Sliabh na mBan Traditional Cache

Sliabh na mBan, or Slievenamon, is the highest mountain in South Tipperary overlooking the Golden Vale and some of the richest farming lands in the South East. The English translation of Sliabh na mBan is the mountain of the women. Slievenamon is firmly placed in local mythology. While versions of the story differ and even the type of mythical event is debated, the most well-known story in the area is an all women race to the summit.

View of Slievenamon from Clonmel

Fionn mac Cumhaill, the leader of the mythical band of warriors known as the Fianna, was in search of a wife. It is said that all the eligible women were gathered together and the first woman to the top of Slievenamon would win Fionn’s hand in marriage. Fionn favoured Gráinne, a particularly beautiful woman, and the night before the race Fionn sent a messenger to Gráinne to advise her of the quickest but more arduous route to the summit. Gráinne won the race and gained Fionn as her groom. However, during their wedding feast, Gráinne absconded with Fionn’s friend and warrior companion, Diarmaid. Diarmaid and Gráinne are the subject of a large body of Irish folklore called An Tóraíocht.

View from Slievenamon

This story has inspired Rás Sliabh na mBan, an annual race of both female and male hill-runners to and from the summit ending in the village of Kilcash. The lead runners expect to complete the 5 mile course and 2,000 foot climb in less than 40 minutes. (Obviously, cache finding expeditions may take longer!)

The song “Slievenamon” or, as it was originally called, “The Maid of Slievenamon” was written by Charles Kickham and is widely associated with the county of Tipperary. The lyrics of the song are available at http://www.irishpage.com/songs/slevmoan.htm.

Slievenamon, at its highest point, stands at 722 metres and is the 95th highest mountain in Ireland. The views from the mountain cover the counties of Tipperary, Waterford and Kilkenny. It is suggested that the cairn at the summit, known locally as “The Rock” may mark a burial chamber called a passage grave (a famous example of which can be seen at Newgrange, Co. Meath).

Cairn at the summit of Slievenamon

The best starting point to the cache is from a carpark near the village of Kilcash (N52° 24.220' W007° 32.284'). Follow the road from the village up the hill and take the signposted road to the left 0.4km from the village. The trail starts a further 0.2km from the turn and is signposted. Some walkers prefer to park at the start of the trail, but be aware that, the road is narrow and can get very congested.

The hike should take approximately two hours at a relatively moderate pace and the trail is well marked. The cache is a square tablock tupperware box. The contents of the cache are girlie themed (well, it is the mountain of the woman) and it would be great if you could swap similar items! Please be careful about resealing and rehiding the cache as the summit can get very wet and very cold! The coordinates on the page are the coordinates for the cache.

Kilcash has a conveniently located pub and accommodation for the area is readily available in the local town of Clonmel (visible from about halfway up the mountain).