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Mount Brandon

Mount Brandon (Irish: Cnoc Bréanainn, meaning "Brendan's hill"), at 952 metres (3,123 feet) in elevation, is a prominent peak on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland, forming the core of the Brandon Group mountain range.^[1] It stands as the highest mountain outside the MacGillycuddy's Reeks and ranks among the ten highest peaks on the island of Ireland.^[2] The mountain's isolated position rising directly from the Atlantic coast provides expansive views across the Wild Atlantic Way, encompassing bays, islands, and the surrounding peninsula landscape.^[3] Geologically, Mount Brandon is composed primarily of Old Red Sandstone and Silurian Dingle Group beds, shaped by glacial activity during the last Ice Age, which carved corries, scree slopes, and paternoster lakes on its flanks.^[4] Part of the area is designated as the Mount Brandon Nature Reserve, protecting diverse habitats including blanket bog, heathland, and coastal grasslands that support rare flora and bird species.^[4] The ridge extends over several subsidiary peaks, such as Brandon Peak (840 m) to the east, creating a rugged massif that dominates the northern Dingle Peninsula.^[5] Historically, the mountain holds deep religious significance as a Christian pilgrimage site tied to Saint Brendan the Navigator (c. 484–577 AD), the legendary monk said to have sailed westward from its shores in search of the "Promised Land."^[6] The ancient route known as Cosán na Naomh ("Path of the Saints"), an 18 km trail from Ventry Harbour to the mountain's base at Ballybrack, follows medieval pilgrimage paths enriched with early Christian monuments like the 7th–12th century Gallarus Oratory and the Kilmalkedar church complex with its Ogham stone and holy well.^[6] These traditions overlay pre-Christian practices, possibly linked to the pagan deity Crom Dubh, blending Ireland's Celtic and monastic heritage.^[6] Today, Mount Brandon is a premier hiking destination, with the popular 9 km Pilgrim's Route from Faha Grotto ascending steeply through boulder fields and offering panoramic summit vistas, typically taking 4–6 hours for fit walkers.^[7] Its accessibility from nearby towns like Dingle and Tralee, combined with its cultural and natural allure, though the exposed terrain demands caution due to frequent mists and precipitous drops.^[8]

Physical Characteristics

Geology

Mount Brandon is primarily composed of Old Red Sandstone from the Early Devonian period, forming part of the Dingle Group within the Dingle Basin.^[9] This sedimentary rock sequence represents one of the most complete exposures of Old Red Sandstone magnafacies in Ireland, deposited in terrestrial environments south of the Iapetus Suture.^[10] The sandstone exhibits distinctive purple-red hues resulting from the oxidation of iron-rich sediments under semi-arid climatic conditions during deposition.^[10] It includes layers of siltstone, conglomerate with quartz pebbles, and fine- to coarse-grained sandstone, reflecting fluvial and lacustrine origins.^[11] Due to these continental depositional settings, the rocks are largely devoid of body fossils, though trace fossils occur locally.^[10] The mountain's formation involved sedimentation in the subsiding Dingle Basin during the Early Devonian, followed by tectonic uplift associated with Caledonian, Acadian, and Variscan orogenies.^[12] Over millions of years, differential erosion has sculpted the ridges, with resistant sandstone layers forming prominent arêtes and cliffs while softer interbedded shales erode more readily into valleys and corries. Key geological features include sedimentary strata of the Dingle Group, which record a transition from Silurian volcanic and shallow marine deposits to Devonian non-marine sediments.^[13] Fault lines, such as the Dunquin Fault, bound the basin and influenced its rapid subsidence, accommodating over 1.25 km of preserved sediments.^[10] These structures highlight the Dingle Peninsula's unique tectonic history, marked by deep crustal lineaments that controlled basin development.^[14] The geological stability of these Devonian rocks contributes to the enduring topographic prominence of Mount Brandon.^[15]

