Mourne Mountains

The Mourne Mountains (/mɔːrn/ MORN; Irish: Beanna Boirche), also called the Mournes or Mountains of Mourne, are a granite mountain range in County Down in the south-east of Northern Ireland.[1] They include the highest mountains in Northern Ireland, the highest of which is Slieve Donard at 850 m (2,790 ft).[2] The Mournes are designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty[3] and it has been proposed to make the area Northern Ireland's first national park.[4] The area is partly owned by the National Trust and sees many visitors every year.[5] The Mourne Wall crosses fifteen of the summits and was built to enclose the catchment basin of the Silent Valley and Ben Crom reservoirs.

"Mountains of Mourne" redirects here. For the song, see The Mountains of Mourne.

Mourne Mountains
Beanna Boirche
View of the Mournes from Murlough Nature Reserve
Highest point
PeakSlieve Donard
Elevation850 m (2,790 ft)
Geography
Mourne Mountains is located in Northern Ireland
Mourne Mountains
Mourne Mountains is located in island of Ireland
Mourne Mountains
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryNorthern Ireland
CountiesCounty Down
Range coordinates54°10′N 6°05′W
Geology
Type of rockGranite

Name

The name 'Mourne' is derived from the name of a Gaelic clan or sept called the Múghdhorna.[6][7] The older name of this mountainous territory was Bairrche, which is likely a collective noun derived from the Irish barr, meaning 'top, peak'.[8] This survives in the Irish name for the mountains, na Beanna Boirche, literally "the peaks of the peak district".[9][10] It was historically anglicized as 'Bennyborfy'.[11] The name Bairche or Boirche was also personified as the mythical shepherd of the mountains.[8]

Many of the mountains have names beginning "Slieve", from the Irish sliabh, meaning "mountain".[12]

Mountains
The Mourne Wall on Slieve Donard, looking west
The eastern Mournes seen from Annalong Wood

On clear days, the Mourne Mountains can be seen from the Isle of Man[13] and Dublin.[14]

