Tomaneena [Turlough Hill] [Tuaim an Aonaigh]

About Tomaneena [Turlough Hill] [Tuaim an Aonaigh]

Situated high above the Wicklow Gap, this broad granite peak is defined by the massive upper reservoir of Ireland's only pumped-storage hydroelectric scheme. While the man-made summit infrastructure feels industrial, the sprawling views across the Glendalough valley toward the hulking mass of Lugnaquilla and Mullaghcleevaun are exceptionally clear and rewarding.

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Did You Know?

• •The name Tomaneena (Tuaim an Aonaigh) translates from Irish as 'mound of the assembly,' suggesting the summit may have served as a historical site for local gatherings or fairs long before its industrial conversion.
• •The hill is home to a massive 1960s engineering project where an artificial reservoir was carved into the summit to store water pumped up from Lough Nahanagan during periods of low electricity demand.
• •To facilitate the hydroelectric plant, a powerhouse was constructed deep inside the mountain itself, accessible via a long tunnel bored through the solid Wicklow granite.
• •Because of the service road leading from the Wicklow Gap to the reservoir, this is one of the most accessible Hewitts in the country, though the presence of security fencing at the top offers a stark contrast to the surrounding wilderness.
• •It is a rare Irish summit where the primary navigational hazard isn't a peat hag or a sudden mist, but a very large, very deep, and very fenced-off bath of water.