This web site has been created to show off one of my favourite places in the world, the Mourne Mountains.
I have travelled quite a bit in my life but the jewels that are the mournes have
always been on my doorstep yet I never noticed them until I was in my 30's.
Through this web site I also want to bring some more meaning to the names of each mountain. A lot of this has been researched in the Place Names of Northern Ireland but I want the names to come alive, to mean something. In order to do this we first have to understand the name of the mountain in the gaelic language. Our ancestors named things based on what they saw or experienced & not on some marketing bullshit that we have become so used to.
Each page has a back drop of the actual mountain or a view taken from that mountain.
Where there are more photos of a mountain the View photos button will appear, just click to view the photos & to read more click the Read more link.
Each mountain has suggested hiking/walk start points. This uses google maps technology & this is only a reference to help you get started.
Always when hiking ensure you know what you are doing. Have an compass & ordinance survey map of the area you are to hike. It would also be useful to know how to use these.
Failing that tag along with experienced hikers. Check the hiking clubs link below for hiking/walking clubs. I'm sure they would be delighted to have you along on their walks.
To return to the home page click on the EXPLORE the Mournes link on the left of the bottom menu bar.
The website is still a work in progress so please check back regularly
This photo was taken by Des Mc Conville in February 2009. The mountains in the background are Doan, Slieve Lamagan to the left & Slieve Binnian to the right.
The biggest inspiration is the mountains themselves. From the first time I hiked in the mournes I was hooked. I really enjoy bringing the initial wow experience I had to friends when they first go hiking.
The photos are not professional but have been taken by myself & others have taken during ours hikes.
Using the whole browser/computer screen is a great way to show case these photos & the idea to do this really came from www.ringvemedia.com. Some might say it is almost a complete rip off. You probably aren't to wrong.
The names of the mountains in the Gaelic language & their meanings. As our society grows further & further from the land we live in the names our ancestors had for places get lost. This is an attempt to highlight this to people & in some way preserve that.
There has been a lot of work done by the Míchél B. Ó Mainnín in the Place-Names of Northern Ireland, Volume three, County Down III, The Mournes which I have used or been guided by.