Geography and Topography

Mount Brandon is situated on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland, with its summit at coordinates 52°14′06″N 10°15′16″W.^[1] It forms the central and highest point of the Brandon Group, a north-south trending ridge that extends approximately 10 km across the peninsula, separating the eastern lowlands from the western coastal margins.^[16] This ridge stands in relative isolation from other major Irish mountain ranges, including the Macgillycuddy's Reeks to the southeast, emphasizing its prominence within the regional topography.^[17] The peak reaches an elevation of 952 m (3,123 ft), establishing it as the highest mountain outside the Macgillycuddy's Reeks and ranking it as the 8th-highest in Ireland on the Arderin list, which catalogs prominent summits over 500 m with at least 30 m of prominence.^[1]^[18] A striking feature of Mount Brandon's topography is the pronounced contrast between its western and eastern aspects. The western slopes descend gently and are covered in grassy terrain toward the Atlantic Ocean, largely unmodified by major erosional forces.^[19] In sharp contrast, the eastern face presents steep cliffs and deep corries, bowl-shaped depressions carved by glacial action during the Pleistocene ice ages, which exploited the underlying sandstone bedrock to create rugged, precipitous landforms.^[19] This asymmetry highlights the mountain's exposure to differential weathering and erosional processes across its flanks.

Name and Historical Context

Etymology

The Irish name for Mount Brandon is Cnoc Bréanainn, which translates to "Brendan's Hill" and derives directly from the 6th-century saint Bréanainn, also known as Saint Brendan the Navigator.^[20]^[21] This naming reflects the mountain's association with the saint, who is traditionally linked to monastic activity in the region. The English name Mount Brandon is an anglicization of the Irish form, with historical variations including "Brandon Mountain," as standardized on Ordnance Survey maps during the 19th-century surveys.^[22] In medieval Irish texts, such as the Beatha Bhréanainn (Life of Brendan) from the Book of Lismore, the mountain appears under the earlier name Sliabh nDaidche, Latinized as Mons Aitche in some versions, though its precise meaning remains uncertain.^[23] Linguistically, the element Bréanainn traces to Old Irish Brénainn, derived from Proto-Celtic *brigantīnos, connoting "high," "noble," or "prince," which echoes broader Celtic traditions of elevating prominent figures or landmarks.^[24] While the modern name is Christian in origin, Irish hill nomenclature frequently preserves pre-Christian elements tied to deities, natural features, or ritual sites, as seen in the mountain's potential earlier appellation Sliabh nDaidche. The Ordnance Survey efforts in the 1830s further codified the anglicized form through field name books and local inquiries, solidifying "Brandon Mountain" in official usage.^[25]

Early History and Mythology

Mount Brandon exhibits evidence of pre-Christian utilization as a sacred site, with archaeological surveys indicating human activity from the Iron Age, potentially associated with Celtic traditions of rituals on elevated landscapes. Scholarly analysis suggests these practices may have included seasonal gatherings akin to the Lughnasadh festival, honoring harvest deities through communal rites on high peaks, a pattern observed in other Irish mountainous locales.^[26]^[27] The earliest written references to the mountain appear in 9th-century medieval Irish texts, such as the Vita Sancti Brendani, where it is depicted as Sliabh nDaidche, a spiritually charged location visited by Brendan during his ascetic retreats, underscoring its role as a prominent navigational beacon for seafarers along the western coast due to its 952-meter elevation and visibility from the Atlantic.^[26] In the Viking era, the Dingle Peninsula endured repeated Norse raids from the late 8th to 10th centuries, targeting coastal monastic sites for plunder, as recorded in contemporary annals detailing assaults on Kerry's western shores.^[28]^[29] The shift to the Christian period began in the 6th century with the founding of modest monastic outposts near the mountain's base, attributed to St. Brendan around 512–530 CE, including cells at Shanakeel (Seana Cill, or "Old Church") and Ardfert, which repurposed pre-existing sacred topography for eremitic and communal worship.^[30] This adoption facilitated the mountain's naming after Brendan as part of broader Christian assimilation of pagan sites.^[26]

