Kippure
Encyclopedia
Kippure is a granite
mountain
that straddles the county boundaries of South Dublin
and Wicklow
. It is popular for hill walking and outdoor leisure activity owing to its proximity to Dublin city, with its fine views over Dublin Bay
towards Howth Head
. It has convenient access and easy terrain. At 757 metres (2,484 feet), it is the highest mountain in South Dublin and the 73rd highest in Ireland
.
which passes close to the summit, with a spur from the road to an RTÉ
transmitter mast at the top.
, which rises in the Liffey Head Bog on the western slopes.
, and is the oldest television transmitter site in the Republic of Ireland. It was first identified as a transmitter site as part of a Radio Éireann survey into potential FM radio transmitter sites in the mid 1950s. The Irish government Board of Works built an access road to the site in 1959, and by the summer of 1961 the mast was erected. Television trade test transmissions followed, consisting of slide views of Ireland, a testcard, and the music of Count John McCormack.
At first, Kippure transmitted using the British 405-line
TV standard on channel 7.
Telefís Éireann started transmissions from Kippure on 31 December 1961, to be followed by a 625-line service on channel H in the summer of 1962.
FM Radio transmissions of RTÉ
Radio (the former Radio Éireann) commenced in 1966, with stereo transmissions commencing in 1969.
405-line transmissions from Kippure ceased in 1978 with the arrival of RTÉ 2, however Kippure did not transmit RTÉ 2 until much later. Initially on Channel J with low power later moving to Channel H with RTÉ 1 moving to Channel E.
Its importance in radio and television transmission has diminished since the late 1970s with the opening of new transmitter sites at Three Rock Mountain
in County Dublin
, Clermont Carn
in County Louth
, and Cairn Hill in County Longford
, which provide better reception in most areas previously served only by Kippure. Today Kippure transmits the four Irish television channels, the national radio stations, and some commercial radio stations.
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
that straddles the county boundaries of South Dublin
South Dublin
South Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is one of three smaller counties into which County Dublin was divided in 1994. The county seat is Tallaght, the largest suburb of Dublin and the biggest urban centre in the county. Other important centres of population are Lucan and Clondalkin...
and Wicklow
County Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
. It is popular for hill walking and outdoor leisure activity owing to its proximity to Dublin city, with its fine views over Dublin Bay
Dublin Bay
Dublin Bay is a C-shaped inlet of the Irish Sea on the east coast of Ireland. The bay is about 10 kilometres wide along its north-south base, and 7 km in length to its apex at the centre of the city of Dublin; stretching from Howth Head in the north to Dalkey Point in the south...
towards Howth Head
Howth Head
Howth Head is a headland north east of Dublin City in Ireland. Howth falls under the local governance of fingal county council. Entry to the headland is at Sutton while village of Howth and the harbour are on the northern shore. Baily Lighthouse is on the southeastern part of Howth Head...
. It has convenient access and easy terrain. At 757 metres (2,484 feet), it is the highest mountain in South Dublin and the 73rd highest in 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,...
.
Access
Kippure is easily reached by the Military RoadR115 road
The R115 road is a regional road in counties Dublin and Wicklow in Ireland. It follows the Military Road for its entire length. The R115 is long; the full length of the Military Road is...
which passes close to the summit, with a spur from the road to an RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
transmitter mast at the top.
Watercourses
The slopes of Kippure hold the sources of multiple watercourses, including the River LiffeyRiver Liffey
The Liffey is a river in Ireland, which flows through the centre of Dublin. Its major tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac. The river supplies much of Dublin's water, and a range of recreational opportunities.-Name:The river was previously named An Ruirthech,...
, which rises in the Liffey Head Bog on the western slopes.
Radio and television transmissions
The summit of Kippure is the site of a television and radio transmitter mastRadio masts and towers
Radio masts and towers are, typically, tall structures designed to support antennas for telecommunications and broadcasting, including television. They are among the tallest man-made structures...
, and is the oldest television transmitter site in the Republic of Ireland. It was first identified as a transmitter site as part of a Radio Éireann survey into potential FM radio transmitter sites in the mid 1950s. The Irish government Board of Works built an access road to the site in 1959, and by the summer of 1961 the mast was erected. Television trade test transmissions followed, consisting of slide views of Ireland, a testcard, and the music of Count John McCormack.
At first, Kippure transmitted using the British 405-line
405-line
The 405-line monochrome analogue television broadcasting system was the first fully electronic television system to be used in regular broadcasting....
