Slievecallan

Slievecallan (Mount Callan) in het winter dress in January 2010

Slievecallan^[1][2] (Engels: Mount Callan) is a mountain 391 metres high.^[3] It is the third highest mountain in County Clare, Ireland.^[4]

The mountain sits more or less in the centre of the triangle formed by the villages of Miltown Malbay, Inagh and Connolly, in the west of County Clare. The regional road R474 (Ennis - Connoly - Miltown Malbay), passes on the southernside of the mountain. The R460 (Miltown Malbay - Inagh/N85 passes in the northern side.

Slievecallan has a wet oceanic climate with an average annual rainfall of 2,000 mm and high average wind speeds. Most likely this is caused by the proximity of the ocean (just 8 kilometres away) and its prominece in the landscape. In geological view the soils are a mixture of mixture of peat, peaty gley and gley soils over horizontal layers of carboniferous shale, sandstone, and mudstone. The soil is relatively poor in nutrients.

Without human interference the natural vegetation of this area would consist of ash (Fraxinus excelsior) forest in alkaline areas. Hazel (Corylus avellana) and oak (Quercus petraea) woods would be prominent in the more acidic areas. Nowadays (2010) most of the land surrounding Slieve Callan is heathland, forestry and pasture. The forestry are mainly plantations of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis)^[5]

References

1. ^ Ordnance Survey Ireland - Online map viewer
2. ^ Placenames Database of Ireland
3. ^ Mountainviews
4. ^ Clements, E.D. 'Clem' (1998). The Hewitts and Marilyns of Ireland. Cambuskenneth, Stirling: TACit Press. ISBN 0-9522680-8-6. 
5. ^ Report of the Pro Silva Europe Convention, Ireland 2007, blz. 3

Coordinates: 52°50′N 9°16′W / 52.833°N 9.267°W / 52.833; -9.267