Religious and Cultural Significance

Pilgrimage Traditions

The pilgrimage traditions of Mount Brandon center on the ancient Cosán na Naomh, or Saints' Road, an approximately 18 km route originating at Ventry Harbour on the Dingle Peninsula and leading to the mountain's base at Ballybrack, from where pilgrims traditionally ascend to the summit. This path, which meanders through rugged coastal landscapes, ancient ecclesiastical sites, and holy wells, has served as a conduit for spiritual devotion, drawing pilgrims seeking penance, healing, and connection to Ireland's Christian heritage overlaid on pre-Christian practices.^[31] Pilgrimages peak on the last Sunday of July, known as Domhnach Chrom Dubh or the local equivalent of Reek Sunday, with additional observances on St. Brendan's feast day (May 16) and June 29.^[32] Participants follow rituals including circling holy wells such as Tobar Bréanainn at the summit, reciting prayers like the rosary's 15 decades while circumambulating the peak nine times, and depositing a pebble on a communal cairn as an act of devotion.^[32] These practices culminate in the Creed recited at the summit altar and drinking from St. Brendan's Well, symbolizing purification and renewal.^[27] The traditions trace continuity from medieval times, when Mount Brandon emerged as a major Munster pilgrimage site, adapting pagan mountain rituals to Christian veneration under St. Brendan's influence.^[33] Records from the 19th century document mass gatherings, including a revival in 1868 that drew an estimated 20,000 pilgrims for summit Mass, underscoring the site's enduring draw amid Ireland's devotional revival.^[34] In contemporary times, the pilgrimage has adapted through organized guided tours along Cosán na Naomh, often scheduled during events like Pilgrim Paths Week, fostering accessibility for diverse participants while preserving ritual elements.^[35] Annual observances continue to attract devotees, blending historical reverence with modern spiritual tourism on this sacred route.^[31]

Association with Saint Brendan

Saint Brendan the Navigator, born around 484 AD in the region of Ciarraighe Luachra near Tralee in County Kerry, Ireland, spent much of his early life in close proximity to what is now known as Mount Brandon. As one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland, he was ordained a priest in 512 AD and established several monastic communities in the Kerry area, including at Ardfert and at the foot of Mount Brandon in Shanakeel (also spelled Baalynevinoorach), where he is said to have built cells between 512 and 530 AD.^[36] These foundations reflected his role in spreading early Christianity across the Dingle Peninsula, with Mount Brandon serving as a focal point for his ascetic and missionary activities in the 6th century.^[30] The mountain's association with Brendan is immortalized in the 9th-century Latin text Navigatio Sancti Brendani Abbatis, a seminal work in the Irish immram (voyage) literary genre that recounts his legendary seven-year sea journey in search of the "Promised Land of the Saints." In the narrative, Brendan departs from a monastic base near the mountain, traditionally identified as Brandon Creek at its foot, embarking on a transatlantic odyssey involving encounters with wondrous islands, sea monsters, and divine interventions, ultimately glimpsing a paradisiacal land before returning. This legend, drawing on biblical motifs like the Exodus and classical influences, portrays Mount Brandon as a site of spiritual preparation and divine revelation, where Brendan received visions guiding his voyage.^[37] The Navigatio profoundly shaped Irish literature and art, inspiring a tradition of voyage tales such as the Immram Maele Dúin and influencing medieval European works, including adaptations in Old Norse and Anglo-Norman. In visual arts, the mountain appears in illuminated manuscripts and sculptures as a backdrop for Brendan's visions, symbolizing the intersection of earthly pilgrimage and heavenly aspiration, with depictions emphasizing its role in fostering Ireland's maritime saintly cult.^[38] This cultural legacy underscores Mount Brandon's enduring emblematic status in Celtic Christian iconography. Archaeological surveys on the mountain's slopes reveal evidence of early monastic occupation, including dry-stone clocháns (beehive huts) and oratories dating to the 7th century, consistent with Brendan's foundational era and the expansion of his cult. Sites such as those near Ballynavenooragh feature clusters of cashels and cells, interpreted as part of a network supporting ascetic communities linked to the saint's activities, with artifacts indicating continuity from the 6th to 8th centuries.^[39] These remains, preserved amid the rugged terrain, provide tangible links to the monastic traditions that elevated Mount Brandon as a sacred landmark.^[30]

