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Gravale

Coordinates: 53°07′N 6°21′W / 53.117°N 6.350°W / 53.117; -6.350
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gravale
Gravale (highest) with Carrigvore (right) from SE
Highest point
Elevation718 m (2,356 ft)[1]
Prominence123 m (404 ft)[1]
Listing100 Highest Irish Mountains, Hewitt, Arderin, Simm, Vandeleur-Lynam
Coordinates53°07′N 6°21′W / 53.117°N 6.350°W / 53.117; -6.350
Naming
Native nameDroibhéal
English translationdifficult passage
Geography
Gravale is located in island of Ireland
Gravale
Gravale
Location in Ireland
LocationCounty Wicklow, Ireland
Parent rangeWicklow Mountains
OSI/OSNI gridO1049009420
Topo mapOSi Discovery 56
Geology
Mountain typeGranite with microcline phenocrysts[1]
Climbing
Easiest routefrom the Sally Gap, or along the R115

Gravale (Irish: Droibhéal, meaning 'difficult passage')[2] at 718 metres (2,356 ft), is the 79th–highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin scale,[3] and the 98th–highest peak on the Vandeleur-Lynam scale.[4][5] Gravale is in the middle sector of the Wicklow Mountains range, in County Wicklow, Ireland.[6] Gravale sits on a north-east to south-west "boggy ridge" that forms the "central spine" of the whole range, which runs from the Sally Gap, to Carrigvore 682 metres (2,238 ft), to Gravale, and after a col to Duff Hill 720 metres (2,360 ft), which is part of the larger massif of Mullaghcleevaun 849 metres (2,785 ft).[6][7]

Gravale's prominence of 123 metres (404 ft), does not quality it as a Marilyn, but does rank it the 45th-highest mountain in Ireland on the MountainViews Online Database, 100 Highest Irish Mountains, where the minimum prominence threshold for inclusion on the list is 100 metres.[8][5]

Naming

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According to Irish academic Paul Tempan, the historian Eoin MacNeill, writing in the Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland (JRSAI), thought that the Irish name "Drobeóil", as listed in the Metrical Dinsenchas, had survived the mountain name "Gravale".[2] Tempan also notes that historical maps of the estates in which Gravale lies suggest that the col between Gravale and Duff Hill was known as "Lavarna" or "Lavarnia", from the Irish "Leath-Bhearna", meaning "half-gap", and that this was likely a difficult trail from the Blessington lakes area to Lough Dan.[2]

Bibliography

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  • Fairbairn, Helen (2014). Ireland's Best Walks: A Walking Guide. Collins Press. ISBN 978-1848892118.
  • Fairbairn, Helen (2014). Dublin & Wicklow: A Walking Guide. Collins Press. ISBN 978-1848892019.
  • MountainViews Online Database (Simon Stewart) (2013). A Guide to Ireland's Mountain Summits: The Vandeleur-Lynams & the Arderins. Collins Books. ISBN 978-1-84889-164-7.
  • Dillion, Paddy (1993). The Mountains of Ireland: A Guide to Walking the Summits. Cicerone. ISBN 978-1852841102.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Gravale". MountainViews Online Database. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Paul Tempan (February 2012). "Irish Hill and Mountain Names" (PDF). MountainViews.ie.
  3. ^ Simon Stewart (October 2018). "Arderins: Irish mountains of 500+m with a prominence of 30m". MountainViews Online Database.
  4. ^ Simon Stewart (October 2018). "Vandeleur-Lynams: Irish mountains of 600+m with a prominence of 15m". MountainViews Online Database.
  5. ^ a b Mountainviews, (September 2013), "A Guide to Ireland's Mountain Summits: The Vandeleur-Lynams & the Arderins", Collins Books, Cork, ISBN 978-1-84889-164-7
  6. ^ a b Fairbairn, Helen (2014). Dublin & Wicklow: A Walking Guide. Collins Press. ISBN 978-1848892019.
  7. ^ Dillion, Paddy (1993). The Mountains of Ireland: A Guide to Walking the Summits. Cicerone. ISBN 978-1852841102. Walk 4: Carrigvore, Gravale, Duff Hill, Mullaghcleevaun East Top, Mullaghcleevaun
  8. ^ "Irish Highest 100: The highest 100 Irish mountains with a prominence of +100m". MountainViews Online Database. September 2018.
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