Purple Mountains
Encyclopedia
Purple Mountain is a 832 m (2,730 ft) mountain
in County Kerry
, Republic of Ireland
. It is a massif
that includes three main peaks: Purple, Tomies (735m) and Shehy (571m). Purple is the 27th highest peak in Ireland
. The mountain is bounded to the west by the Gap of Dunloe
, which separates it from Macgillycuddy's Reeks
. To the south and east are the Lakes of Killarney
and to the north is the wide, flat valley of the River Laune
. The eastern half of Purple Mountain is part of Killarney National Park
. Within the national park, the lower slopes are covered in oak
forests, some of which are remnants of those that covered Ireland before the arrival of humans.
Before the 19th century, the whole massif was referred to as Tomish or Toomish. When the name Purple Mountain gained currency in the 19th century, the older name was probably relegated in status, referring only to the lower peak (Tomies). In his Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837), Samuel Lewis wrote that Purple Mountain is "so called from the colour of the shivered slate on its surface".
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
in County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
, Republic of 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,...
. It is a massif
Massif
In geology, a massif is a section of a planet's crust that is demarcated by faults or flexures. In the movement of the crust, a massif tends to retain its internal structure while being displaced as a whole...
that includes three main peaks: Purple, Tomies (735m) and Shehy (571m). Purple is the 27th highest peak in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The mountain is bounded to the west by the Gap of Dunloe
Gap of Dunloe
The Gap of Dunloe is a narrow mountain pass between Macgillycuddy's Reeks and Purple Mountain in County Kerry, Ireland. It is about from north to south. Within it are five lakes: Coosaun Lough, Black Lake, Cushnavally Lake, Auger Lake, and Black Lough . These lakes are connected by the River Loe...
, which separates it from Macgillycuddy's Reeks
Macgillycuddy's Reeks
MacGillycuddy's Reeks is a mountain range in County Kerry, Republic of Ireland. Stretching slightly over , it includes the highest peaks in Ireland and the only peaks on the island that are over . The highest of these is Corrán Tuathail or Carrauntoohil , followed by Binn Chaorach and Cathair na...
. To the south and east are the Lakes of Killarney
Lakes of Killarney
The Lakes of Killarney are a renowned scenic attraction located near Killarney, County Kerry, in Ireland. They consist of three lakes - Lough Leane, Muckross Lake and Upper Lake.Lough Leane is the largest of the three lakes...
and to the north is the wide, flat valley of the River Laune
River Laune
The River Laune is a river in County Kerry, Ireland which flows from Lough Leane , one of the Lakes of Killarney, through the town of Killorglin, and empties into the sea, first at Castlemaine harbour beside the river Maine and then out through Dingle Bay. The Laune is well known for salmon and...
. The eastern half of Purple Mountain is part of Killarney National Park
Killarney National Park
Killarney National Park is located beside the town of Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland. It was the first national park established in Ireland, created when Muckross Estate was donated to the Irish state in 1932...
. Within the national park, the lower slopes are covered in oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
forests, some of which are remnants of those that covered Ireland before the arrival of humans.
Before the 19th century, the whole massif was referred to as Tomish or Toomish. When the name Purple Mountain gained currency in the 19th century, the older name was probably relegated in status, referring only to the lower peak (Tomies). In his Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837), Samuel Lewis wrote that Purple Mountain is "so called from the colour of the shivered slate on its surface".
