Ben Bulben is a mountain (by Irish standards, at least) in County Sligo, immediately outside the town of Sligo, on the northwest coast of the island. It's between 1600 and 1800 feet high. My friend (a native of Sligo) and i climed it one day, which isn't that difficult, but you need to have good wind for it. Later, i learned that they warn the tourists not to attempt to climb it, because so much mining was done there in past centuries, that it is full of sink holes and hidden shafts. It is probably just as well that i didn't know that at the time. Being on the Atlantic coast, the view from the top was really breathtaking.
In the southwest there are the "Mountains of Kilarney," in County Kerry (if you'll remember, the Dingle Peninsula is in County Kerry). These mountains are also known as Macgillycuddy's Reeks. They were immortalized in the song "Whiskey in the Jar."
As I was goin' over Kilgara Mountain
I spied Colonel Farrell and his money he was countin'
Well first I drew me pistol, and then I drew me rapier
Sayin' stand and deliver for I am your bold decaiver [deceiver]
!
Misha ring-um durum da
Whack fol the derry oh
Whack fol the derry oh
There's whiskey in the jar
Well I'd like to find me brother, the one that's in the army
But I don't know where he's stationed, in Cork or in Killkenny
Together we'd go roamin' o'er the Mountains of Killarney
And I swear he'd treat me better than me handsome, sportin' Jenny!
Misha ring-um durum da
Whack fol the derry oh
Whack fol the derry oh
There's whiskey in the jar
Carrantouhil is the highest peak in Macgillycuddy's Reeks, at about 3100 feet, and also the highest mountain in Ireland (it's the peak in the center).
There is a lake in northern County Mayo, south of Sligo, called Innisfree, and the great Irish poet, William Butler Yeats wrote poem about it, called "The Lake Isle of Innisfree." We often drove past it if we had a job away south--i lived in Sligo then.
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.
Maybe more later.