Highest summits[15][16] (MountainViews Online Database[lower-alpha 1])
Rank Name Irish name Translation[lower-alpha 2] Elevation[lower-alpha 3] Prominence[lower-alpha 4]
1Slieve Donard
Highest in Ulster		Sliabh DónairtDomhanghart's mountain850 m (2,790 ft)822 m (2,697 ft)
2Slieve CommedaghSliabh Coimhéideachguarding/watching mountain767 m (2,516 ft)180 m (590 ft)
3Slieve BinnianSliabh Binneáinmountain of the little peaks746 m (2,448 ft)282 m (925 ft)
4Slieve BearnaghSliabh Bearnachgapped mountain739 m (2,425 ft)304 m (997 ft)
5Slieve LamaganSliabh Lámhagáincrawling/creeping mountain704 m (2,310 ft)197 m (646 ft)
6Slieve MeelbegSliabh Míol Beagsmall mountain of the beasts702 m (2,303 ft)193 m (633 ft)
7Slieve MeelmoreSliabh Míol Mórgreat mountain of the beasts680 m (2,230 ft)109 m (358 ft)
8Slieve Bearnagh North Tor——680 m (2,230 ft)10 m (33 ft)
9Slieve Binnian North Top——678 m (2,224 ft)53 m (174 ft)
10Slieve MuckSliabh Mucpig mountain670 m (2,200 ft)155 m (509 ft)
11Chimney Rock Mtn/Slieve NeirSliabh an Aoireshepherd mountain656 m (2,152 ft)131 m (430 ft)
12Cove Mountain——655 m (2,149 ft)100 m (330 ft)
13Slieve CorraghSliabh Corrachrugged/pointed mountain640 m (2,100 ft)15 m (49 ft)
14Eagle MountainSliabh an Iolaireagle mountain638 m (2,093 ft)263 m (863 ft)
15ShanlieveSeanshliabhold mountain626 m (2,054 ft)31 m (102 ft)
16Slieve LoughshannaghSliabh Loch Seannachfox lake mountain617 m (2,024 ft)104 m (341 ft)
17Slieve BegSliabh Beaglittle mountain596 m (1,955 ft)41 m (135 ft)
18DoanDún Maol ChobhaMaol Cobha's fort593 m (1,946 ft)119 m (390 ft)
19Slievenaglogh (Northern)Sliabh na gClochmountain of the stones586 m (1,923 ft)41 m (135 ft)
20Carn MountainSliabh an Chairnmountain of the cairn585 m (1,919 ft)50 m (160 ft)
21FinlieveFinnshliabhwhite mountain[21]579 m (1,900 ft)20 m (66 ft)
22Slievemoughanmore——560 m (1,840 ft)154 m (505 ft)
23Crossone
(lesser summit of Slieve Donard)		Cros EoghainOwen's cross[22]540 m (1,770 ft)12 m (39 ft)
24Pigeon Rock Mtn/DrumleeDroim Laoridge of the calf534 m (1,752 ft)139 m (456 ft)
25Ott MountainUchtmountain-breast527 m (1,729 ft)32 m (105 ft)
26Ben CromBinn Chromstooped/curved peak526 m (1,726 ft)81 m (266 ft)
27Rocky Mountain (Eastern)Sliabh na gClochmountain of the stones524 m (1,719 ft)60 m (200 ft)
28Spences Mountain
(lesser summit of Slieve Neir)		——515 m (1,690 ft)Unknown
29Cock Mountain/SlievahillySliabh an Choilighcock mountain504 m (1,654 ft)130 m (430 ft)
30Butter MountainSliabh an Imebutter mountain500 m (1,600 ft)95 m (312 ft)
Lesser summits and hills
Rank Name Irish name Translation Height
31SlievemartinSliabh MártainMartin's mountain485 m (1,591 ft)
32SpalthaUnknownUnknown479 m (1,572 ft)
33Thomas MountainUnknownUnknown475 m (1,558 ft)
34TievedockaraghTaobh Docrachdifficult hillside473 m (1,552 ft)
35SpelgaSpeilgeachplace of pointed rocks472 m (1,549 ft)
36SlievemeenSliabh Mínsmooth mountain471 m (1,545 ft)
37Pierces CastleUnknownUnknown465 m (1,526 ft)
38CrenvilleUnknownUnknown460 m (1,510 ft)
39Millstone MountainUnknownUnknown459 m (1,506 ft)
40Wee BinnianBroinn Bhinneáinbreast of (Slieve) Binnian459 m (1,506 ft)
41SlievenagarraghUnknownUnknown450 m (1,480 ft)
42SlievenamaddySliabh na Madaidhdog mountain[23]450 m (1,480 ft)
43Altaggart MountainUnknownUnknown445 m (1,460 ft)
44Slievenaglogh (Southern)Sliabh na gClochmountain of the stones445 m (1,460 ft)
45SlievenamiskanSliabh Meascáinbutter lump mountain444 m (1,457 ft)
46SlievenabrockSliabh na mBrocbadger mountain[24]438 m (1,437 ft)
47Hares GapUnknownUnknown435 m (1,427 ft)
48Hares CastleUnknownUnknown430 m (1,410 ft)
49Wee SlievemoughanUnknownUnknown428 m (1,404 ft)
50SlievedermotSliabh DiarmuidDermot's mountain[25]425 m (1,394 ft)
51SlievemeelSliabh Maolbald mountain420 m (1,380 ft)
52LeganabruchanUnknownUnknown410 m (1,350 ft)
53CraigdooCreag Dubhblack rock[26]408 m (1,339 ft)
54Rocky Mountain (Western)UnknownUnknown405 m (1,329 ft)
55Slieve BanSliabh Bánwhite mountain[27]395 m (1,296 ft)
56Windy GapUnknownUnknown395 m (1,296 ft)
57Lukes MountainUnknownUnknown391 m (1,283 ft)
58SlievebaneUnknownUnknown390 m (1,280 ft)
59TornamrockTorr na mBrocTorr of the Badgers390 m (1,280 ft)
60SlievenamuckUnknownUnknown390 m (1,280 ft)
61GruggandooUnknownUnknown380 m (1,250 ft)
62Black StairsUnknownUnknown370 m (1,210 ft)
63Deers MeadowUnknownUnknown370 m (1,210 ft)
64CarnadrannaUnknownUnknown365 m (1,198 ft)
65Slieve RoeSliabh Ruadhred mountain[28]364 m (1,194 ft)
66Slieve RoosleyUnknownUnknown362 m (1,188 ft)
67Hen Mountain/SlievenakirkSliabh na Circe[29]hen mountain360 m (1,180 ft)
68Trainors RocksUnknownUnknown360 m (1,180 ft)
69LugagourUnknownUnknown360 m (1,180 ft)
70Leckan MoreUnknownUnknown355 m (1,165 ft)
71Percy ByssheUnknownUnknown355 m (1,165 ft)
72CrannogeUnknownUnknown350 m (1,150 ft)
73The FallowUnknownUnknown350 m (1,150 ft)
74CrotlieveCrotshliabhhump-mountain347 m (1,138 ft)
75KnocksheeCnoc Sidhefairy hill[30]346 m (1,135 ft)
76Long SeefinSuidhe FinnFinn's seat[31]345 m (1,132 ft)
77Glen FofannyUnknownUnknown340 m (1,120 ft)
78SlievenagoreUnknownUnknown335 m (1,099 ft)
79MoolieveUnknownUnknown332 m (1,089 ft)
80MullagharveUnknownUnknown330 m (1,080 ft)
81SlievenamanUnknownUnknown323 m (1,060 ft)
82ArdglashUnknownUnknown320 m (1,050 ft)
83Wee RoosleyUnknownUnknown320 m (1,050 ft)
84SlievemageoghUnknownUnknown316 m (1,037 ft)
85SlievemiskanUnknownUnknown310 m (1,020 ft)
86CarmeenUnknownUnknown310 m (1,020 ft)
87GrugganskeaghUnknownUnknown310 m (1,020 ft)
88KnockchreeUnknownUnknown305 m (1,001 ft)

