MountainViews: Info on Church Mountain Sliabh gCod (544m) in area Dublin/Wicklow

Home:Main Area DisplayGPS Summit Data (Irl)MV 1 SummitsMV 1 Rate Summit)News:NewsNewsletters)Tracks, Walks:View all tracksView your tracksUpload a trackMV 1 Find a Walk)Community:Rising SummiteersSummiteers Hall of FameRecent ContributorsContributors Hall of FameCredits)Lists & Logs:Eight Lists & Personal LogLog AnalysisSettingsMy Contributions & ProfileListing Programs:Simple Irish ListingsSimple Irish & British Listings))Motley Views:General ForumSuggestions ForumBibliography)More:ShopGuidelines:Using the ServiceCommentsPhotos)Statistics Conditions of Use ResourcesLinks)

Guestuser: Login or enrol?

Welcome to "MountainViews" Guest visitor - have a look around - enrol (free & quick) to see Lists & Logs etc.

Summit or area: Set min height for summits.

Conditions and Info
Use of MountainViews is governed by conditions.
Hillwalking is a risk sport. Information about the site and about safety is here.
Opinions in material here are not necessarily endorsed by MountainViews.
Information in comments, walks or GPS tracks may not be accurate as regards safety or access permission. You are responsible for your safety and your permission to walk. More.

RSS Feed for Recent Items.

Dublin/Wicklow Area Wicklow Mountains Subarea

Printable format

Maximum height for area: 925 metres

Summits in area: 89

OS Map(s): 28B, 49, 50, 55, 56, 61, 62 for all tops

Set Area Map On

Church Mountain Mountain	Wicklow County
Sliabh gCod A name in Irish	(Language)
(Ir. Sliabh gCod [logainm.ie], 'mountain of [obscure element]')
Height: 544 metres	OS 1/50k Mapsheet: 56 for top
Grid Ref: N94877 01261	Latitude: 53.053878 Longitude: -6.585831
ITM: 694805 701294	Prominence: 129m Isolation: 2.1km
This mountain is first mentioned under the name Sliabh an Chodaigh, 'mountain of the covenant' in a tale dating from before the 12th century. Subsequently the name appears as Sliabh gCod or similar, which is obscure in meaning, unless it is simply a co Church Mountain is the 369th highest summit in Ireland. Our data has reached 70% of the goal for this summit. (Details)

COMMENTS for Church Mountain

MountainViews.ie Picture about mountain Church Mountain in area Dublin/Wicklow, County Wicklow, Ireland

Picture: South-facing side Expand pics.

by padodes 1 Oct 2008 Returning recently to Church Mountain – or Sliabh Gad(oe), or Sliabh an Chodaigh, as it is variously called – I was as intrigued as ever by the size of the cairn on top and its metamorphosis in later times. This finally prompted me to do a little armchair exploration.

The prehistoric cairn is approximately 25m in diameter and stands 3m high at its most elevated point today. In Christian times, the centre was hollowed out and a little church was built inside. In itself, this is hardly surprising, since it would correspond to the common early Christian practice of ‘baptising’ pagan cultic sites. In the specific case of Church Mountain, historical speculation has been carried a little further. It is known that Palladius, St. Patrick’s less successful predecessor in bringing Christianity to Ireland, came to West Wicklow around 431 AD and established a church there, his second, at a place called ‘Domnacha Arda’. Might not this be the origin of the placename Donard (rather than Dún Ard, as others suggest)? Translated as ‘the church of the high field’, this placename would indicate that Palladius’ chapel was located, not in today’s Donard village, but on the nearby (Church) mountain, atop the cairn or passage grave that was there. Although the vestiges of the church that are visible today – a scant 9 x 6m rectangular outline – are from a later period and dated to the 12th century, it would be reasonable to think that the more recent church will have replaced others, going back to an early Christian structure. One thing, at least, is certain: there has been a long-standing tradition of Christian pilgrimage linked to the mountain. George Petrie, “the father of Irish archaeology”, wrote in 1808 that every year, on Lammas Day (1st August), hundreds of people would ascend the mountain on their knees and a priest recite prayers from the altar, but the practice had ceased after the 1798 rebellion. His friend, the professor of antiquities G. N. Wright, speaks in his “Guide to the County of Wicklow” (1827) of the ruins of a chapel on the summit “where numbers of pilgrims and penitents are constantly to be found, engaged in acts of devotion” and also mentions a holy well, close to the ruined walls, “whose surface is only two feet below the highest point of the mountain, and the spring continues to flow the whole year without much increase or diminution; the water has rather an unpleasant, astringent taste, resembling bog-water, although it is perfectly clear” (p.166).

