CARRAUNTOOHIL

Carrauntoohil - the highest mountain in Ireland at 3,414 feet (1041 metres) - is in the Macgillycuddy's Reeks in Co. Kerry. The Reeks contain most of Ireland's highest mountains and lie at the eastern end of the Iveragh Peninsula. Iveragh is the largest of five adjoining peninsulas which spread like fingers into the Atlantic Ocean along the south west coast of Ireland. This picturesque peninsula is separated from its neighbours by the waters of Dingle Bay to the north and Kenmare Bay to the south. Iveragh is famous for the Ring of Kerry drive - a route which circumnavigates Iveragh by the coast and enjoys marvellous views.

The Carrauntoohil race start (see map) is at Breanlee near Lough Acoose which can be approached from either Killorglin or Killarney (via Kate Kearney's Cottage and the Gap of Dunloe) by heading in the direction of the Climber's Inn at Glencar. Killarney is a popular tourist destination with lots of varying accomodation from hostels to hotels. It has excellent rail and bus connections. Killorglin is a smaller town, but is closer to the race start. It is less crowded than Killarney with the exception of the Puck Fair in August. The Fair is a continuation of a pre-Christian horse fair and festival which features a wild mountain goat being caged on top of a pole in the main town square!

The race course is not up the usual peak baggers' route alongside the Gaddagh River in the Hag's Glen near Knocknafreagan Hostel. The Devil's Ladder - a steep, rocky chute and the standard climbing route - is unfortunately too dangerous for race purposes due to the possibility of rock falls on other competitors. Mountain running is supposed to be a test of your legs, not the thickness of your head! Instead, the race route takes the westerly route up the Caher ridge of the Coomloughra horseshoe. This route gives a more spectacular approach, as it sweeps up one side of the horseshoe to the summit of Ireland's highest mountain.

Starting at the entrance to the track which gives access to the small hydro-electric dam at the outflow of Coomloughra, the runners follow the very steep track towards the dam outflow. After 800 metres, it mercifully levels off and the pace quickens until the outflow of Lough Eighter is reached at 1600 metres. The runners then enter the vast green and grey amphitheatre that is Coomloughra and leave the dirt track. They cross a hummocky bog to the steep heathery pull up An Shroin. At the top, the going gets easier again and the vistas more spectacular. As the field heads up towards Caher, the views all round are magnificent - the sun dancing on dappled waters as the serried ranks of mountains march towards the Atlantic Ocean.

The pull gets stiffer as you get higher on Caher and leave the easier grassy underfoot conditions to meet the higher scree covered slopes. At Radharc na Locha the going is even steeper with stony scree underfoot, but the views down into the dark recesses of Coomloughra make it all worthwhile. As you finally scramble up the final stony slope to the first summit of Caher, you are conscious of the ground narrowing and the sky dominating. The first summit is crowned with a small stone beehive shepherd's shelter, and it is with a sense of relief that you see Carrauntoohil in the distance.

Dropping down into Fána Ó Leanachain, the course then pulls up to the second and highest summit of Caher. The name Caher comes from Cathair (Fort) - although at a height of 1001 metres and with nothing but beautiful views to guard, whoever wanted a fort up here mustn't have been the full shilling! Conscious of the huge drops on either side, you drop down into Buneen and pull up the small slope to the third summit of the mountain. There then follows a steep drop to Créacht Dubh Glais; the drop is marked with an airy twist to the right, above the plunging cliffs. Reaching the Créacht, it is a steady pull up thereafter to the summit of Carrauntoohil.

The summit is marked with a large rusting metal cross. The cross was erected by the people of the local church parish below. This replaced a wooden one which was put up in a massive pilgrimage in 1950 to celebrate the Holy year. However many of us consider that Carrauntoohil is a big enough monument enough to God without man's intrusions. The previous wooden cross lasted for about fifteen years before the elements got it. Originally, the metal cross had light bulbs on it and a windmill generator to power it!!! But Mother Nature blows the wind hard around here and the bulbs frequently blew out in the many gales. The generator disappeared, thanks to souvenir hunters, and all that's left now is the rusting cross.

Depending the weather, the views from the Roof of Ireland can be superb! Stretching 60 to 80 miles up the coast of Clare towards Galway Bay, or to the Galtee mountains and Slievenamon in Tipperary, the eye is drawn to amazing scenery. The blue Atlantic seems touchable to the West. The main ridge of the Reeks lie just below to the East - showing that the scouring hands of the iceage on the Kerry landscape have left a sculpture that Rodin or Michangelo would be proud of. Unfortunately, it's a race - you can't stay!

Retracing your steps, you fly back down the slope being careful to keep to the South West as in mist it is easy to find yourself on the Beenkeeragh ridge instead. Then, veering to the West, you head back to Caher. When you reach the stone shelter, you are faced with the steep scree descent back down towards An Shron. Keep to the right initially until you get a bit lower and aim for the grassy nose of An Shron. As the going levels off, peel off to the right down through the heather to Cathar na Locha and pick up the track back to the finish. A pint afterwards in the Climber's Inn in Glencar is most welcome!

Last updated on on 13th August 2005 by Douglas Barry