Other features

The below sub-headings detail other features and visitor attractions found in the Mourne Mountains.

The Mourne Wall
Mourne Wall on Slieve Bearnagh

The Mourne Wall is a dry stone wall measuring 31.4 km (19.5 miles) in length[32] that crosses fifteen summits and was constructed to define and protect the 36 km2 (8,900-acre) catchment area purchased by Belfast Water Commissioners in the late 19th century.[33] This followed a number of Acts of Parliament allowing the sale, and the establishment of a water supply from the Mournes to the growing industrial city of Belfast.[34] Construction of the Mourne Wall was started in 1904 and was completed in 1922.[33]

The Mourne Wall has been a listed building since 1996, and 600 repairs were completed in 2018 by Geda Construction.[35]

Forests
Tollymore forest and the Mournes

Tollymore Forest Park is at Bryansford, near the town of Newcastle in the Mourne and Slieve Croob Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It covers an area of 630 hectares (1,600 acres) at the foot of the Mourne Mountains and has views of the surrounding mountains and the sea at nearby Newcastle. The Shimna River flows through the park where it is crossed by 16 bridges, the earliest dating to 1726. The river is a spawning ground for salmon and trout and is an Area of Special Scientific Interest for its geology, flora and fauna. The forest has four walking trails signposted by different coloured arrows, the longest being the 8-mile (13 km) "long haul trail". The Forest Park has been managed by the Forest Service since they purchased it from the Roden Estate in 1941.

Donard Forest is near Newcastle, County Down. It borders Donard Park at the foot of the Mourne Mountains. The Glen River flows through the forest, crossed by three stone bridges.

Rostrevor Forest is near the village of Rostrevor, County Down, between the Mourne Mountains and Carlingford Lough, in the Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The first trees, primarily sitka spruce, douglas fir and pine, were planted in 1931.

Reservoirs
Silent Valley and Ben Crom reservoirs seen from the south

All water reservoirs are owned and maintained by Northern Ireland Water (NIW).

Silent Valley Reservoir is a reservoir in the Mourne Mountains near Kilkeel, County Down. It supplies most of the water for County Down, surrounding counties and most of Belfast via the Aquarius pipeline. The reservoir was built between 1923 and 1933 by a workforce of over one thousand men, nine of whom died during construction. The catchment area is 9,000-acres (3,600 ha / 36 km2).

Ben Crom Reservoir is upstream of Silent Valley in the Kilkeel River valley, and supplies the same areas. It was constructed between 1953 and 1957.

Spelga Reservoir is in the townland of Spelga (Irish: Speilgeach), close to Hilltown, in the North West of the Mourne Mountains. It was formed by construction of Spelga Dam and sits at over 1,200 ft (370 m) above sea level. The dam was constructed between 1953 and 1957, and has a volume of 2,700,000 cubic metres and a catchment area of 1,340-acres (542 ha / 5.423 km2).

Fofanny Dam Reservoir is approximately 2 km north-east of Spelga Dam and is much smaller.

Flora and fauna

Aside from grasses, the most common plants found in the Mournes are heathers and gorse. Of the former, three species are found: cross-leaved heath, bell heather, and common heather. Of the latter, two species are found: common gorse and western gorse. Other plants which grow in the area are: common cottongrass, roseroot, harebell, marsh St John's-wort, wild thyme, wood sorrel and heath spotted orchid.

