Glenshane Pass

The Glenshane Pass is a major mountain pass cutting through the Sperrin Mountains in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is on the main Derry to Belfast route, the A6.

Features

The highest summit of the Sperrins, Carntogher (464m), towers over the Glenshane Pass. [cite web | title=Glenshane Slopes Landscape | work=Environment and Heritage Service | url=http://www.ehsni.gov.uk/landscape/country_landscape/39/39-land.htm | accessdate=2008-06-26] It is a Special Area of Conservation. Carn/Glenshane Pass is a large area of intact blanket bog, characterised by undulating topography and including a large, well-developed hummock and pool system within a thick mantle of blanket peat. [cite web | title=Carn – Glenshane Pass | work=Joint Nature Conservation Committee | url=http://www.jncc.gov.uk/ProtectedSites/SACselection/SAC.asp?EUCode=UK0030110 | accessdate=2008-06-26] It is also classed as an Area of Special Scientific Interest. [cite web | title=Carn/Glenshane Pass | work=Environment and Heritage Service | url=http://www.ehsni.gov.uk/area_interest_sitesview?SiteNo=ASSI167 | accessdate=2008-06-26]

History

Recent history

*The body of a man from Castledawson was found on the Glenshane Pass near Maghera on 4 February 2008. [cite web | title=Body Found, Glenshane Pass 05/02/08 | work=Police Service of Northern Ireland Press Release | url=http://www.psni.police.uk/index/media_centre/press_releases/pr_press_releases_2008/pr_february_2008/pr_body_found__glenshane_pass__050208.htm | accessdate=2008-06-26] Two men from Maghera appeared in court the following week, one charged with falsely imprisoning the victim and the other with manslaughter. [cite web | title=Tensions high after Glenshane Pass murder | work=UTV News (11 February 2008) | url=http://www2.u.tv/newsroom/indepth.asp?pt=n&id=87453 | accessdate=2008-06-26]

The Troubles

*On 24 June 1972, three British Army soldiers were killed by a landmine explosion on the Glenshane Pass. [cite web | title=Members of the Army Air Corps killed as a result of the Troubles in Northern Ireland from 1958| work=Palace Barracks Memorial Garden| url=http://www.palacebarracksmemorialgarden.org/Army%20Air%20Corps.htm | accessdate=2008-06-26] Their Land Rover was destroyed by two landmines consisting of 120lbs of explosive packed in milk churns.cite web | title=Members of The Parachute Regiment killed as a result of the Troubles in Northern Ireland from 1971| work=Palace Barracks Memorial Garden| url=http://www.palacebarracksmemorialgarden.org/The%20Parachute%20Regiment.htm | accessdate=2008-06-26]
*On 17 March 1978, a British Army soldier was shot dead in a gun battle with IRA gunmen near the Glenshane Pass. Some reports said he was involved in a covert observation post when he spotted two suspected gunmen. He stood up to challenge the men and was fatally wounded, but he shot back wounding one man.

Places of interest

*The Ponderosa, claiming to be Ireland's highest pub at 305m (947ft) above sea level, is a popular attraction in the area.
*Glenshane Forest is 12km from Dungiven on the southern side of the Glenshane Pass, hugging the south eastern slopes of Corrick and Glenshane Mountains. The Ulster Way passes through the forest along the source of the River Roe. [cite web | title=Glenshane Forest | work=Discover Northern Ireland | url=http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/product.aspx?ProductID=3473 | accessdate=2008-06-26]

Traffic

*In answer to a written parliamentary question in June 2006, it was revealed that the average daily flow of traffic over the Glenshane Pass between Dungiven and Maghera on the A6 was approximately 5,500 in each direction. [cite web | title=Written Answers, Northern Ireland - Glenshane Pass | work=TheyWorkForYou.com | url=http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2006-06-05e.74213.h | accessdate=2008-06-26]
*In 2003, a major improvement scheme costing £1m was completed on the Glenshane Pass. The road was widened from Carruda Bridge for 2.2km uphill past the Ponderosa Bar, to provide two lanes for traffic travelling towards Belfast. Traffic travelling towards Derry already had the benefit of a similar overtaking lane on the south side of the Pass. [cite web | title=Completion of Road Widening Scheme at Glenshane | work=Department for Regional Development News Releases | url=http://archive.nics.gov.uk/rd/030718h-rd.htm | accessdate=2008-06-26]

People

*Comedian Eddie Izzard was banned from driving for three months in 1999, after being caught driving on the hard shoulder of the Glenshane pass in his hire car.Fact|date=May 2007

References