20/08/2026
What if we told you this view has been here for more than 700 million years… and once played a part in an ancient Irish legend? ⛰️🌿
At 425m, Mount Gable rises between Lough Corrib and Lough Mask, with Lough Coolin tucked beneath its western slopes. The summit rewards walkers with sweeping views across the lakes and into the mountains of Joyce Country.
But there’s an older story here…
According to local legend, the Fir Bolg gathered on Mount Gable before their legendary clash with the Tuatha Dé Danann at the Battle of Moytura. So, that quiet summit may once have been a gathering place for some of Ireland’s most ancient mythical people. ⚔️
Mount Gable sits within the remarkable geological landscape of the Joyce Country & Western Lakes UNESCO Global Geopark a region whose geological story stretches back more than 700 million years. Limestone landscapes, ancient rock formations, lakes and glacially shaped terrain all help explain why this corner of the west looks the way it does today.
Follow the Mount Gable walk and you’ll also encounter something much more recent: the remains of an old village near Lough Coolin, with stone cottage ruins offering a poignant glimpse into rural life around the time of the Great Famine. Lough Coolin itself was once renowned for its white trout; today, pike and perch are found in its waters.
For walkers, the nearby Sean Bhóthar follows the foothills of Mount Gable between Clonbur and Corr na Móna. The route passes old ruins and opens up spectacular views of Lough Corrib, while the climb towards Binn Shléibhe brings the landscape into full view. 🥾
So whether you’re a local who has driven past Mount Gable a hundred times, or a visitor seeing it for the first time, perhaps it’s time to look at it differently?
Not bad for a walk from Clonbur. 💚
📍 Mount Gable, Clonbur, Co. Galway
Information: Clonbur Online & Joyce Country and Western Lakes UNESCO Global Geopark.
