Galtee Mountains

The Galtees are Ireland’s highest inland mountain range. As the name suggests, the Galtymore is the highest peak within the range and stands at 3,009 feet. There are a number of corrie lakes on the Galtees, such as Lough Musky, Lough Curra, and Lough Bohreen.

Glen of Aherlow

Glen of Aherlow

Image courtesy of www.aherlow.com

Glen of Aherlow
Image courtesy of www.aherlow.com

Glen of Aherlow

Glen of Aherlow

Image courtesy of www.aherlow.com

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The main habitat types found on the Galtees include dry heath, alpine heath, and grassland with some localised areas of blanket bog on the upper slopes. Some communities of rare arctic-alpine plants are supports on the Galtees, with species such as the Small-white Orchid, Green Spleenwort, Mountain Sorrel, and Alpine Saw-wort being recorded. Sheep are reared on the uplands and lowlands of the range.

Along the outlying ridge of the Galtee Mountains lies Moanour Mountain. Part of this mountain has been protected as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) due to the presence of species-rich Nardus grassland habitat, one of the habitats listed on Annex 1 of the EU Habitats Directive.

Tucked in between the Galtee Mountains and the Slievenamuch Ridge is the Glen of Aherlow, a picturesque valley that is very popular with the enthusiastic hill walker. There are also a variety of prehistoric and early Christian sites within the valley such as St Pecaun’s Holy Well & Kyle, and St Sedna’s Well in Clonbeg Churchyard.