Recreation and Access

Hill Walking Routes

Mount Brandon offers several well-established hill walking routes that cater to a range of abilities, providing access to its 952-meter summit and surrounding ridges while emphasizing recreational hiking over historical or spiritual paths. These routes traverse the mountain's rugged terrain, offering panoramic views of the Dingle Peninsula and the Atlantic coast.^[40] The Faha Route begins at Faha Grotto on the eastern approach near Cloghane, covering approximately 9 kilometers round trip and taking 4 to 5 hours to complete. Rated as moderate difficulty, it features a steady ascent along a scenic ridge with steep sections and an elevation gain of about 800 meters, passing through glacial corries and open moorland.^[40]^[7] The Saint's Route, accessed from the western side at Baile Breac (near Feohanagh), is an easier option spanning 7 kilometers out and back, typically completed in 3 to 4 hours. This path follows a gentler gradient with consistent waymarking, making it suitable for those seeking a less demanding climb while still achieving the summit.^[41]^[42] For experienced hikers, the full Brandon Ridge Traverse provides a strenuous challenge, lasting 6 to 7 hours and covering multiple peaks including Brandon Peak and Masatiompan. This high-level route demands good fitness due to its exposed sections and cumulative elevation changes, rewarding participants with dramatic ridge-top vistas.^[43]^[44] Trails on Mount Brandon are generally marked with stone cairns and periodic waymarkers, though the rocky, uneven paths require sturdy footwear and can become slippery in wet conditions. Hikers face significant exposure to rapidly changing weather, including high winds and fog, with elevation gains reaching up to 800 meters on principal ascents.^[45]^[40] Safety considerations include carrying navigation aids such as maps, compasses, or GPS devices, as visibility can drop suddenly; groups are recommended, and solo walkers should inform others of their plans. While no formal seasonal closures exist, routes are best attempted in summer or clear conditions to mitigate risks from ice or heavy rain.^[45]^[46]

Tourism and Visitor Information

Mount Brandon is accessible primarily from the towns of Cloghane and Dingle on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland, with the eastern approach via Faha serving as the most common starting point. Parking is available at the small Faha car park near the Faha Grotto, which accommodates approximately eight vehicles and often fills early during peak seasons. Public transport options are limited, with Bus Éireann routes 275 and 276 connecting to Dingle town, from where visitors typically arrange a taxi or car hire to reach the trailhead.^[40] On-site facilities are basic, featuring informal rest areas and scenic viewpoints along the ascent paths, though no dedicated summit shelter exists to provide protection from weather. Nearby in Brandon village and Cloghane, visitors can find accommodation options such as the Mount Brandon Hostel, offering en-suite rooms and communal spaces, alongside local B&Bs like the Mount Brandon Lodge for post-hike stays.^[47] Tourism to Mount Brandon has grown significantly, with thousands of hikers drawn annually to its trails as part of the broader Dingle Peninsula attractions, bolstered by the Wild Atlantic Way initiative that welcomed over 2.3 million overseas visitors to the region in 2024 and generated €2.37 billion in revenue. This influx supports the local economy and sustains guided tour operators offering ascents for safety and interpretation. Seasonal employment opportunities arise from these activities, enhancing community livelihoods in the area.^[48]

Ecology and Environment

Flora and Fauna

Mount Brandon's flora is characterized by a diverse array of species adapted to its upland and coastal environments, including dominant heaths such as Erica tetralix in wet heath habitats and various grasses and sedges that form the basis of blanket bog vegetation.^[49] Purple moor-grass (Molinia caerulea) is prominent in these boggy areas, contributing to the dense tussocky structure that supports pastoral grazing.^[50] Rare arctic-alpine plants thrive on the higher slopes and cliffs, including roseroot (Rhodiola rosea), alpine bistort (Persicaria vivipara), and Irish saxifrage (Saxifraga rosacea), which are indicative of the mountain's exposure to harsh, wind-swept conditions.^[52]^[4] Other notable species on sea cliffs include sea thrift (Armeria maritima), sea campion (Silene uniflora), and sea spleenwort (Asplenium marinum), forming zoned communities from splash zones to maritime grasslands. The fauna of Mount Brandon reflects its transitional alpine and coastal settings, with bird species dominating due to the cliffs and open uplands. Peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) breed on the high cliffs, preying on seabirds and leveraging the terrain for high-speed dives. Red-billed choughs (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) forage on coastal grasslands and cliffs for invertebrates, while ravens (Corvus corax) scavenge across the moors, their populations benefiting from carrion in grazed areas.^[50]^[53] Seabird colonies, influenced by the nearby Atlantic cliffs, occur in the region.^[53] Among mammals, the Irish hare (Lepus timidus hibernicus) inhabits the upland grasslands, adapting to the open terrain with its speed and seasonal camouflage.^[53] Aquatic fauna in associated oligotrophic lakes and rivers includes the freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera), though populations have declined due to habitat alterations.^[49] Ecological zones on Mount Brandon transition from lowland blanket bogs dominated by sphagnum mosses and heaths at the base, through species-rich Nardus grasslands and dry heaths on mid-slopes, to alpine and boreal heaths with exposed rocky outcrops near the summit.^[50]^[49] These zones support a gradient of biodiversity, with coastal influences evident in vegetated sea cliffs featuring pioneer lichens and flush communities. Siliceous scree and calcareous rocky slopes add to the habitat mosaic, hosting specialized flora like Killarney fern (Vandenboschia speciosa).^[49] Ongoing monitoring through the Special Area of Conservation framework highlights the need to track changes in heath and bog extents.^[49]

