4 Sliabh Beagh Mountain Challenge
Length:
45 km
Time to Complete:
2- 3 hours
Terrain:
Contains some hills
Difficulty:
Difficult (easier on e-bikes)
Directions
- From Drumlin Trails head right in the direction of Emyvale taking the slip road on your left adjacent to the football pitch on the edge of the village.
- Cross the main N2 roadway at the foot of the village and continue following the Mountain stream river until you arrive at a T-junction on the L1160 road. Here is Emyvale's mini industrial estate.
- From here take right and continue to the next T-junction. Turn right here and at the 2nd crossroads take left (signposted) for Carrickroe and Bragan. Continue through Carrickroe until you reach the R186 (Monaghan/Clogher) road. Cross through this junction and begin your ascent of Bragan (Sliabh Beagh).
- When you have reached the summit there should be an environmental notice board explaining the wildlife of the Sliabh region. There should be a picnic area where you can rest up for awhile and the Penal days cross is accessible directly opposite from where the Notice board stands.
- Begin your descent by continuing forward and keeping left all the while until you reach the Tydavnet/Knockatallon crossroads L1000. If you were to continue through this junction it would lead you to the ancestral home of Margaret Skinnider.
- Instead of going straight through, turn left at the crossroads in the direction of Knockatallon. If you have not already had a picnic break you could stop here at the Sliabh Beagh hotel on your right.
- Passing by the hotel proceed towards the crossroads junction where five roads converge and take the signposted turn to the left for Scotstown.
- Go straight through Scotstown in the direction of Bellanode.
- Pass over the bridge in Bellanode and proceed through the next crossroads until you reach Tydavnet.
- Turn right after the church in Tydavnet and go through straight until you reach the N2 Derry/Dublin road. Here take a left towards Emyvale and take the second right turn past the church and school. On the right hand side of this road opposite the first junction to your left is where the Irish saint and Martyr St Oliver Plunkett confirmed school children from this parish.
Points of Interest
- Emyvale village nestles in the heart of the barony of Errigal Truagh "McKenna country" comprising of the combined parishes of Truagh and Donagh. Originally known by it's gaelic name of "Scairbh na gCaorach" meaning the crossing of the sheep (a shallow crossing point on the Mountain river) adjacent to the bridge at the lower end of the village.
- Here is Emyvale's mini industrial estate comprising of Gola furniture manufacturing, and Universal Graphics which was formerly a shoe manufacturing factory run by Frank McKenna and later his family. There is also an old corn mill in the ownership of the McKenna family which was originally built by the well known millers, the Dougan family of Cornanure. Less than a mile from her is birth place of Tommy Bowe renowned Irish International rugby player.
- Before reaching Bragan summit you will pass through the small peaceful community of Carrickroe. If your surname happened to be McKenna and you were searching without much background info through the graveyard memorials for a clue to your ancestors here you could be forgiven for being mesmerized by the frequency of that name here.
- At Bragan summit be at peace with nature. On a clear day you can see as far away as the Cooley Mountains to the east and the Ox mountains in the west. A Penal days cross was erected to the memory of a priest shot dead while celebrating midnight mass nearby. Enjoy the flora and fauna of this landscape as your view takes in several counties both north south east and west. Watch out for pine marten, kestrel, cuckoo or buzzard all common to the Bragan region. Listen to the sound of nature as you take a break or picnic after reaching your highest point on your itinerary.
- Cornagilta school and Clontabunia townland where Margaret Skinnider's father was reared. Margaret was one of the many women volunteers who took a very active role in the 1916 Rising but only recently recognized for it.
- If you have not taken a picnic snack with you then Sliabh Beagh hotel is worth a visit where you can pick up information about lots of walking nature trails in this region, besides having a light meal or refreshments.
- Scotstown has a proud footballing tradition winning All Ireland club title status. Local man Sean McCague was a national past president of the GAA orgination.
- Bellanode, quaint little industrial town on not far from Monaghan town has a museum of vintage vehicles and machinery.
- Tydavnet twinned with Geel in Belgium and called after Saint Dympna. Nearby in the townland of Caldavnet is Dympna's well.
- Saint Oliver Plunkett confirmed many school children from this parish in the townland of Derryhallagh opposite the junction to Tully where the GAA football club is now situated. The ground are dedicated to his memory and is so-called St Oliver Plunkett GAA park in his memory.
Gallery
St Dympna's Well
Local Knowledge
Read more about this trail from local experts.
