Exploring Waterford's Ancient Monuments

The Landscape

A series of short articles highlighting regions in which Waterford's megaliths are found.

The Comeragh Mountains

The Comeragh mountains are a prominent feature of the Waterford landscape with its imposing mass visible from most parts of the county.

This charming and varied mountain range practically divides the county in two as it stretches in a line from near the town of Dungarvan in the south, up as far as Clonmel in the north.

These mountains are regarded as one of the most scenic ranges in Ireland. Reaching a highest point at 792 meters, the area boasts vast glacier sculpted valleys and towering craggy cliffs often covered in beautiful wild flowers. It’s a landscape which is home to flocks of mountain sheep and goats and a great variety of wildlife which includes fallow deer and soaring peregrine falcons.

The central part of the Comeraghs is a boggy plateau, while its fringe feature rocky Coums filled with delightful little Loughs (lakes).

The word Comeragh is derived from Coumarach which means "full of hollows. Most of the Comeragh names incorporate ‘Coum’, the most well known being Coumshingaun lake which is rated as one of the finest examples of a Coum lake in Europe. Other notable Coums are Coum Iarthair, as well as Crotty’s Lough, which was named after the outlaw William Crotty (an Irish Robin Hood equivalent) whose hideout was a remote cave while on the run for many years from authorities prior his ultimate capture and execution in 1742.

Another name associated with the mountains is Jim Fitzgerald, known as the ’Hermit Lackendara’. Jim was a World War I veteran, who following his return from the war, retreated to live for the rest of his in a cave close to the shore of Coumshingaun lake.

He died in 1959, aged 68 years.

Today, the Comeragh’s solitude and tranquility still holds much appeal, particularly for those who want to “get away from it all” and experience nature at its best.

Convenient for local hill walkers and mountain enthusiasts, no part of the range is more than 20km from any sizeable town. Thus, it’s an ever popular outdoor amenity for anyone who wants to take to the wilds and experience a true sense of remoteness and peace.

Many megalithic monuments can be found in the Comeraghs. These include burial Cairns, fantastically located Standing Stones, prehistoric Stonewalled Enclosures as well as ancient Hut Sites and sacred places of ritual.