Sheep graze high into the mountains, and the range is also home to birds, including the raven, peregrine falcon, wren, buzzard, meadow pipit, grey wagtail, stonechat and snipe. The golden eagle, a former inhabitant, has not been seen in the Mournes since 1836.

Recreation
Tors on Slieve Binnian

"Discover Northern Ireland", a website operated by Tourism NI, promotes the Mourne Mountains as a popular destination for hiking and taking in views of the surrounding landscape, including local forests and the coastline.[36] The Mournes offer a range of activities for visitors, including hiking, forest and beach walks, cycling and rock climbing, with nearly three-quarters of visitors choosing the Mournes as a place to go walking and hiking.[37]

The Mournes are a popular destination for Duke of Edinburgh's Award expeditions.[38] However, there are also a number of walking challenges which take place in the Mournes. The Mourne Wall challenge, which is also referred to as the 7-peak challenge because it takes into account 7 of the 10 highest Mourne mountains, is advertised by WalkNI.[39] The Mourne six peak challenge is advertised by DiscoverNI and takes hikers up Slieve Donard, Commedagh, Bearnagh, Slieve Binnian, Slieve Meelmore and Slieve Meelbeg across three days of hiking.[40]

Information and statistics on tourism to the Mournes were gathered by TourismNI in 2014.[41] In a survey of leisure visitors, 79% were found to come from Northern Ireland, 15% from elsewhere in the British Isles or Republic of Ireland, and 5–6% were international visitors.[42] Two-thirds of all visitors made a single-day trip rather staying overnight, and party sizes averaged between 3 and 4 people.[43]

There are many granite cliffs, in the form of outcrops and tors, scattered throughout the range, making the Mournes one of Northern Ireland's major rock-climbing areas since the first recorded ascents in the 1930s. The rockforms are generally quite rounded, thus often requiring cams for protection, but with good friction. The 1998 guidebook lists 26 separate crags, with a total of about 900 routes of all grades.[44][45]

Conservation
Mourne country near Spelga Dam, the slopes of Slieve Loughshannagh and Ott Mountain with a stream in spate after some recent heavy rain

Following a fundraising drive in 1993, the National Trust purchased nearly 5.3 km2 (1,300 acres) of land in the Mournes, which included a part of Slieve Donard (at 850 m (2,790 ft)) and nearby Slieve Commedagh (at 767 m (2,516 ft)), the second-highest mountain in the area.[46]

It has been proposed that the Mourne Mountains be made Northern Ireland's first national park.[47][48] The plan has been subject to controversy because of the area's status as private property, with over 1,000 farmers based in the proposed park,[48] and also because of fears over the impact on local communities, bureaucracy and house prices.[49]

Gorse burning

Historically, gorse had many uses in the rural economy[50] and hill farmers often cleared gorse by hand.[51] There is also a tradition in the Mournes of controlled gorse burning to improve grazing for sheep. Today, however, many of the fires are unmanaged and some become out-of-control wildfires.[52] In the 1950s, Emyr Estyn Evans had written that some shepherds in the Mournes tended to burn gorse and heather recklessly. He said that such over-burning "results in widespread destruction" and, along with other mismanagement, had "greatly impoverished the mountain environment".[53] In the 21st century there have been hundreds of heather and gorse wildfires in the Mournes each year, the vast majority started deliberately, with "farmers and vandals" often blamed.[54] It is claimed many of the wildfires are caused by hill farmers and landowners carrying out unapproved burning to clear gorse/heather and thus maximize the subsidy payments they receive for the amount of grazing-land they have.[50][52][55] Some are also caused by careless visitors.[55] In April 2021, more than a hundred firefighters tackled a major gorse wildfire in the eastern Mournes, which blazed for three days and devastated habitat in the area.[56][57] The over-clearing of gorse, heather and trees also heightens the risk of landslides.[51]

Wind farm proposal

In 2015, German-owned company ABO Wind applied to build a wind farm at Gruggandoo in the western Mourne Mountains. Its first two applications were turned down, and its revised application is to build eight turbines standing 142 metres (466 ft) high, along with a network of access tracks, substations and a control building. The turbines would be among the tallest structures in Ireland. The company claims they could power 37% of homes in the district. There is opposition, as the wind farm would be in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and would impact wildlife and habitats. Local protest group, Mourne AONB Against Windfarms, warn it would open the door for further wind farms to be built in the Mournes and other protected areas.[58] Planning officers for Newry, Mourne and Down District Council deem the wind farm "unacceptable" and recommended the council reject it. In 2020, councillors instead voted to ask for a public inquiry.[59]