Conservation Efforts

Mount Brandon is designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC 000375) under the EU Habitats Directive, with the site selected as a candidate in 1997 and formally designated in 2004 to protect its diverse upland and coastal habitats.^[54] The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) oversees management of the SAC, including the state-owned Mount Brandon Nature Reserve, focusing on maintaining favorable conservation status for 11 Annex I habitats such as blanket bogs and siliceous scree.^[49] Key efforts include habitat monitoring through upland surveys and controlling over-grazing by sheep, which has been identified as a primary threat exacerbating erosion in the exposed mountainous terrain.^[55]^[4] NPWS conservation actions also emphasize preventing the introduction and spread of invasive non-native species, with objectives to maintain their absence across priority habitats like active blanket bogs to preserve ecological integrity.^[56] In 2024, NPWS commissioned detailed habitat mapping and assessments for the Mount Brandon Uplands area, covering 998 hectares, to support ongoing restoration projects amid the establishment of new national park initiatives in the region.^[57] In April 2024, Mount Brandon's uplands were incorporated into Ireland's first national park, Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí, spanning over 70,000 acres and integrating marine and terrestrial conservation.^[58] These efforts address challenges such as increased erosion from intensified rainfall patterns linked to climate change, as well as pressures from recreational tourism on fragile peatlands and trails.^[4] Local community involvement plays a vital role in sustainable management, with groups like the West Kerry Dairy Farmers Sustainable Energy Community promoting practices such as reduced-emission farming, tree planting, and biodiversity enhancement through hedgerows and conservation grazing adjacent to the SAC.^[59] These initiatives, involving over 100 farmers, help mitigate grazing impacts while supporting broader environmental goals, including carbon sequestration and habitat protection around the Dingle Peninsula's upland areas.^[59]

Notable Incidents

Aircraft Accidents

During World War II, Mount Brandon became an inadvertent site for several aircraft incidents due to its prominent location on Ireland's Dingle Peninsula, amid transatlantic and reconnaissance operations over the Atlantic Ocean. Neutral Ireland's western coast often lay in the path of fog-shrouded flights, leading to navigation challenges for both Axis and Allied aircraft. Between 1940 and 1943, at least four documented crashes occurred on or near the mountain's slopes, primarily attributed to poor visibility, adverse weather, and errors in course estimation during wartime missions. These events are recorded in Irish military reports and aviation accident databases, highlighting the perils of aerial operations in the region.^[60]^[61] The first notable incident involved a German Luftwaffe Focke-Wulf Fw 200 C-1 Condor, registration F8+KH, from I./Kampfgeschwader 40, which crashed on August 20, 1940, during a maritime reconnaissance raid over the Atlantic. Suffering from poor weather and low visibility, the aircraft struck the slopes of Faha Ridge on Mount Brandon above the Grotto along the pilgrims' path, near Cloghane village. All six crew members survived the impact and were interned in Ireland as the first German airmen detained there during the war, with one later settling in the country. The crash site's wreckage, including an engine now displayed outside a local pub, underscores the Condor's role in early U-boat patrols.^[61]^[62] In 1943, two Short Sunderland flying boat crashes further illustrated the hazards faced by Allied aircraft approaching Irish bases. On July 28, a civilian British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) Sunderland III, G-AGES, en route from Lisbon to Foynes, crashed into the lower slopes of Mount Brandon due to a navigation error exacerbated by fog and radio direction-finding issues known as "Night Effect." Of the 25 aboard (7 crew and 18 passengers), 10 were killed, including the captain, while 15 survived with injuries; the official BOAC inquiry and Irish Department of Industry and Commerce report cited pilot descent below safe altitude in cloud as the primary cause. Less than a month later, on August 22, a Royal Air Force Sunderland III, DD848, from 201 Squadron at Pembroke Dock, struck Slieveglass near Mount Brandon in darkness and low cloud during a likely U-boat search mission in the Bay of Biscay. Eight of the 11 crew perished, with the three survivors treated in Tralee; RAF investigation attributed the accident to navigational deviation below minimum safety height. No evidence of hostile or friendly fire contributed to either Sunderland incident.^[60]^[63] Additional losses included a Vickers Wellington bomber from the Polish-manned RAF 304 Squadron, which crashed on December 20, 1943, into Mount Brandon's western Faha Ridge in bad visibility, killing all six crew members. These Allied and Axis incidents, totaling 24 fatalities, were compounded by the mountain's topography, which funneled Atlantic weather patterns and obscured landmarks during instrument flights. Scattered debris from the crashes remains on the eastern and western slopes, with identifiable remnants such as engine parts and wing sections still visible to hikers as of 2025, preserved through natural exposure and local interest in wartime history. Documentation draws from Irish Army reports, RAF records, and specialized aviation archives, providing insight into neutral Ireland's role in wartime aviation safety.^[64]^[65]

