The extermination of wolves

The history of where Wolftrap Mountain got its curious name is not easily found. Wolves had flourished in Ireland for thousands of years, and indeed ringforts and other defensive settlements were built between 1000 BC to AD 1000 partly to protect livestock from these creatures. The earliest evidence of wolves in Ireland comes from bones found in Cork that are 34,000 years old. It is known that Ireland had a large wolf population all the way up to the 18th century. They were seen as a serious problem to farmers for centuries, and in 1584 the first official scheme was devised to destroy them. However it was when Cromwell arrived that the elimination of wolves became a priority.

In 1652 Cromwell’s government introduced substantial bounties for every wolf destroyed, with females attracting the highest price. It is estimated that there were between 400 and 1000 wolves in Ireland before they were seriously targeted. In fact one of the nicknames for Ireland in Cromwell’s time was ‘Wolf Land’. This was probably because wolves had been made extinct in England and Wales by about 1500, and they would have been a real curiosity for the invading Cromwellians. (Wolves survived in Scotland until the 1700's) The widespread presence of wolves in Ireland is reflected in the Irish name for the animal – Mactire – or ‘Son of the Country’.

In a sad vicious circle, it was Cromwell’s destruction of the people and the land that led to an increase in the numbers of wolves, resulting in the perceived need to destroy them.
I couldn’t find the origin of the name Wolftrap Mountain, but knowledge of the government policy of 1652 to exterminate them makes things clearer. Whole packs of wolves were targeted at a time, and the Irish Wolfhound was instrumental in hunting them. Indeed a law was passed by Cromwell’s government to ban the exportation of Irish Wolfhounds as they were seen as too vital to the hunting of wolves at home. Perhaps Wolftrap Mountain was the scene of a famous hunt that resulted in some particularly notable extermination of wolves. Records show that a Mr John Boate received a reward for killing the last wolf in Laois in 1700. The boundary of Laois and Offaly passes through the summit of Wolftrap Mountain. Who knows if this was the scene of John Boate’s endeavour? (It is generally agreed that the last wolf in Ireland was killed on Mount Leinster in Carlow in 1786)

A tale describes how in 1182, a priest travelling from Ulster encountered a talking wolf, which revealed itself to be a man of Ossory. The Kingdom of Ossory included the Slieve Blooms in its domain. So as far back as then wolves were connected to the Slieve Bloom area. That is about as much as my research revealed. The elusive naming of Wolftrap Mountain may well remain lost in the mists of time. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/494/comment/5966/

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csd on Wolftrap Mountain

It's fair to say Wolftrap isn't much of a challenge. Indeed, if you had a 4x4 or weren't too bothered about the sump of your car, you could drive all the way to the top. The summit area is crowned by no less than five telecoms installations, as well as the enormous trig pillar mentioned by Harry. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/494/comment/3254/

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Harry Goodman on Wolftrap Mountain

I climbed this hill as part of an evening walk over Arderin and Stillbrook Hill. It is an easy ramble up and down in twenty minutes on the eircom acess road MR Gen Rd (N266 040). The top is crowned by the highest survey colum I have seen in the irish hills. By all means visit if in the area but do not go out of your way to "climb" this hill. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/494/comment/3232/

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Wolf has no teeth

Another dull Slieve Bloom mountain, really just for baggers. The only thing that aroused my curiosity was the unusual trig pillar, which is the height of a man and an odd shape. (See pic). It occurred to me that perhaps it wasn't odd at all, but that the base part is possibly the original foundation, and the surrounding level of bog has either been eroded away or possibly removed by turf-cutting. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/494/comment/23259/

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darrenf on Wolftrap Mountain

Parked at the viewpoint/picnic area just after the eircom access road mentioned below. Straightforward stroll up to the summit along the access road to the trig pillar which as mentioned is massive! A number of masts and portacabins on the summit also. Started at wolftrap as part of an overall loop around the blooms....from wolftrap headed east through some very high heather which made the going tough i have to admit! in some places heather and gorse was thigh high so be prepared. Barren enough terrain with only the views north and south over the low lands of any interest. Contiuned onwards with the eventual goal the carpark and picnic area at the cut. This road seems to appear out of the heather and looks more like a gully from some distance....overall tough going through the high heathers which thankfully were dry under foot. Cant imagine it after wet conditions... From the cut we contiuned onwards toward Baunreaghcong and the ridge of capard...see relevant summits for remaining posts Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/494/comment/3849/

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