Birreencorragh [Birin Corrach]

About Birreencorragh [Birin Corrach]

Tucked away in the wild Nephin Begs, this rugged Hewitt offers a quieter, more untamed experience than nearby Nephin. Its character is defined by sprawling Atlantic bog transitioning into steep, stony ridges. The summit provides a clear perspective of the quartzite peak of Nephin and the island-studded waters of Clew Bay.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is derived from the Irish Boirín Corrach, which translates roughly as the 'rugged little rocky place.' This aptly describes the mountain’s upper slopes, where the soft peat of the Mayo lowlands gives way to more broken, uneven ground.
• •From the 698m summit, there is a commanding view across the 'Wild Nephin' area, one of the largest expanses of peatland in Europe and a designated dark sky park, stretching west toward Slieve Carr and the Owenduff Bog.
• •The mountain is frequently climbed from the pass of Barnageehy to the south, a route that avoids some of the lower-level forestry but still requires navigation through typical Mayo heather and bog.
• •Birreencorragh holds the status of a Marilyn, meaning it has at least 150 metres of topographical prominence. This makes it a significant, independent massif that stands proud of the main Nephin Beg range to the west.
• •If you find yourself enjoying the firm, dry footing of a well-trodden path here, you have likely wandered onto a different mountain entirely; the Nephin Begs are famously unapologetic about their bogs.