You will look in vain today for pagan spectres or Christian pilgrims on Church Mountain. Personally, I have never met any. They have been replaced by the serried ranks of drab commercial forestry, marching up on all sides. As I saw on my last visit, even the ultimate indignity of quad biking has not been spared the mountain. It is anyone’s guess if it will be allowed to retain into the future a remnant of the character that made it so special in the past.

(Comment Rating 4.47) Your Score: Very useful << >>Average

Expand pics.

by csd 22 Jun 2003 Church Mountain offers some great views over west Wicklow and the southern Wicklow Mountains. If coming from Corriebracks, access to the summit can be gained by way of an eroded track that runs up the firebreak on the eastern slopes. The conifer plantation is now much more extensive than shown on Sheet 56, covering most of the eastern side of the mountain. There are a trig pillar and the remains of a prehistoric cairn at the summit (see pic).

(Comment Rating 3.86) Your Score: Very useful << >>Average

Picture: Summit with Cairn Expand pics.

by dunnejohn 3 Apr 2009 I recently hiked Church Mountain with my wife and daughter - it was a nice family day out for Mothers Day! We came from Dublin and took a nice drive through the Hollywood Glen, before turning left at Hell Kettle Br.
At the end of the laneway where the track begins you end up in farmyard with several farm buidings and farmhouse (OS sheet 56, GR S946 993 (Point A)). For anyone planning approaching the hill from here, it's a good idea to check with the farmer if it's ok to park there, as it's a bit tight for space. We did, and found him to be a very friendly and helpful gent.
As mentioned by csd in his comment, the forestry plantation is now much more extensive than marked on the map, currently extending to approx. GR S953 999 (Point B) on the map. Here a track runs uphill due west along the perimeter fence of the forestry plantation, before turning due north, again staying along the border of the forestry, at approx. GR S951 999 (Point C), and then runs along the ridge that runs north/south along the spine of the mountain (there's a conveniently placed bench at this point if you're out of breath from the steep hike from the main track!).
From here it's a gentle ascent along a dead straight track until near the summit. As you approach the summit the terrain flattens a little, and it may be tempting to leave the track and head accross the heather to find the cairn and triangulation pillar. Dont!! There's a much easier way. Keey your eyes open for the stones arranged in the shape of a cross on your right, at the edge of the forestry fence (it's beside a fence post which is supported by a couple of large rocks). The bottom point of the cross points roughly NW - let your eye follow this direction, and you will see the old eroded trail which leads directly to the summit.
Beside the extensive Cairn, atop of which sits the trig. pillar, there's a lovely stone bench erected in memory of a local man. Nice to take a seat and take in the view NE. If you need a more sheltered place to sit, on the SW side of the Cairn there's a stone enclosure with some flat rocks ideal for sitting out of the wind and enjoying that well deserved cup of tea! Cheers!

Point A: S946 993	Point B: S953 999	Point C: S951 999
(turn area map On)

(Comment Rating 3.83) Your Score: Very useful << >>Average

Expand pics.

by GWPR 30 Oct 2003 Trig. Pillar on Church Mt. with Blessington Lakes in background. Oct 2003.

