Belmore Mountain
Encyclopedia
Belmore Mountain is a hill
in the townland
of Gortgall, western County Fermanagh
, Northern Ireland
. With a summit roughly 398 metres (1,306 ft) above sea level, it is the second highest point in Fermanagh, the highest being at Cuilcagh
on the Northern Ireland–Republic of Ireland
border in the south of the county.
Belmore Mountain dominates the skyline in the nearby county town
of Enniskillen
and gives its name to Belmore Street in the town.
, outcropping of the sedimentary rock
forms extensive sheer cliffs near the summit. Chemical erosion caused by the natural acidity of water has formed a cave system underneath the mountain, accessible at the village of Boho. Faulting has produced the Knockmore escarpment
on the western flanks of Belmore. Other small villages and hamlets
around the foot of Belmore include Letterbreen
and Springfield
.
Agriculture is limited due to the steep slopes and thin peaty soils on Belmore, however extensive plantations of coniferous forest
can be found on the upper plateau
.
Among the notable features of the mountain is a chambered giant's cave.
. Somerset Lowry-Corry, 4th Earl Belmore
, served from 1868 to 1872 as the 14th Governor of New South Wales
, where several features are named for him: the Belmore River, the suburb of Belmore
in Sydney
, Belmore Park, also in Sydney and in Goulburn.
Hill
A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills often have a distinct summit, although in areas with scarp/dip topography a hill may refer to a particular section of flat terrain without a massive summit A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills...
in the townland
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
of Gortgall, western County Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. With a summit roughly 398 metres (1,306 ft) above sea level, it is the second highest point in Fermanagh, the highest being at Cuilcagh
Cuilcagh
Cuilcagh, historically Slieve Cuilcagh , is the highest mountain in the Breifne area and the 165th highest on the island of Ireland . The summit lies on the border between County Fermanagh and County Cavan , and is the highest point in both counties...
on the Northern Ireland–Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
border in the south of the county.
Belmore Mountain dominates the skyline in the nearby county town
County town
A county town is a county's administrative centre in the United Kingdom or Ireland. County towns are usually the location of administrative or judicial functions, or established over time as the de facto main town of a county. The concept of a county town eventually became detached from its...
of Enniskillen
Enniskillen
Enniskillen is a town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is located almost exactly in the centre of the county between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. It had a population of 13,599 in the 2001 Census...
and gives its name to Belmore Street in the town.
Geography
Geologically dominated by limestoneLimestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
, outcropping of the sedimentary rock
Sedimentary rock
Sedimentary rock are types of rock that are formed by the deposition of material at the Earth's surface and within bodies of water. Sedimentation is the collective name for processes that cause mineral and/or organic particles to settle and accumulate or minerals to precipitate from a solution....
forms extensive sheer cliffs near the summit. Chemical erosion caused by the natural acidity of water has formed a cave system underneath the mountain, accessible at the village of Boho. Faulting has produced the Knockmore escarpment
Escarpment
An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff that occurs from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations.-Description and variants:...
on the western flanks of Belmore. Other small villages and hamlets
Hamlets
Hamlets is the name of an open source system for generating web-pages originally developed by René Pawlitzek at IBM...
around the foot of Belmore include Letterbreen
Letterbreen
Letterbreen is a hamlet in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is 5 miles southwest of Enniskillen on the main route to Sligo. It lies in the foothills of Belmore Mountain....
and Springfield
Springfield, County Fermanagh
Springfield is a small village in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, near Enniskillen and Lough Erne. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 69 people. It is situated in the Fermanagh District Council area.- See also :...
.
Agriculture is limited due to the steep slopes and thin peaty soils on Belmore, however extensive plantations of coniferous forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
can be found on the upper plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
.
Among the notable features of the mountain is a chambered giant's cave.
Eponymy
The hill gives its name to an Irish earldomEarl Belmore
Earl Belmore is a title in the Peerage of Ireland created in 1797 for Armar Lowry-Corry, 1st Viscount Belmore, who had previously represented County Tyrone in the Irish House of Commons. He had already been created Baron Belmore, of Castle Coole in County Fermanagh, in 1781 and Viscount Belmore in...
. Somerset Lowry-Corry, 4th Earl Belmore
Somerset Lowry-Corry, 4th Earl Belmore
Somerset Richard Lowry-Corry, 4th Earl Belmore GCMG, PC , styled as Viscount Corry from 1841 to 1845, was an Irish nobleman and Conservative politician.-Background and education:...
, served from 1868 to 1872 as the 14th Governor of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, where several features are named for him: the Belmore River, the suburb of Belmore
Belmore, New South Wales
Belmore is a suburb, of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Belmore is located 15 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Canterbury.-History:...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Belmore Park, also in Sydney and in Goulburn.
See also
- Caves of the Tullybrack and Belmore hillsCaves of the Tullybrack and Belmore hillsThe Caves of the Tullybrack and Belmore hills can be found in south-west County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is mainly within Boho parish. The region is also described as the West Fermanagh Scarplands by environmental agencies and shares many similar karst features with the nearby Marble Arch...
- List of Marilyns in Northern Ireland