Slievenamon
 | This mountains of Tipperary article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2014) |
| Slievenamon | |
|---|---|
| Sliabh na mBan | |
 Slievenamon viewed from the northeast | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 721 m (2,365 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 711 m (2,333 ft)[1] |
| Listing | Marilyn, Hewitt |
| Coordinates | 52°25′48″N 7°33′47″W / 52.430°N 7.563°W |
| Naming | |
| English translation | mountain of the women |
| Language of name | Irish |
| Geography | |
  Slievenamon Location in Ireland | |
| Location | County Tipperary, Ireland |
| OSI/OSNI grid | S297307 |
| Topo map | OSi Discovery 67 |
Slievenamon or Slievenaman (Template:Lang-ga, [ˈʃlʲiəw n̪ˠə ˈmˠanˠ], "mountain of the women")[1] is a mountain with a height of 721 metres (2,365 ft) in County Tipperary, Ireland. It rises from a plain that includes the towns of Fethard, Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir. The mountain is steeped in folklore and is strongly associated with Fionn mac Cumhaill. On its summit are the remains of ancient burial cairns, which were seen as portals to the Otherworld. Much of its lower slopes are wooded, and formerly most of the mountain was covered in native woodland.[2] A low hill attached to Slievenamon, Carrigmaclear was the site of a battle during the Irish Rebellion of 1798.
Archaeology
There are at least four prehistoric monuments on Slievenamon. On the summit is an ancient burial cairn, with a natural rocky outcrop on its east side forming the appearance of a doorway. The remains of a cursus or ceremonial avenue leads up to the cairn from the east. On the mountain's northeastern shoulder, Sheegouna, is another burial cairn and a ruined megalithic tomb.[3]
Etymology
The origin of the mountain's name is explained in Irish mythology. According to the tale, Fionn mac Cumhaill was sought after by many young women, but he said that he could have only one partner. His partner would be whichever woman won a footrace to the top of the mountain. Fionn stood on the cairn atop the mountain and gave a signal to start the race. The winner was Gráinne.[4] A more prosaic local explanation of the origin is that from a distance and the right angle (as can be seen in the accompanying photograph) the hill resembles a woman lying on her back. It is sometimes known as the "Hill of the Pap" or just "Pap Hill" to residents of South Kilkenny.
Cultural references
The song Slievenamon, written in the mid 19th century by revolutionary and poet Charles Kickham, is a well-known patriotic and romantic song about an exile who longs to see "our flag unrolled and my true love to unfold / in the valley near Slievenamon". It is regarded as the unofficial "county anthem" of Co. Tipperary, regularly sung by crowds at sporting events.[5]
The mountain appears in the fairytale The Horned Woman as found in Celtic Fairy Tales (1892, by Joseph Jacobs), where it is the abode of a witches' coven. It is also mentioned in the books The Hidden Side of Things (1913) and The Lives of Alcyone (1924, with Annie Besant) written by the theosophist clairvoyant Charles Webster Leadbeater.[citation needed]
Upon creation of the Irish Free State, the name Slievenamon was unofficially given to one of the 13 armoured Rolls Royce motor cars which were handed over to the new Free State army by the outgoing administration. Slievenamon was escorting the army's commander-in-chief, Michael Collins, when he was ambushed and killed near Béal na Bláth.[6] The car, since renamed to the Irish Sliabh na mBan, has been preserved by the Irish Defence Forces.
See also
References
- ^ a b c Slievenamon at MountainViews
- ^ Hendroff, Adrian. From High Places: A Journey Through Ireland's Great Mountains. The History Press Ireland, 2010. p.142
- ^ Historic Environment Viewer. National Monuments Service.
- ^ Monaghan, Patricia. The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore. Infobase Publishing, 2004. p.192
- ^ "The Story of Slievenamon". Tipperary Star. 2008-11-03.
- ^ "Kenny first sitting Taoiseach to address Béal na mBláth". The Irish Times. 2012-08-07.
