Keadeen is a shapely, steep-sided hill in the SW part of the Wicklow Mountains. It’s a grassy peak and maybe this has caused it’s undoing as a place of recreation as traditional ascent routes from the N and W have been ruled out due to farmers’ concerns. Because of that, there appears to be only one safe access point - to the East. There are great views from the top esp. of the local hills and dales as well as south to Mt. Leinster and west over the plains of Kildare.

E. Park near to S98494 89500 A. Follow the southern edge of the forest and upon reaching S96643 89798 B swing SW for some 300m before veering W and then NW up the shoulder of Keadeen Mt.
Alternatively, from the same starting point head NW into the forest and follow trails until you reach the end of the road at S9701590064 C. You will see a track that leads to a gate and a fence. Go through the gate and turn left up the track keeping the fence on your left until the corner where the fence turns left S9679189791 D. From here follow the directions above.
Allow 1hrs+ for either route.

N. Previously this was accessed from Dwyer/Mc Allister cottage car park S96634 91281 E, however there are access issues here and it should not be attempted from here.

W. There are access issues from this side too so it’s best avoided from here.

Track/4401 and similar are the only valid ones at the time of writing [June 2023] Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/186/comment/4946/

Many people are finding the usual route from the Dwyer/McAllister cottage a bit offputting with the signage etc.
An alternative route is to start at the forest road entrance at the Ballinabarney gap S9846089524 F Room for 3 cars.
Follow the forestry road, always taking the left hand fork until you reach the end of the road at S9701590064 C. You will see a track that leads to a gate and a fence. The fence is damaged so best not to cause any further damage' Go through the gate and turn left up the track keeping the fence on your left until the corner where the fence turns left S9679189791 D. There is a well worn track heading up hill that leads directly to the top of keadeen.
There is evidence of previous break ins at the forest gate, broken glass etc so it wont be as secure as the car park at the cottage. Still, there don't seem to be any access issues. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/186/comment/19734/

Because of Keadeen's somewhat isolated position at the western edge of the Wicklow mountains there are some great views from the top. Here's Balineddan, Slievemaan and Lugnaquilla (in cloud as usual) viewed from Keadeen. We came up the western side from Ballinabarry Gap (S985 895 G) handrailing the forest at first and then following the heavily eroded track the rest of the way to the summit. Sadly the track has been badly cut up by scramblers/quad bikes. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/186/comment/717/

From Blessington continue on the n81 to turn left for Donard.
In Donard go left and next right to pass the Youth Hostel on the left.
Take next right to Knockarrigan. Now follow signs for Dwyer/McAllister Cottage.
Park in small Car Park opposite cottage.
Leave Car Park and follow road to right to reach forest track on left.
Follow forest track and at first bend enter wood to follow edge of wood.
Where the wood ends on your right there is a track all the way to the summit.
The summit has a scattered cairn and a trig point.
The walls circling the Brusselstown Ring , the biggest ringfort in Ireland , can be seen to the NW. It was constructed in the Iron Age to guard the entrance to the rich farmland of the Glen of Imaal.
To the East Lugnacoille and it’s neighbours are impressive.
From the summit head south following a fence and later a stone wall
to reach Carrig which has a small cairn. The view back to Keadeen is beautiful.
On my way back I saw this beautiful butterfly! Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/186/comment/430/

Keadeen Butterfly. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/186/comment/431/