Donard
Encyclopedia
Donard is a small village in County Wicklow
, Ireland
located at the northern end of the Glen of Imaal
, in the western part of the Wicklow Mountains
.
Donard takes its name from Dún Ard - High Fort - the ruins of which are still somewhat visible on a rise above the town. The tranquil village is surrounded by Table Mountain
(702m), Church Mountain
(546m), Lugnaquilla
(924m) and Keadeen (655m).
Nearby in Derrynamuck is a cottage dedicated to the memory of Michael Dwyer
, a celebrated 1798 leader. It is now well known as the Dwyer-McAllister cottage for it was here that a group of Irish rebels led by Michael Dwyer were hiding when they were surrounded by British troops. Samuel McAllister died when he drew enemy fire to allow Dwyer to escape, and thereby prevent further bloodshed as the British troops were killing innocent farmers in nearby cottages to reach Dwyer.
The highest mountain in Wicklow and one of the highest mountains in Ireland, Lugnaquilla, can be accessed near here. It is advisable to remember that Lugnaquilla requires some hill-walking experience to climb, and should not be attempted alone, nor when there is a possibility of dense fog. The Wicklow Mountain Rescue team ask that those climbing alone alert the Rescue team as to their estimated time of climbing, to avoid false-emergencies due to delays in return.
Much of the surrounding Glen of Imaal
(5,948 acres) has been used as an army artillery range since 1900, and caution is advised when attempting to use areas within the army range. However, notices are regularly posted at key entry points as to when the army are out on manoeuvres.
County Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
located at the northern end of the Glen of Imaal
Glen of Imaal
The Glen of Imaal is a remote valley in the western Wicklow Mountains in Ireland. It is ringed by the Lugnaquilla massif and its foothills, including Table mountain and Keadeen...
, in the western part of the Wicklow Mountains
Wicklow Mountains
The Wicklow Mountains form the largest continuous upland area in Ireland. They occupy the whole centre of County Wicklow and stretch outside its borders into Counties Carlow, Wexford and Dublin. Where the mountains extend into County Dublin, they are known locally as the Dublin Mountains...
.
Donard takes its name from Dún Ard - High Fort - the ruins of which are still somewhat visible on a rise above the town. The tranquil village is surrounded by Table Mountain
Table Mountain, County Wicklow
Table Mountain is a mountain in Wicklow Mountains in County Wicklow, Ireland. At 701 metres it is the 109th highest mountain in Ireland and the 16th highest in the Wicklow Mountains....
(702m), Church Mountain
Church Mountain
Church Mountain, sometimes called Slievegad , is the most westerly of the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland. At the summit are the remains of a large cairn and an old triangulation pillar. Just east of the N81 national route, it lies roughly halfway between Hollywood to the north and Donard to the...
(546m), Lugnaquilla
Lugnaquilla
Lugnaquilla or Lugnaquillia, historically called Lugnaculliagh is a mountain in County Wicklow, Republic of Ireland. It is the highest peak of the Wicklow Mountains range, the highest in the province of Leinster, and the 13th highest peak in Ireland and affectionately known as "Lug".Views, on a...
(924m) and Keadeen (655m).
Nearby in Derrynamuck is a cottage dedicated to the memory of Michael Dwyer
Michael Dwyer
Michael Dwyer was a Society of the United Irishmen leader in the 1798 rebellion. He later fought a guerilla campaign against the British Army in the Wicklow Mountains from 1798-1803.-Early life:...
, a celebrated 1798 leader. It is now well known as the Dwyer-McAllister cottage for it was here that a group of Irish rebels led by Michael Dwyer were hiding when they were surrounded by British troops. Samuel McAllister died when he drew enemy fire to allow Dwyer to escape, and thereby prevent further bloodshed as the British troops were killing innocent farmers in nearby cottages to reach Dwyer.
The highest mountain in Wicklow and one of the highest mountains in Ireland, Lugnaquilla, can be accessed near here. It is advisable to remember that Lugnaquilla requires some hill-walking experience to climb, and should not be attempted alone, nor when there is a possibility of dense fog. The Wicklow Mountain Rescue team ask that those climbing alone alert the Rescue team as to their estimated time of climbing, to avoid false-emergencies due to delays in return.
Much of the surrounding Glen of Imaal
Glen of Imaal
The Glen of Imaal is a remote valley in the western Wicklow Mountains in Ireland. It is ringed by the Lugnaquilla massif and its foothills, including Table mountain and Keadeen...
(5,948 acres) has been used as an army artillery range since 1900, and caution is advised when attempting to use areas within the army range. However, notices are regularly posted at key entry points as to when the army are out on manoeuvres.