The Paps West

About The Paps West

Rising above the boggy plains of Sliabh Luachra, this iconic peak forms the western half of a distinctive pair. Known locally as Cruach Mhór, its summit is capped by an immense prehistoric cairn that dominates the skyline. It offers a rugged, atmospheric ascent with far-reaching views across the Reeks and the Derrynasaggart Mountains.

Key Statistics

Find It

Did You Know?

• •The name derives from the Old Irish 'Dá Chích Anann', meaning the 'The Two Breasts of Anu'. Anu was an ancient mother goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann, and the hills' distinctive profiles make the anatomical comparison unmistakable.
• •The summit is crowned by an enormous Bronze Age cairn, part of a pair of monuments that were likely used for seasonal rituals. These structures were intentionally built to resemble nipples on the 'paps' when viewed from the valley floor.
• •Walkers typically tackle this Hewitt alongside its eastern twin, Cruach Bheag, following a high, broad col. A dry-stone wall runs across the ridge between the two, providing a reliable navigational handrail when the Atlantic mists roll in.
• •On a clear day, the summit offers a spectacular westward vista toward the jagged silhouettes of Carrauntoohil and the McGillycuddy’s Reeks, while the broad, flat-topped mass of Caherbarnagh is visible to the east.
• •While the summit was once reserved for ancient Gaelic rituals, modern visitors are far more likely to be greeted by a damp, unimpressed sheep than a mother goddess.