Glenshane Pass Explained

The Glenshane Pass is a major mountain pass cutting through the Sperrin Mountains in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is in the townland of Glenshane Pass on the main Derry to Belfast route, the A6.

A large wildfire broke out in Glenshane Pass in late June 2018, burning more than 600 acres of dry gorse in the pass by 27 June.

Features

It is a Special Area of Conservation. Carn/Glenshane Pass is a large area of intact blanket bog, characterised by undulating topography and including a large, well-developed hummock and pool system within a thick mantle of blanket peat.^[1] It is also classed as an Area of Special Scientific Interest.^[2] The Ponderosa is the second highest public house on the island of Ireland, situated 288m (945feet) above sea level.^[3]

History

The Glenshane Pass derives its name from the townland of Glenshane. It is erroneously claimed as being named after Shane Crossagh O'Mullan a notorious rapparee, or highwayman, who roamed the highways of County Londonderry and County Tyrone in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century.^[4] However earlier forms of the name exist as far back as the 14th-century long before O'Mullan or rapparrees existed.

The Troubles

• On 24 June 1972, three British Army soldiers were killed by a landmine explosion on the Glenshane Pass.^[5] Their Land Rover was destroyed by two IEDs consisting of 120 lbs of explosive packed in milk churns.^[6]
• On 17 March 1978, a British Army soldier was shot dead in a gun battle with IRA gunmen near the Glenshane Pass. Some reports said he was involved in a covert observation post when he spotted two suspected gunmen. He stood up to challenge the men and was fatally wounded, but he shot back wounding one man.^[6]

References

54.8801°N -6.7908°W

Notes and References

1. Web site: Carn – Glenshane Pass . Joint Nature Conservation Committee . 2008-06-26 . 28 July 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080728133203/http://www.jncc.gov.uk/ProtectedSites/SACselection/sac.asp?EUCode=UK0030110 . live .
2. Web site: Carn/Glenshane Pass . Environment and Heritage Service . 2008-06-26.
3. News: Patrons of Ireland’s highest pub travel to see Kerry back on Top. The Irish Times. Una. Brankin. 13 September 2019. 9 May 2020. 15 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210115220957/https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/patrons-of-ireland-s-highest-pub-travel-to-see-kerry-back-on-top-1.4016472. live.
4. News: The bandit who escaped ‘the Devil’s Claws’ – Shane Crossagh O’Mullan. Niall. Deeney. 5 February 2013. The Londonderry Sentinel. 28 October 2013. 29 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131029204553/http://www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk/news/your-community/the-bandit-who-escaped-the-devil-s-claws-shane-crossagh-o-mullan-1-4756055. live.
5. Web site: Members of the Army Air Corps killed as a result of the Troubles in Northern Ireland from 1958 . Palace Barracks Memorial Garden . https://web.archive.org/web/20021207080316/http://www.palacebarracksmemorialgarden.org/Army%20Air%20Corps.htm . dead . 7 December 2002 . 2008-06-26 . dmy-all .
6. Web site: Members of The Parachute Regiment killed as a result of the Troubles in Northern Ireland from 1971 . Palace Barracks Memorial Garden . https://web.archive.org/web/20030112211007/http://www.palacebarracksmemorialgarden.org/The%20Parachute%20Regiment.htm . dead . 12 January 2003 . 2008-06-26 . dmy-all .