Knockmealdown Mountains

The Knockmealdown Mountains (Irish: Sléibhte Chnoc Mhaoldomhnaigh) are a mountain range located on the border of counties Tipperary and Waterford in Ireland, running east and west between the two counties. The highest peak of the range is Knockmealdown, in County Waterford. On the western side of the summit, the range is crossed by a high pass called ‘The Vee’ through which runs the old mail coach road from Lismore to Clogheen.^[1]

Knockmealdown Mountains
The Knockmealdowns from the M8
Highest point
Peak	Knockmealdown
Elevation	794 m (2,605 ft)
Coordinates	52°14′N 7°55′W
Naming
Native name	Sléibhte Chnoc Mhaoldomhnaigh
Geography
Country	Ireland
Provinces of Ireland	Munster

The mountains were formerly known as Sliabh gCua,^[2] sometimes anglicized 'Slieve Gua' or 'Slieve Goe'.^[3]

Mountain peaks

List of peaks in the Knockmealdown Mountains ordered by height:

• Knockmealdown, Cnoc Mhaoldomhnaigh (794 m)
• Knockmoylan, Cnoc Maoláin (768 m)
• Knocknafallia, Cnoc na Faille (668 m)
• Sugarloaf Hill, Cnoc na gCloch (663 m)
• Knocknagnauv, Cnoc na gCnámh (655 m)
• Knockshanahullion, Cnoc Seanchuillinn (652 m)
• Knocknalougha, Cnoc na Loiche (630 m)
• Knockmeal, An Cnoc Maol (560 m)
• Crohan West, An Cruachán (521 m)
• Farbreaga, An Fear Bréige (518 m)

Wildlife

This mountain range is an important breeding ground for two endangered species, the red grouse and the hen harrier; cuckoo, nightjar, crossbill, buzzard and grasshopper warbler can also be seen.

Research and documentation efforts

In 2023, the Knockmealdown Active initiative, working with Irish Uplands Forum, completed a digital story map of Knockmealdown Mountains. The effort was sponsored by the Heritage Council and is a compilation of written stories, drone footage and geospatial information into an interactive web page.^[4]