I quote from a report (1972) by Roger Goodwillie of An Foras Forbartha (the link to the PDF is provided at the end of this comment): "Westmeath is one of the more diverse counties in the midlands. A look at the geological map might lead one to suppose that the monotonous sheets of Carboniferous limestone are reflected by a similar monotony in the flora and fauna, but in fact the combination of shallow lakes (e.g. Coosan Lough), glacial eskers (Long Hill), bogs (near the Meath border), exposed rock (Rock of Curry), seasonally flooded land (River Shannon below Athlone), fens (L. Iron) and natural woodland (Lough Ree shores) makes the county of exceptional scientific interest".

The document reports on a number of areas of scientific interest in the county, and covers the Hill of Mael and the Rock of Curry on page 62.

From the summit, the views are extensive: Dublin/Wicklow mountains, Slieve Bloom mountains, Slieve an Iarainn and Cuilcagh, as well as the Cooleys. It is a better vantage point than it's afforested higher neighbour and county-top Mullaghmeen.

Finally, MV might consider renaming this peak - it is known as The Hill of Mael locally (I am from the area) and I've never heard it referred to as the Hill of Moat.

http://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/Goodwillie_1972_ASI_Westmeath-1.pdf Trackback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/1226/comment/18474/