Overview
Slievenamuck rises on the north side of the Glen of Aherlow in County Tipperary, a 369 m (1,211 ft) spine of Old Red Sandstone running east to west. It looks south towards the Galtees, and while it never competes with the Galtee peaks across the valley, that is rather the appeal: gentler climbs and long views over the glen. Its Irish name, Sliabh Muic, means “mountain of the pig”, a nod to the swine that once rooted through the glen below.
Geology and landscape
The ridge is built from the Slievenamuck Conglomerate Formation, a hard, purple-red rock that shrugs off erosion and gives the hill its colour, most vivid in the hour after rain. The stone was worked in its day: the local sandstone was quarried for flags, the flat paving slabs that once floored yards and kitchens across the district. The older name for the range, Sliabh gCrot, “the hump mountains”, describes the rounded, undulating skyline. From the grassy summit ridge the ground falls away east to the Galtees and south to the River Aherlow threading the valley floor.
History and folklore
The pig in the name points to a wild, pastoral past, when swine ran loose in the Glen of Aherlow. The wider Galtee range turns up often in early Irish story. One enduring tale has Saint Patrick banishing a serpent that had been savaging livestock and pinning it beneath a corrie lake, from which it surfaces every Easter Monday to ask, “Is it the Monday morning yet, Patrick?” Told it is not, it sinks back for another year. The story is usually attached to Lough Dihneen, though local versions spread it across the valley’s glacial lakes.
The ridge also holds archaeological remains, including a prehistoric passage tomb. Leave archaeological remains and adjoining farmland undisturbed.
Walking routes
Use the marked woodland trails for a walk above the valley. The Millennium Stone Loop is 9.3 km. Use the official route map and follow the waymarks through woodland and open ground. The Discover Ireland guide to the Glen of Aherlow looped walks describes the other waymarked walks, so choose your route from the official trail maps.
Key stops along the trails
- Millennium Stone – a large boulder carved by a local artist with scenes from the life of Christ, set on a rise beside the ridge, and a natural rest and photo stop on its loop.
- Christ the King Statue – erected in 1950, this figure watches the valley over the glen.
- Summit ridge – a grassy high point with a wide sweep over the glen. The ridge is exposed in a wind, so keep to the marked path near the top.
Practical information
- Admission: Slievenamuck is open for walking with no admission fee.
- Dogs: keep dogs on leads and follow any forestry notices.
- Navigation: follow the waymarks and the official route map, and carry a paper map or GPS in poor weather.
- Safety: the ridge is exposed in high winds and slick after rain. Watch children near the summit and the ridge edges.
Nearby attractions
- Arra Hills – a run of low, rounded hills with gentle walks and long views over the River Shannon.
- Devil’s Bit – a limestone peak with its notched “bit” and a good trail network, a short drive south.
- Duntryleague – a Neolithic passage tomb of about 3500–3000 BC, just over the border in County Limerick.