Other Recorded Events

In June 2012, heavy rainfall triggered a significant landslide on the coastal cliffs of Mount Brandon in County Kerry, where a quarter-mile section collapsed into the sea at Sauce Creek, affecting uninhabited areas but prompting warnings for local fishermen.^[66] Local reports prior to the event noted smaller rockfalls and minor landslides on the slopes, highlighting the vulnerability of the mountain's steep, soft coastal geology to prolonged wet weather.^[67] During the 19th century, the Ordnance Survey of Ireland conducted detailed mapping of Mount Brandon as part of its national topographic efforts, standardizing the peak's name as "Brandon Mountain" on 25-inch scale sheets produced between the late 1800s and early 1900s, which captured its elevation and surrounding terrain for administrative and navigational purposes.^[68] In the 2020s, the mountain has served as a filming location for Irish heritage documentaries, including the 2020 production Legends of the Isles: Brendan the Navigator, which explored its historical ties to early Christian voyages, and the 2025 episode A Mystery on Mount Brandon from the Treasure Ireland series, focusing on ancient artifacts in its northern slopes.^[69]^[70] Mount Brandon experiences frequent extreme weather due to its exposed Atlantic position, with gusts exceeding 100 km/h common during winter storms; for instance, Storm Éowyn in February 2025 recorded sustained winds up to 114 mph (184 km/h) in nearby counties, contributing to broader regional impacts like coastal erosion.^[71] Climate monitoring data from Met Éireann indicates an increase in storm frequency around the Dingle Peninsula, with post-2000 records showing more intense precipitation events linked to global warming patterns, exacerbating risks such as trail instability on the mountain.^[72] Recent archaeological surveys on the Dingle Peninsula, including areas near Mount Brandon, have uncovered over 40 previously unrecorded prehistoric structures dating back to around 2500 BC, such as clocháns (beehive huts), megalithic tombs, and early field systems, underscoring the mountain's role in ancient settlement patterns.^[73] These findings, documented in 2024 excavations, build on known sites like the Arraglen Ogham stone on the northern slopes, estimated at 1,500 years old, and highlight ongoing threats from erosion and tourism.^[74]^[70]

