Na Sleibhte Mhám Toirc (The Maumturks/Maamturks) are a picturesque mountain range in Connemara in the west of Ireland. They are less well known than their more famous neigbours, the Twelve Bens on the other side of the Inagh Valley (and of the Western Way long distance path). They are not very big (max 667m) but a pleasant climb in fine weather, with superb views and no congestion. Dedicated fell runners run from Maumeen in the south to Leenaun in the north in a single day. Connemara (Irish Conamara), which derives from Conmhaicne Mara, (meaning: descendants of Conmhac, of the sea) is a region in the west of Ireland (County Galway). ... The Twelve Bens is a picturesque mountain range in Connemara in the west of Ireland. ... Fell running, also known as mountain running and hill running, is the sport of running and racing, off road, over upland country where the gradient climbed is a significant component of the difficulty. ...
The team from the 7th on the Maumturks Sionnach from L-R Ian Grant, Michael Kavanagh, Barry Kelly, Eoin Kelly and Colm Ennis.
There was a great view of Connemara from the top and as well as a great view of the Twelve Bens and the rest of the Maumturks we could also lakes, rivers, ponds and puddles all over the place.
The Sionnach staff tried to educate us on the weather for a while and an examination of the clouds led us to guess that it would remain fine for all of about 30 minutes (we were fairly close).
Beneath the southern flank of the Maumturk Mountains in Connemara stands a tiny church that is said to mark the westernmost point of the journeys of St Patrick in the 5th century.
From the lough, you can drop steeply back to your starting point in the Inagh valley, or climb to the crest again and continue to a second holy well at the northern end of the range.
Connemara is possibly the wildest and most isolated part of Ireland, with more than 50 mountains in four tightly-packed ranges: the Maumturks, the Twelve Bens, the Partry and the Sheffrey.
Feeds |
Contact