A Munro is defined as a mountain peak over 914 metres (3,000 feet). Ireland has 13 such mountain peeks.
These peaks get their name from Hugh Munro, who in 1891 published a list of all the Scottish peaks above this height.
Strictly speaking a Munro outside Scotland is called a Furth. Other names include three-thousanders. Whatever name is used, they all refer to the same thing, a mountain peak with an elevation of at least 3,000 feet (914 metres). An Irish Munro also requires a topographcal prominence of at least 15 metres.
In Ireland there are 13 such Munros, ranging from the highest, Carrauntoohil, at 1039 metres to our lowest Munro, Galtymore, at 919 metres.
The full list of Irish Munros are shown below.
| No. | Name | Range | IG Ref | Height (Metres) | Prominence (Metres) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carrauntoohil | MacGillycuddy's Reeks | V803844 | 1039 | 1039 |
| 2 | Beenkeragh | MacGillycuddy's Reeks | V801853 | 1010 | 91 |
| 3 | Caher (East Top) | MacGillycuddy's Reeks | V792839 | 1001 | 100 |
| 4 | Cnoc na Péiste | MacGillycuddy's Reeks | V836842 | 988 | 254 |
| 5 | Caher (West Top) | MacGillycuddy's Reeks | V789840 | 975 | 24 |
| 6 | Maolán Bui | MacGillycuddy's Reeks | V832838 | 973 | 41 |
| 7 | The Bones / Carrauntoohil Tooth | MacGillycuddy's Reeks | V800847 | 959 | 37 |
| 8 | Cnoc an Chuillin | MacGillycuddy's Reeks | V823833 | 958 | 54 |
| 9 | Brandon Mtn | Brandon Group | Q460115 | 952 | 927 |
| 10 | The Big Gun | MacGillycuddy's Reeks | V840845 | 939 | 70 |
| 11 | Cruach Mhór | MacGillycuddy's Reeks | V841848 | 932 | 32 |
| 12 | Lugnaquillia | Dublin.Wicklow | T032917 | 925 | 849 |
| 13 | Galtymore | Galty Mountains | R878237 | 919 | 899 |
| Note: Some sources include Cnoc an Chuillin East Top, at 926 metres, IG V828834, as a Munro, giving a total of 14 Irish Munros. However, it's prominence is not sufficient to be listed by The Scottish Mountaineering Club. |
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Logistics of climbing all the Irish Munros in a Weekend
The following itinerary, courtesy of Dublin Free Hiking, is an efficient way to complete the Irish Munros, by starting in the east of the country at Lugnaquilla and finishing on the west coast at Mount Brandon. Climbing all the Irish Munros will require about 370 km of driving between the various trailheads.
Day 1
Starting from Fenton’s Pub (Irish Grid Reference: S 973 935 or GPS: N52.984,W6.552), the most easterly Irish Munro can be bag, followed by 170 km drive to the Galtymore trailhead (IGR: R 893 203 or GPS: N52.335,W8.1575), near the village of Skeheenaranky, to climb the Galtymore peak.
| No. | Name | Range | IG Ref | Height (Metres) | Prominence (Metres) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lugnaquillia | Dublin.Wicklow | T032917 | 925 | 849 |
| 2 | Galtymore | Galty Mountains | R878237 | 919 | 899 |
Day 2
The next trailhead is at Cronin’s yard, which is a 130 km drive from the Galtymore trailhead. Starting from Cronin’s Yard Car Park (IGR: Q 476 118 or GPS: N52.02584,W9.69658). From here ten of the Irish Munros can be bagged by following the Hags Glen Circuit with one diversion to include Caher East and West Top.
| No. | Name | Range | IG Ref | Height (Metres) | Prominence (Metres) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cruach Mhór | MacGillycuddy's Reeks | V841848 | 932 | 32 |
| 2 | The Big Gun | MacGillycuddy's Reeks | V840845 | 939 | 70 |
| 3 | Cnoc na Péiste | MacGillycuddy's Reeks | V836842 | 988 | 254 |
| 4 | Maolán Bui | MacGillycuddy's Reeks | V832838 | 973 | 41 |
| 5 | Cnoc an Chuillin | MacGillycuddy's Reeks | V823833 | 958 | 54 |
| 6 | Caher (East Top) | MacGillycuddy's Reeks | V792839 | 1001 | 100 |
| 7 | Caher (West Top) | MacGillycuddy's Reeks | V789840 | 975 | 24 |
| 8 | Carrauntoohil | MacGillycuddy's Reeks | V803844 | 1039 | 1039 |
| 9 | The Bones / Carrauntoohil Tooth | MacGillycuddy's Reeks | V800847 | 959 | 37 |
| 10 | Beenkeragh | MacGillycuddy's Reeks | V801853 | 1010 | 91 |
Day 3
Finally, a 70 km drive gets you to the last trailhead, Faha Carpark (IGR: Q 493 1201 or GPS: N52.2395,W10.206).
| No. | Name | Range | IG Ref | Height (Metres) | Prominence (Metres) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brandon Mtn | Brandon Group | Q460115 | 952 | 927 |
When climbing the Irish Munros as part of a timed event, the clock starts at the first trailhead and stops at the trailhead after the final peak.
For example, if you were following the above itinerary, timing would start at the Fenton’s pub trailhead, before climbing Lugnaquilla, and finish at the Faha Carpark, after descending mount Brandon.
In Conclusion
Whether you want to call it the Irish Munros, the Irish Furths or the Three-Thousand Series, if you climb the peaks listed above you will have completed the highest Irish peaks above 914 metres with a prominence of at least 15 metres.