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[35]
Upcoming Evants on the Irish Pilgrim Paths
Guided walk of the Cosán na Naomh to Mount Brandon, Co Kerry. Contact details – 087 2518174, Email: foh@udaras.ie. Facebook; Cosán na Naomh/the Saints'Path.
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The Brendan Cult: The Saint's Connections | Gallarus Oratory
Jul 28, 2025 · St. Brendan, also known as Brendan the Navigator or Brendan of Clonfert, was a 6th century Irish monk born in North Kerry, near Tralee.
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St Brendan, Abbot -AD 486-578 - Catholicireland.net
May 16, 2017 · St. Brendan is chiefly renowned for his legendary journey to the Isle of the Blessed as described in the ninth century Voyage of St Brendan the Navigator.
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(PDF) The Saints of Kerry in the Early Middle Ages - Academia.edu
There are two modern editions of the text. These are Carl Selmer (ed.), Navigatio sancti Brendani abbatis from early Latin manuscripts (Notre Dame, 1959) and ...
[39]
Ballynavenooragh | Heritage Ireland
... Mount Brandon, approximately 10 kilometres north of Dingle town. There is a cluster of forty cashels, two dozen clocháns and two cilliní (ancient graveyards ...
[40]
Mount Brandon Hike Guide (Trail, Parking, How Hard + Length)
Jul 9, 2025 · In this guide, you'll find a route to the 952-metre-high summit of Mount Brandon, with an overview of the trail from the Faha Grotto side.Missing: significance | Show results with:significance
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Mount Brandon - Morrison Tours
Location: Part of the Slieve Mish Mountains, on the western side of the Dingle Peninsula. Summit Views: Panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, Dingle Bay ...
[42]
Mount Brandon Trail - HiiKER
Oct 22, 2021 · The summit of Mount Brandon is around 800m (2625 feet) higher than the start. Due to its proximity to the Atlantic, high winds and low cloud are ...Missing: significance | Show results with:significance
[43]
Mount Brandon Hike Guide: Routes, Tips & Weather - The Irish Insider
Jul 21, 2025 · Explore Mount Brandon's best hiking routes with local tips, weather essentials, safety info, and the full guide to one of Kerry's most ...
[44]
Más an Tiompáin-Piaras Mór-Brandon-Brandon Peak Ridge Walk
Follow the normal route to Cloghane village. Keep going through the village in the direction of Brandon village. About a mile out of Cloghane, the road will ...
[45]
Mount Brandon from Faha, County Kerry, Ireland - 532 Reviews, Map
Rating 4.7 (532) Cnoc Bréanainn (Mount Brandon), located on the Dingle Peninsula, is the ninth-highest peak in Ireland, offering absolutely spectacular views from its summit.<|separator|>
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Brandon Mountain via the Saints' Route from the West
This is the quickest and easiest ascent of Brandon Mountain with a good and obvious path which is waymarked all of the way. You would have to be an aegid and a ...Missing: hiking | Show results with:hiking
[47]
Minister Calleary announces further investment in Ireland's walking ...
May 16, 2025 · Last updated on: 16 May 2025. 22 new trails, across 10 different ... Update signage at each of the historical monuments on the trails.
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Mount Brandon Hostel: Home - Accomodation Dingle Peninsula ...
The Mount Brandon Hostel is a custom-built hostel with beautiful single, double, twin and family rooms, all with private bathrooms.
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Wild Atlantic Way generated €2.4bn last year - Irish Examiner
Aug 15, 2025 · On a brand region level, the Wild Atlantic Way was the most popular, welcoming over 2.3m overseas tourists and generating €2.37bn in revenue.Missing: Mount Brandon
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Mount Brandon SAC | National Parks & Wildlife Service
Scoping study and pilot survey for a national survey and conservation assessment of upland habitats and vegetation in Ireland ... Mount Brandon SAC, Upland Survey ...
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Mount Brandon Nature Reserve - National Parks & Wildlife Service
A variety of grasses, sedges and heathers grow here and these have been used for centuries as pasture for cattle and sheep. In recent years cattle numbers have ...
[52]
https://epawebapp.epa.ie/licences/lic_eDMS/090151b2807db819.pdf
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[PDF] APPENDIX 4 - Environmental Protection Agency
Mount Brandon is one of the most southern locations in Britain and Ireland for Alpine Bistort, a species which is protected under the Flora (Protection) Order, ...
[54]
[PDF] Watch your footing - Mountaineering Ireland
Dec 12, 2019 · Enjoy the mountains responsibly this summer! . Irish saxifrage on Mt Brandon. Irish saxifrage growing beside the path on the Eisc, Mt Brandon.
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Flora and Fauna - The Dingle Peninsula
