Mullaghcarn

Mullaghcarn
Mullach Cairn
Near the summit of Mullaghcarn
Elevation	542 m (1,778 ft)
Listing	Marilyn
Translation	peak of the cairns (Irish)
Location
Location in Northern Ireland
Location	County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Range	Sperrins
Coordinates	54°40′0″N 7°12′0″W / 54.666667°N 7.2°W / 54.666667; -7.2Coordinates: 54°40′0″N 7°12′0″W / 54.666667°N 7.2°W / 54.666667; -7.2
Topo map	OSNI Discoverer 13
OSI/OSNI grid	H5180

Mullaghcarn (from Irish: Mullach Cairn, meaning "peak of the cairns"^[1][2]) is a mountain in the southwest Sperrins, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The peak reaches a height of 542 m (1778 ft),^[3] and is the 370th highest in Ireland.^[4] Mullaghcarn is in Omagh District Council, on the edge of Gortin Glen Forest Park, and is the most southerly peak in the Sperrins.^[4] It is 5 miles (8.0 km) northeast of Omagh,^[5] and is 3.1 miles (5.0 km) south of Gortin.

Nature

Mullaghcarn is steep, and has a rocky summit. The west of the mountain is home to conifers.^[6] "Acid" grassland is the most common on Mullaghcarn, and peat is not especially common, due to the draining of the eastern mountain. Heather is most common on the northern slopes. The Red Grouse can be found on heathland around Mullaghcarn.^[7]

History

Mullaghcarn was home to firing ranges during World War II. These were used by the police and US Army soldiers stationed in the area.^[8]

Gallery

• 

  The summit of Mullaghcarn from above

• 

  The summit of Mullaghcarn from above

• 

  Looking east from summit, towards the cairn, two telecommunications masts and helipad

References

1. ^ Placenames Database of Ireland
2. ^ Mills, A. D. (2003). A Dictionary of British Place-Names. Oxford University Press. http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t40.e9617. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
3. ^ "Omagh". Encyclopaedia Britannica. 2009. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/428184/Omagh. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "Mullaghcarn". MountainViews. http://mountainviews.ie/mv/index.php?mtnindex=371. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
5. ^ The Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland. A Fullarton and Co.. 1846. pp. 440. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=RRRBxFTucEsC&pg=PA440&dq=%22mullaghcarn%22. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
6. ^ "Bessy Bell and Gortin Landscape". Northern Ireland Environment Agency. http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/landscape/country_landscape/26/26-land.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
7. ^ "Bessy Bell and Gortin Biodiversity Profile". Northern Ireland Environment Agency. http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/landscape/country_landscape/26/26-bio.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
8. ^ "Your Place and Mine - Fecarry Range". BBC.co.uk. British Broadcasting Corporation. http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine/tyrone/A845976.shtml. Retrieved 2009-01-20.