On the E side of L. Eske G984843 A go NE steeply uphill. Where the tarred road ends, there is ample off road parking. Follow the farm track to L. Fad and around it's left side. When it peters out go down left (NW) to cross the Barnes River H003868 B. Continue up N through trackless long tussocky grass and hummocky ground.to H0008887826 C. At this point in the walk it is possible to take an out and back detour of 1.6km Croaghagranagh by crossing the river/stream, and going out and up WNW. Otherwise, continue up N past Illanmore Lough and then up a rugged slope to Pt. 534 H004889 D. The summit cairn lies NNW, across a shallow dip. Out and back is 8km with an additional 1.6km if the option of visiting Croaghagranagh is taken.There is a fine view point W to the main Bluestack's ridge above Lough Belshade. A route up can also be taken from the car park at the N end of L. Eske. Walk NE along the road to G969861 E and take a rough, narrow road N to Edergole. When the road/track ends continue up NE along side the Corabber River to cross it where it flows down from the left. Still going NE make for the head of the valley G997898 F , a broad and boggy area, before turning right to go steeply uphill to the summit. The route out and back is about 13km. This top along with six others can also be crossed in a strenuous linear walk from Barnes Gap to the R253 W of Commeen. 18 km and 1,600m of ascent. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/363/comment/5122/

(see Knockgorm for first part of walk).Croaghanirwore (isn't that a fantastic name)is separated from the central Bluestack ridge by a deep river valley - it is a lenghty hill aligned NE to SW, being wet and boggy until near the top when rock shows through, number of minor summits. From summit of Croaghbane take bearing on col with Croaghbarnes and descend some 600 ft SE. Fantastic views left into bleak Owendoo River valley snaking along backed by steep slopes of Croaghbarnes. To the right are completing a circuit of Lough Belshade which can be seen if move to other side of the ridge. Ahead get good view of the little loughs on the summit of Croaghbarnes which is only one metre shy of inclusion on this excellent website. From the col it is a short climb to the top of Croaghbarnes,passing the loughs to the summit at 499 m. Drop down SE to river valley which is rather wet with long grass ( head of Corraber River valley which used earlier to reach L Belshade). There is now a climb of some 250m to the summit of Croaghanirwore over wet grassy ground. Reach a false summit and cross a gulley before a short climb to the small summit cairn. There are extensive views in all directions but especially back into the heart of the Bluestacks around L Belshade (see pic). To the N past Gaugin the Derryveagh Mountains are laid out and to the W Slieve League with the Sligo Mountains over Donegal Bay. Drop down SE into the next river valley to the col with Croaghnageer (see for next part of walk). Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/363/comment/1240/

Climbed June 7th – From top of Croaghnageer (see for first part of walk) I took a bearing of 309 degrees NW dropping down the fairly short distance on to upper part of river valley between them. Here the terrain was much firmer and after crossing the river (stream) I made my way towards the obvious swathe of green running down from a breach in the ridge of Croaghaniwore. About twenty metres up this ‘track’ I veered left and scaled the eastern side of the mountain in a zig-zag fashion (I was beginning to feel the weight of my pack).Normally, the climb to the top should not pose any great difficulty. Once again the views from the top are excellent, enhanced as they were on this occasion by the beautiful evening sunshine. The wind turbines over in the direction of Barnesmore reflected brightly in the sunshine, and like its near neighbour provided stunning vies into the main Bluestacks across the valley. Indeed, all around the countryside was looking at its best. From here I turned towards Croaghbarnes dropping down fairly steeply through mixture of rocky and long tussock grass eventually flattening out onto the saddle dividing the Corabber (SW) & Cronamuck (NE) River valleys, before climbing up onto Croaghbarnes. Here I found a suitable camping site about 150m short of the top. I set camp and retired early determined to get an early start the following morning. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/363/comment/2384/

I have made a few attempts to get to Croaghanirwore, but have always been beaten back by bad weather on the occasions I've tried. I've always used the same route, starting at Barnes Gap on the N15, going up Browns Hill, and on to Croaghnageer. Croaghnageer was always as far as I'd got until this successful attempt when I started in gloomy conditions, but ended up in beautiful weather, although very cold. It felt exhilarating to be finally standing on the summit, at least partly because of its inaccessability. It is a long walk over difficult terrain, with no tracks or trails on the little walked summits which have to be crossed to get here. There are also some steep climbs on the way, particularly up Browns Hill and the northwest slopes of Croaghnageer. The reward is a real feeling of wilderness deep in the Bluestacks, with stunning views around the rest of the range, virtually all traces of civilisation hidden by the surrounding peaks. A manificent walk on this route - one of the best I've had, made all the better by being hard won. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/363/comment/17893/