The Dingle Peninsula is home to terrestrial mammals such as the otter (Lutra lutra) and badger (Meles meles). Fox, Irish mountain hare and Irish stoat are also ...
[56]
Site factsheet for Mount Brandon SAC - EUNIS
Natura 2000 site (code IE0000375); Under Habitats Directive; Since Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 CEST 1997; Country: Ireland; Administrative region: Southern and ...
[57]
https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/npws-to-commission-habitat-assessments-in-new-national-park/
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None
Summary of each segment:
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NPWS to commission habitat assessments in new national park
Nov 4, 2024 · The Mount Brandon Uplands covers 998ha on the north side of the Dingle Peninsula and includes the Mount Brandon Nature Reserve where there ...
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How the Dingle Peninsula is modelling a new way for rural Ireland to ...
Jul 8, 2025 · Kerry community is embracing innovation with mix of local energy projects, nature-positive farming and sustainable tourism.
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Shorts Sunderland G-AGES, Dingle, Co. Kerry
Summary of each segment:
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Accident Focke-Wulf Fw200 C-1 F8+KH, Tuesday 20 August 1940
Aircraft Crashed in poor weather on the slope above the Grotto on the pilgrims path on Mount Brandon. They were the first aircrew to be interned during the ...
[63]
World War II Plane Crash Site in Kerry - Castlegregory.ie
It crashed into the lower slopes of Mount Brandon. Eight of the crew of eleven were killed. A plaque commemorating those killed is in O'Connor's Bar and Guest ...
[64]
Short Sunderland DD848, Mount Brandon, Kerry, August 1943
A British Sunderland Flying Boat (Shortt Type) of the R.A.F. crashed at Mount Brandon (0337-1143) at 05:45 hrs on the 22/8/'43. There was a crew of 11 (eleven) ...
[65]
Brandon Air Crashes - EastWest Mapping
Nov 7, 2022 · There are four known air crashes on Brandon Mountain in Kerry that date to World War 2. The best known of these are the engine remains of a Luftwaffe Condor.
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Vickers Wellington HF208 crash at Mount Brandon, Co. Kerry, Ireland
On 20th December 1943, a Vickers Wellington came down on Mount Brandon in Co. Kerry, Ireland killing all six Polish crew members from RAF 304 Squadron.
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Section of coastal cliff slips into the sea after heavy rain
Jun 18, 2012 · A large section of the coastal cliff of Mount Brandon in Co Kerry has fallen into the sea. The landslide, at uninhabited Sauce Creek (“An ...Missing: 2018 | Show results with:2018
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Quarter-mile section of Mt Brandon falls into sea - Irish Examiner
Jun 18, 2012 · In recent weeks, locals who climbed Mt Brandon said they had noticed rock falls and small landslides. The area is fished by lobster boatmen but ...
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Brandon OS 25 Inch - EastWest Mapping
Sep 29, 2022 · This extraordinary piece of cartography comes from the Ordnance Survey 25 Inch or 1:2500 scale series compiled in the late 19 th & early 20 th century.
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Legends of The Isles: Brendan The Navigator (Documentary)
Jan 1, 2020 · Jan 1, 2020󰞋󱟠. 󰟝. Legends of The Isles: Brendan The Navigator ... While meditating in a chapel at the peak of what is now Mount Brandon ...
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A Mystery on Mount Brandon | Treasure Ireland - YouTube
Jun 27, 2025 · On the northern slopes of Kerry's Mount Brandon the Arraglen ogham stone stands proudly, 1500 years after it was erected.Missing: name evolution texts Ordnance Survey
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Storm Éowyn: Record breaking winds in the Republic of Ireland - BBC
Feb 6, 2025 · Met Éireann said the highest gust was 114mph (184km/h) in County Galway and County Donegal, with sustained 10 minute average speeds maxing out ...<|separator|>
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[PDF] Extreme Weather, Climate and Natural Disasters in Ireland
The IDF analysis of the Valentia observations shows that storm events (of 12-hour duration or longer) with a 10- year return period in the post-1975 record are ...
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Appeal to place newly discovered prehistoric remains at Kerry ...
Jun 29, 2024 · The recent discovery of more than 40 prehistoric structures on Kerry's Dingle peninsula has prompted an archaeologist to call for a new survey of the entire ...
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Dingle peninsula prehistoric discoveries 'under pressure' from tourism
Jul 4, 2024 · The new discoveries include a hidden causeway to a crannóg, megalithic tombs, clocháns, and early field systems. He says the monastic enclosure ...