The mountains are immortalised in a song written by Percy French in 1896, "The Mountains of Mourne". The song has been recorded by many artists, including Don McLean, and was quoted in Irish group Thin Lizzy's 1979 song "Roisin Dubh (Black Rose): A Rock Legend". Frank Baker's famous Ulster-based comic novel Miss Hargreaves refers to it: "I'm not going to tell you much about the holiday except to say it was a grand month and we enjoyed every bit of it even though it rained much of the time. We went miles in the car, swam in the river, messed about in an old tub of a boat belonging to a farmer; and we spent a good many evenings in the hotel at Dungannon, drinking Irish whiskey and flirting with a cheeky girl Henry rather fell for. We climbed the Mourne Mountains and sang the right song on the top, though we couldn't remember the words".

"The Mountains of Mourne" are also mentioned in John Lennon's song "The Luck of the Irish" on the album Some Time in New York City.[60]

The scenery of the Mourne Mountains have also provided the backdrop for a number of productions, most famously HBO's Game of Thrones.[61]

Many local painters have depicted the mountains, including the same Percy French, who immortalized them in song.[62][63]

The Mourne Mountains also influenced C. S. Lewis to create the mythical world featured in his The Chronicles of Narnia series.[64][65]

Helicopter crash

On 23 October 2010 an AgustaWestland AW109 (tail number: N2NR) was operating a VFR flight from Enniskillen Airport to Caernarfon Airport, Wales. While en route the helicopter crashed into the western side of Shanlieve, killing all three passengers and crew on board. The cause of the accident was determined to be pilot error in heavy fog.[66]

See also

Notes
  1. MountainViews was created in 2002 by Simon Stewart as a non–profit online database for climbers in Ireland to document and catalogue their Irish climbs.[17] Its main data feed is taken from the Ordnance Survey Ireland ("OSI"). However, it also integrates other established Irish mountain databases such as the Paul Tempan Loganim Irish Placenames Database.[18] Collins Press published its Online Datase in 2013 in the book: A Guide to Ireland's Mountain Summits: The Vandeleur-Lynams & the Arderins.[19] MountainViews is also partnered with the important Database of British and Irish Hills ("DoBIH"), which is the main live database for the categorisation of mountains and hills in the British Isles.
  2. In all cases this is the "Name Origin and Meaning" column from Paul Tempan's Irish Hill and Mountain Names (2010).[16]
  3. 'Elevation' is the vertical height of the summit above average sea level.[20]
  4. 'Topographic prominence' is the height of the summit above the lowest point on the terrain surrounding it.[20]