TV standard on channel 7.
Telefís Éireann started transmissions from Kippure on 31 December 1961, to be followed by a 625-line service on channel H in the summer of 1962.
FM Radio transmissions of RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
Radio (the former Radio Éireann) commenced in 1966, with stereo transmissions commencing in 1969.
405-line transmissions from Kippure ceased in 1978 with the arrival of RTÉ 2, however Kippure did not transmit RTÉ 2 until much later. Initially on Channel J with low power later moving to Channel H with RTÉ 1 moving to Channel E.
Its importance in radio and television transmission has diminished since the late 1970s with the opening of new transmitter sites at Three Rock Mountain
Three Rock Mountain
Three Rock Mountain is a mountain in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County in Ireland. It is high and forms part of the group of hills in the Dublin Mountains which comprises Two Rock, Three Rock, Kilmashogue and Tibradden Mountains. The mountain takes its name from the three groups of granite rocks at...
in County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
, Clermont Carn
Clermont Carn
Clermont Carn, variously spelt as "Clermont Cairn", "Clairmont Carn/Cairn" or other variations is a 510m high peak in the Cooley Mountains in County Louth which is also home to a main RTÉ Network Limited transmission site.-Transmitter:...
in County Louth
County Louth
County Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
, and Cairn Hill in County Longford
County Longford
County Longford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Longford.Longford County Council is the local authority for the county...
, which provide better reception in most areas previously served only by Kippure. Today Kippure transmits the four Irish television channels, the national radio stations, and some commercial radio stations.
Analogue television
| Frequency | VHF | UHF | kW | Service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 183.25 MHz | E | — | 160 | RTÉ One RTÉ One RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ... |
| 207.25 MHz | H | — | 160 | RTÉ Two RTÉ Two RTÉ Two is a free-to-air general entertainment channel operated by Irish state broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. RTÉ Two is available throughout the island of Ireland through digital terrestrial service Saorview, VHF and UHF bands, and is also available via satellite to Irish subscribers of... |
| 775.25 MHz | — | 59 | 500 | TG4 TG4 TG4 is a public service broadcaster for Irish language speakers. The channel has been on-air since 31 October 1996 in the Republic of Ireland and since April 2005 in Northern Ireland.... |
| 799.25 MHz | — | 62 | 500 | TV3 TV3 Ireland TV3 is a free-to-air commercial television network in the Republic of Ireland. Launched on 20 September 1998 it was Ireland's first commercial broadcaster. The channel is owned by TV3 Group a subsidiary of Doughty Hanson & Co.-The TV3 Group:... |
Digital television
| Frequency | UHF | kW | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 735.25 MHz | 54 | N/A | Saorview Saorview Saorview is the national free-to-air digital terrestrial television service in Republic of Ireland.The service began operation on 29 October 2010 on a trial basis with full launch on 26 May 2011. By legislation it was required to be available to approximately 90% of the population by end of... (Mux 1) |
Analogue radio
| Frequency | kW | Service |
|---|---|---|
| 89.1 MHz | 40 | RTÉ Radio 1 RTÉ Radio 1 RTÉ Radio 1 is the principal radio channel of Irish public-service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann and is the direct descendant of Dublin radio station 2RN, which began broadcasting on a regular basis on 1 January 1926... |
| 91.3 MHz | 40 | RTÉ 2fm RTÉ 2fm RTÉ 2fm, or 2FM as it is more commonly referred to, is Raidió Teilifís Éireann's second national radio station. It broadcasts popular music programming aimed at a young Irish audience.- History :... |
| 93.5 MHz | 40 | RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta , abbreviated RnaG, is the Irish-language radio service of the public-service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. The station is available on FM in Ireland and via satellite and on the Internet.- History :... |
| 98.7 MHz | 40 | RTÉ lyric fm RTÉ lyric fm RTÉ lyric fm is an Irish classical music radio station, owned by the public-service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. The station, which is based in Limerick, was launched in 1999 and is available on FM in Ireland, on satellite, on Sky Digital in Ireland and United Kingdom and via the... |
| 100.9 MHz | 40 | Today FM Today FM Radio Ireland Ltd, trading as 100-102 Today FM is an Irish commercial FM radio station which is available nationally. The station, which commenced broadcasting on Saint Patrick's Day in 1997, can be received nationally and carries a mix of music and talk... |