Ox Mountains

The Ox Mountains (Irish: Sliabh Gamh) are a mountain range in County Sligo on the west coast of Ireland. They are also known as 'St Patrick's Mountain after St. Patrick, as he laboured much on it, raised churches on its slopes, and left his name to some of its wells, as for instance that of Dromard' ^[1]. The highest peak in the Ox Mountains is Knockalongy, which rises to 544m (1,785ft).^[2] There is some debate as to the precise meaning of 'gamh'. For example one interpretation of the Irish name translates it into 'mountain of the storms' as the mountains are prone to strong winds from the Atlantic Ocean. However, 'gamh' has also been held to refer to a generic animal which, given the possible prevalence of Oxen in the area, eventually came to be identified with a particular kind of animal ^[3]

The Ox Mountains begin immediately southwest of Ballysadare, and run west-southwest for some forty miles to the boundary of County Mayo, where they are continued to the southwest by the Slieve Gamph range, which runs first on the boundary of the two counties, and then into Mayo. The Ox Mountains have several summits from 1,200 to 1,800 feet high; and Slieve Gamph attains an elevation of 1,363 feet.^[4]

Geology

Gneiss, schist and granite form the bedrock of the Ox Mountains. This wild area of uplands is covered largely with blanket bog. Some parts are extensively forested, whilst others have numerous outcroppings of rock. To the north and south the land is underlain by limestones and sandstones of Carboniferous age, and is generally farmland.^[5] Lead and copper mines were formerly worked in the Ox Mountains, but by 1900 the works had been long since discontinued.^[4]

Peaks

Hill	Height (m)
Knockalongy	544 m
Annatoran	512 m
Cloonacool	440 m
Sruffaungarve Top	400 m
Meenamaddo	330 m
Knocknashee	276 m

References

1. ^ page 3 The History of Sligo by T O'Rorke http://www.archive.org/details/historyofsligoto01ororuoft
2. ^ "Ox Mountains". MountainViews. http://mountainviews.ie/mv/index.php?mtnindex=366. Retrieved 24 February 2009. 
3. ^ Conversation with Rossa Ó Snodaigh, gaelgoir and member of the band kila
4. ^ ^{a b} "Description of County Sligo from Atlas and Cyclopedia of Ireland (1900)". Library Ireland. http://www.libraryireland.com/Atlas/Sligo.php. Retrieved 24 February 2009. 
5. ^ "Walks in the Ox Mountains". Geological Survey of Ireland. http://www.gsi.ie/Education/Sites+Walks+Field+Trips/Walks+in+the+Ox+Mountains.htm. Retrieved 14 August 2011. 

Coordinates: 54°10′N 8°50′W / 54.167°N 8.833°W / 54.167; -8.833