Mount Errigal

Errigal
An Earagail
A view of Errigal from Gweedore.
Highest point
Elevation	751 m (2,464 ft) [1][2]
Prominence	688 m (2,257 ft) [1]
Listing	Marilyn, Hewitt
Coordinates	55°01′59″N 8°06′43″W / 55.033°N 8.112°WCoordinates: 55°01′59″N 8°06′43″W / 55.033°N 8.112°W
Naming
Translation	oratory (Irish)
Geography
Errigal County Donegal, Ireland
Parent range	Derryveagh Mountains
OSI/OSNI grid	B928207
Topo map	OSi Discovery 1

Errigal^[3] (Irish: An Earagail, possibly meaning "oratory")^[1] is a 751-metre (2,464 ft) mountain near Gweedore in County Donegal, Ireland.^[1] It is the tallest peak of the Derryveagh Mountains, the tallest peak in County Donegal, and the 76th tallest peak in Ireland.^[1] Errigal is also the most southern, steepest and highest of the mountain chain, called the "Seven Sisters" by locals. The Seven Sisters includes Muckish, Crocknalaragagh, Aghla Beg, Ardloughnabrackbaddy, Aghla More, Mackoght and Errigal. The nearest peak is Mackoght, which is also known as Little Errigal or Wee Errigal (Irish: an Earagail Bheag).

Errigal is well known for the pinkish glow of its quartzite in the setting sun.^[1] Another noted quality is the ever-changing shape of the mountain depending on what direction you view it from. Errigal was voted 'Ireland's Most Iconic Mountain' by Walking & Hiking Ireland in 2009.^[4]

Climbing Errigal

The mountain is most often climbed from the carpark off the R251 road. The route initially starts off by crossing heavily eroded and boggy land towards a visible track through the shiny scree from where the ascent proper starts. After reaching the summit, people usually walk the short but exposed walk along ‘One Man’s Pass’ which leads across to the second and lower of the twin summits. No special equipment is needed to climb the mountain, but caution is advised.

In popular culture

• In the 2008 film Hunger, the main protagonist Bobby Sands describes Errigal as a "beautiful sight".
• Images of a misty Errigal were used in the music video for In A Lifetime by Clannad and Bono in 1985.^[5] It has also appeared in numerous music videos by local singer Enya, most notably in the video for "How Can I Keep From Singing?".
• Several scenes from the 2011 movie Your Highness were shot on Errigal.^[6]
• The Goats Don't Shave song "Las Vegas (In the Hills of Donegal)" contains the line, "To stand on top of Errigal, would give me such a thrill".
• The Irish composer Vincent Kennedy set the mountain to music in 2012 as part of his music for The Happy Prince in a piece entitled "Snowfall on Errigal"

Panoramic view of Errigal's summit.

Gallery

• 
  The view from Errigal.
• 
  Errigal as seen from Slieve Snaght.
• 
  Ascending Mount Errigal.
• 
  Errigal as seen from The Rosses.
• 
  An aerial view of Errigal and Gweedore.
• 
  Derelict church at the foot of Errigal.
• 
  Errigal as seen from Cloughaneely.

See also

• List of Irish counties by highest point

References

1. MountainViews
2. Peakbagger
3. Ordnance Survey Ireland — the name is 'Errigal', omitting the word 'Mount'.
4. http://www.walkingandhikingireland.com/?p=3
5. http://www.clannad.net/concertoverview.htm
6. http://homepage.eircom.net/~weebinnians2/webpages/Newsletters/Newsletter%2020090913_FestivalEdition.htm

External links

• Walking Ireland’s Iconic Mountains – Number 1: Errigal from Walking & Hiking in Ireland

Media related to Errigal at Wikimedia Commons