At 751 metres, Mount Errigal hardly qualifies as a hill, let alone a mountain. The highest of the Derryveagh mountains in county Donegal, Ireland, Errigal can be climbed in a little under two hours without much difficulty. The reason for its fame in Ireland is its almost perfect conical shape and bright white summit, and the beauty of the surrounding countryside, which has made for rafts of postcards and calendars in the cheesy souvenir shops that cover Ireland's beauty spots like potato blight.

Most of the surrounding landscape and hills are composed of granite, but Errigal and its rival peak, Muckish (yes, Mount Muckish. Something funny?) are made of sedimentary rock which has metamorphosed under high pressure and heat into dense, hard quartzite. Errigal was therefore formed during a continental collision a long time ago, and has remained relatively uneroded due to its extreme hardness.

From Errigal's peak one can see the surrounding Glenveagh National Park, the Poisoned Glen, and the neighbouring peaks of Muckish and Slieve Snaght. It has become a popular tourist and hill walking spot, and a few houses, shops and hotels perch on the slopes.

You can also, if you feel inclined, purchase the Errigal Ladies Knit Hat as modelled by the charming lady here: http://store.murphyofireland.com/errigalhat.html

"Rising above County Donegal, the beauty of our highest mountain, Errigal, calls to one from near and far. We thought it only fitting then to name this beautiful knit hat after our own esteemed local landmark."

Pictures of the summit of Errigal:
http://students.washington.edu/bparris/errigal.htm
http://hem.passagen.se/salonn/irland97/errigal1.htm
Errigal's geological composition:
http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:xVUk1XO0qAIC:www.endatdev.com/activity/NPEcontent.asp%3FID%3D56+errigal+granite&hl=en
Walking in Donegal:
http://www.donegalnet.com/attractions/walking.asp

Also a famous pub in Belfast. It's on the Ormeau Road.
Until 2000 it was a dingy hole attracting mostly old men (my father being one of them). It has since been given a drastic makeover and is full of young revellers

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