References
  1. Pitfield, Mankelow, Cooper, Cameron, Lusty, Shaw, Linley (2012). County Down and Belfast: mineral resource map of Northern Ireland (PDF) (Map). Retrieved 14 October 2019.{{cite map}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. "Ireland's Range High Points". High Point Ireland. 2015.
  3. "Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty". NAAONB. 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  4. Mourne National Park Working Party (September 2007). Mourne National Park Working Party Report to Minister (Report). Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  5. "The Mournes". National Trust. 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  6. Joyce, Patrick (1869). The origin and history of Irish names of places. p. 128.
  7. "Placenames Database of Ireland". Placenames Database of Ireland.
  8. Paul Tempan (May 2019). "Irish Hill and Mountain Names" (PDF). MountainViews.ie.
  9. McKay, Patrick (1999). A Dictionary of Ulster Place-Names. The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast: The Institute of Irish Studies. p. 112. ISBN 978-0853897422.
  10. Place Names NI: Mourne Mountains
  11. O'Laverty, James (1878). The Barony of Iveagh – via www.libraryireland.com. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  12. "Slieve definition of slieve by The Free Dictionary". The Free Dictionary. October 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  13. "Mourne Mountains from the Isle of Man". Andy Stephenson. 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  14. "View of Mourne Mountains over Dublin". gettyimages. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  15. "Irish Highest 100: The highest 100 Irish mountains with a prominence of +100m". Mountainviews.ie. September 2018.
  16. Paul Tempan (February 2012). "Irish Hill and Mountain Names" (PDF). MountainViews.ie.
  17. "MountainViews.ie, a hillwalking resource for Ireland". Mountaineering Ireland (Irish Mountaineering Council). 2014.
  18. Simon Stewart (2018). "MountainViews Sources and Credits". MountainViews.ie.
  19. Mountainviews, (September 2013), "A Guide to Ireland's Mountain Summits: The Vandeleur-Lynams & the Arderins", Collins Books, Cork, ISBN 978-1-84889-164-7
  20. Svetlana Shele (18 August 2017). "On Terminology: Elevation vs. Altitue vs. Prominence". Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  21. Place Names NI: Finlieve
  22. Place Names NI: Crossone
  23. Place Names NI: Slievenamaddy
  24. Place Names NI: Slievenabrock
  25. Place Names NI: Slievedermot
  26. Place Names NI: Craigdoo
  27. Place Names NI: Slieve Ban
  28. Place Names NI: Slieve Roe
  29. Place Names NI: Hen Mountain
  30. Place Names NI: Knockshee
  31. Place Names NI: Long Seefin
  32. "Mourne Mountain Mythical Measurements (blog post by Kieron Gribbon)". 18 August 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  33. The Mourne Mountains (2010). "The Mourne Wall". Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  34. Belfast Plumbing Services (1 August 2016). "History of Belfast Water Supply". Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  35. "The Mourne Wall – NI Water's very own Wonderwall!". NI Water. 31 May 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  36. "Mourne Mountains". Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  37. "Destination Mournes" (PDF). TourismNI. 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  38. "Mournes Expedition Area Information" (PDF). The Duke of Edinburgh. February 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  39. "Mourne Wall Challenge". Outdoor Recreation Northern Ireland. 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  40. "Mourne six peak challenge". DiscoverNI. 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  41. "Destination Mournes" (PDF). TourismNI. 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  42. "Destination Mournes" (PDF). TourismNI. 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  43. "Destination Mournes" (PDF). TourismNI. 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  44. "Irish Climbing Online Wiki – Co. Down". Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  45. Bankhead, Robert, ed. (1998). Mournes: MCI Guide. Mountaineering Ireland. ISBN 0-902940-14-7.
  46. "The Mountains of Mourne". The Mourne Mountains. 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  47. "Minister paves the way for national park in the Mournes". Northern Ireland Planning Service. 25 September 2002. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
  48. Peterkin, Tom (29 August 2007). "Mourne Mountains national park status row". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 5 February 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
  49. Cassidy, Martin (23 February 2007). "Community split over national park". BBC News. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
  50. Viney, Michael (13 May 2017). "The link between gorse fires, farming and a disregard for nature". The Irish Times.
  51. McKimm, Mike (5 May 2011). "Gorse fires in Northern Ireland damage environment". BBC News.
  52. "Response to Northern Ireland Environment Agency consultation on reducing wildfires in the countryside" (PDF). Mountaineering Ireland. 2018.
  53. Evans, Emyr Estyn (1951). Mourne Country: Landscape and Life in South Down. Dundalgan Press. p. 76.
  54. "Mourne Mountains: NIFRS records more than 1,000 wildfires since 2016". BBC News. 30 June 2021.
  55. "The Irish Times view on mountain fires: an ecological disaster". The Irish Times. 27 April 2021.
  56. "Slieve Donard: Over 100 firefighters continue to tackle Mournes 'major incident'". BBC News. 25 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  57. McClements, Freya (26 April 2021). "Northern Irish fire service believes Mourne Mountain blaze started deliberately". Irish Times. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  58. "Council to consider Mourne wind turbines taller than London Eye". Belfast Telegraph. 26 October 2020.
  59. "Nichola Mallon asked to agree to inquiry into Mournes wind farm project". Belfast Telegraph, 27 October 2020.
  60. "The Luck of the Irish Lyrics and Guitar Chords". Irish Folk Songs. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  61. "Game of Thrones Filming & Production". IMDb. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  62. "Lot :167, The Mountains of Mourne By William Percy French". Adams Irish Art Auctioneers. 30 May 2007.
  63. "Percy French Paintings". Official page of the Percy French Society.
  64. Guardian Staff (4 December 2005). "Northern Ireland: If you didn't find Narnia in your own wardrobe ..." The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  65. Inge, Sopphie (22 November 2016). "Winter snow blankets Mourne landscape that inspired Narnia as magical CS Lewis square opens in Belfast". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  66. "Agusta A109A II, N2NR, 23 October 2010" (PDF). Retrieved 23 October 2010.
  • Kirk, David (2002). The Mountains of Mourne: A Celebration of a Place Apart. Belfast: Appletree Press. ISBN 0-86281-846-X.
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