(Comment Rating 3.00) Your Score: Very useful << >>Average

by David McCann 24 Feb 2005 I walked Church Mountain on Sunday 20-Feb-05. I feel that I should advise people that on the descent between the crest of the spur @ G. R. N949000 (Point D) & the gate at G. R. S952999 (Point E), there is an electric fence due to strip grazing of cattle taking place in the area.

Point D: N949 000

Point E: S952 999

(turn area map On)

(Comment Rating 3.00) Your Score: Very useful << >>Average

Expand pics.

by sbarany 17 Aug 2005 The track mentioned by csd below seems to be closed: there is barbed wire fence both at the top and bottom, although damaged enough to step over it easily. Nonetheless, it might not be completely legal to do so, but there seems to be no other way to get to/from Church Mountain from/to Corriebracks. Does anyone know a "legal" path?

(Comment Rating 2.75) Your Score: Very useful << >>Average

COMMENTS for Church Mountain

(End of comment section for Church Mountain. Recent comments about other mountains below.)

RECENT CONTRIBUTIONS ..

Track
Exploration of routes on Ballincurra.

simon3

17 hours ago.
Starting from the forest entrance to the south this track sh walk, Length:5.6km, Climb: 213m, Area: Ballincurra Hill, Shannon (Ireland) Ballincurra H

Summit Summary
Silvermine Mountains Far E Top: Trivial ascent, some views, gateway to wooded Ea

Collaborative entry Last edit by: simon3 17 hours ago.
Park in the carpark at R84440 69415 (388 mtrs), cross the road and head uphill and east for about 200 meters, the summit is at a track junction.

Summit Summary
Knockane: Easy though rough to get to, great views.

Collaborative entry Last edit by: simon3 17 hours ago.
Park at a forest entrance R850 665 , room for 5 cars, walk into the forest right at R844 663 which will bring you through the forest onto moorland. As it peters out you have a rough 200 meter cros...

Track
Simple way up from the SW.

simon3

17 hours ago.
Park near the start off the road which was retarred in 2012. walk, Length:2.8km, Climb: 152m, Area: Knockadigeen Hill, Shannon (Ireland) Knockadigeen

Summit Summary
Cooneen Hill: Briars, pines and pain

Collaborative entry Last edit by: simon3 17 hours ago.
Start from the forestry entrance at R90294 66782 and walk uphill, taking two lefts and one right off the main track onto a very rough track thats almost blocked near the end with felled trees, to...

Forum: General
Thank you MV

ahendroff

2 days ago.
At 5.42pm today I completed my 404th and final Arderin. Long journey to here. Delighted & overjoyed. Humbled at the challenge also. And thanks Mountain Views for that. Gougane Barra will always be...

Forum: General
...

BleckCra

3 days ago.
Thank you kevin carroll. If I can put a smile on that contrary face, the Matterhorn should be a cakewalk.

Summit Comment
Cooneen Hill: View from the South West

simon3

17 hours ago.
Knockane affords this view of Cooneen Hill from the SW.

Track
Experimental track of a trip to Keeper Hill and 2 nearby summits.

simon3

2 days ago.
This may not be at all an optimum route. walk, Length:20.8km, Climb: 859m, Area: Knockfune, Shannon (Ireland) Knockfune, Knockane, Keeper Hill

Forum: Suggestions
Re Main Area Display, logging

simon3

3 days ago.
The suggestion is that the list of summits for a mountain area obtained by asking for More Detail for the mountain area show whether or not the summit has been climbed. This has now been implement...

Summit Comment
Soarns Hill: Forested summit

slemish

2 days ago.
Getting to the summit of Soarns Hill is difficult and the extensive forestry means that views are severely limited. But as it qualifies under MV prominence rules, off I went to climb it. I parked ...

Track
Varied, strenuous wild Bluestacks walk.

simon3

4 days ago.
This varied route explores the two Ardnageers, Croaghbane, C walk, Length:21.0km, Climb: 999m, Area: Ardnageer SW Top, Bluestack Mountains (Ireland)

RECENT CONTRIBUTIONS ..