxes Rock, The Ravens Rock, The Eagles Rock, and Barnavave.
The Meaning Behind the Name
The name Sliabh Feá means "mountain of the woods" in Irish. However, local people often understand the name differently. They think it means Sliabh Fathaigh, which translates to "mountain of the giant". This is because the shape of the mountain looks like a sleeping giant.
Giants and Legends
Local stories tell of a giant named Finn. He is said to have stood on Slieve Foy. Finn, who represented summer, fought his rival Ruscaire, who represented winter. The legend says Finn won by throwing a huge boulder across the lough at Ruscaire. This boulder became the Cloughmore (The Big Stone) on Slieve Martin.
The mountain also appears in an old Irish tale called the Táin Bó Cúailnge. This story is about a cattle raid in Cooley. It is said that the army of Queen Medb (Maeve) dug a path through the mountain. This path became known as Barnavave, which means "Maeve's gap" (Bearna Mhéabha).
Protecting the Little People
In 1989, a local businessman started tourist activities related to leprechauns in the area. These activities included a "leprechaun hunt" where people looked for hidden ceramic figures.
In 2009, with support from local leaders, Slieve Foy was officially declared a special protected area. It became a "Designated Area of Protection for Flora, Fauna, Wild Animals and Little People". This was done under the EU Habitats Directive.
See also
In Spanish: Sliabh Feá para niños
