Carnavaddy

About Carnavaddy

Standing on the western ridge of the Cooley Mountains above Ravensdale, this modest Tump offers a quieter alternative to the rugged Slieve Foy. The terrain is largely heather and grass, rewarding the short climb with clear views across the Big River valley toward the Mourne Mountains and the Irish Sea.

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Did You Know?

• •The name Carnavaddy is derived from the Irish 'Carn an Mhadaidh', meaning 'Cairn of the Dog'. This is often linked to the legendary hound of Culann, famously slain by the boy-hero Sétanta, who took the name Cú Chulainn.
• •The hill sits in the historic landscape of the Táin Bó Cúailnge (Cattle Raid of Cooley). The nearby Annaverna slopes host the annual Poc Fada Championship, where hurlers compete to strike a ball across the mountain in the fewest shots possible, following the legendary path of Sétanta.
• •The summit provides an excellent vantage point over the Glenmore Valley, allowing walkers to trace the 'Maeve's Gap' pass on the opposite ridge, which according to myth was carved out by Queen Medb's army.
• •It is most frequently bagged as part of a ridge walk connecting with Clermont Carn to the north, which is easily distinguished from miles away by the large telecommunications masts on its peak.
• •The summit cairn is a fine spot for surveying the cross-border geography, looking north over the Newry River toward the granite peaks of the Mournes in County Down.