Overview
The Galtee Mountains (Sléibhte na gCoillte – “mountains of the forests”) rise between County Limerick and County Tipperary. The high point is Galtymore (Cnoc Mór na nGaibhlte – “big hill of the Galtees”) at 917.9 m. From the broad summit plateau known as Dawson’s Table, a clear day gives views over the Glen of Aherlow, the Knockmealdowns, and west to the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks and Carrauntoohil.
This isn’t a gentle range. The southern slopes roll up in grass and heather, but the northern face drops into steep cliffs and corries, and the plateau is featureless enough to be genuinely dangerous in mist. Bring a map and compass and mean it.
Walking Routes & Trails
Limerick’s walking guide describes the Galtymore ascent as difficult and unmarked in places. Confirm access for your intended approach, check the forecast and take a map and compass. Stay back from the corrie edges and turn back if cloud makes the ridge hard to navigate. Leave dogs at home on routes that cross land with livestock.
For a marked walk below the peaks, use Coillte’s Gortavoher forest guide. Follow the designated trailhead and check for current forestry notices. The Discover Ireland page for the Galtees gives more context on the range and the Glen of Aherlow.
History & Folklore
Early maps, including the 1654–56 Down Survey, record Galtymore as a boundary marker for the barony of Clanwilliam. The range was historically known as Sliabh gCrot (the “hump mountains”) and later Crotta Cliach, named after the ancient territory of Cliú. Local mythology ties the peaks to the legendary harper Cliach, who supposedly played his harps to woo an otherworldly woman, causing a hill to burst open and form a lake.
Irish folklore heavily features the range’s glacial lakes. According to legend, St Patrick banished a serpent that was preying on local livestock, chaining it beneath Lough Muskry (also called Loch Béal Dracon – “lake of the dragon’s mouth”). The serpent is said to surface each Easter Monday asking, “Is it the Monday morning yet, Patrick?” before being sent back down. A similar tale surrounds Lough Dihneen, where a 19th-century landlord reportedly tried to drain the lake to kill the beast. These stories reflect the deep cultural roots of the area, where ancient myth and later Christian tradition blend seamlessly.
Lakes & Landscape
The Galtees are built from Devonian Old Red Sandstone with bands of older Silurian shale, and glacial erosion during the last Ice Age did the rest: the summit ridge stood clear of the ice as a nunatak, while the corries on the north side were gouged out and left holding moraines. Those hollows now hold several lakes, including Lough Curra, Lough Dihneen, Lough Muskry, and Lough Bohreen. Stay on established paths and well back from the cliff edges near the lakes.
Other named hills along the ridge include Galtybeg, Cush, Slievecushnabinnia, Carrignabinnia and Lyracappul. A long dry-stone wall, built to separate neighbouring estates, runs along part of the ridge from below the west summit of Galtymore, though you should not rely on it for navigation in poor visibility.
Getting There & Facilities
There are no facilities on the high ground. Use designated trailheads, forest car parks and signed public routes, and check current forestry notices before you set out. Public transport and parking arrangements for individual hill approaches were not confirmed in our checks, so plan your arrival and return in advance rather than relying on a roadside stop.
The summit cross and memorial
The summit plateau carries a white iron cross, erected in 1975 by local man Ted Kavanagh to replace a decaying wooden one from 1954. Nearby, a stone memorial shaped like an aircraft tailfin remembers four airmen from the Abbeyshrule Aero Club who died in a 1976 crash. The tragedy led to the founding of the South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association (SEMRA), which covers the range.
Practical Tips for Walkers
- Weather: conditions change rapidly. Summer afternoons can bring fog or rain, while winter can bring ice and snow to the upper ridges. Always check forecasts and carry waterproof layers.
- Navigation: carry a map, compass and fully charged phone. Mobile reception can be patchy on the hills.
- Safety: sharp drops and cliffs line the northern face. In winter, mountaineering boots, crampons and an ice axe are essential.
- Access and parking: individual hill approaches and parking were not confirmed in our checks, so use designated trailheads and car parks only, and do not park across gateways or block farm access.
- Dogs: keep them at home on routes across livestock land, and under close control elsewhere.
Nearby Attractions
- Glen of Aherlow: the valley below the northern slopes, with signed forest walks.
- Mitchelstown Caves: limestone caverns and a historic Georgian town just south of the range.
- Rock of Cashel: a medieval ecclesiastical site in County Tipperary.
- Ballyhoura Country: a neighbouring upland known for waymarked trails and mountain biking (Ballyhoura Country).
- Ardpatrick: a local hill with ancient ring forts (Ardpatrick).
Plan your ascent early in the day to allow plenty of time for descent, and always let someone know your intended route before heading onto the ridge. Preparation remains the walker’s best tool on the Galtees.