Slievemore [An Sliabh Mor]

About Slievemore [An Sliabh Mor]

Rising steeply from the northern coast of Achill, this quartz-flecked pyramid dominates the island’s skyline. The ascent from the Deserted Village offers a mix of grassy slopes and scree, leading to a summit ridge with immense views over Keel Strand and the dramatic sea cliffs of neighboring Croaghaun.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is a direct Anglicisation of the Irish An Sliabh Mór, simply meaning 'the big mountain'. Despite being slightly lower than its neighbor Croaghaun, its symmetrical, hulking profile when viewed from the south makes it the island's most visually dominant landmark.
• •On the lower southern slopes lies the Deserted Village of Slievemore, consisting of around 80 ruined stone cottages. These were used as 'booley' homes—summer dwellings for livestock herders—until the mid-20th century, though many were abandoned permanently during the Great Famine.
• •The mountain has been a focus of human activity for millennia; it is home to several Neolithic court tombs and megalithic structures, suggesting the peak held significant ritual importance to the island's earliest inhabitants.
• •From the summit, the view north across Blacksod Bay to the Mullet Peninsula is exceptional. To the west, the jagged ridge of Croaghaun is visible, while looking south-west provides a clear sightline over Keel Strand toward the distant Bills rocks.
• •While the southern slopes are home to the 'Deserted Village', the summit is frequently home to a 'Deserted Hiker'—usually someone who realized too late that Achill’s Atlantic weather systems move significantly faster than their own walking pace.