View source for Errigal

{{redirect|An Earagail|the annual arts festival in County Donegal|Earagail Arts Festival}}
{{short description|Mountain in Donegal, Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Use Irish English|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Errigal
| native_name ={{native name|ga|An Earagail}}
| photo = earagail.jpg
| photo_caption = A view of Errigal from [[Gweedore]].
| elevation_m = 751
| elevation_ref = <ref name="mountainviews">{{Cite web|url=https://mountainviews.ie/summit/76/|title=Errigal 751m mountain, Donegal NW Derryveagh Mountains Donegal Ireland at MountainViews.ie|website=mountainviews.ie}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=8927|title=Errigal Mountain - Peakbagger.com|website=www.peakbagger.com}}</ref>
| prominence_m = 688
| prominence_ref = <ref name="mountainviews"/>
| listing = [[List of Irish counties by highest point|County top (Donegal)]], [[P600 (hill)|P600]], [[Marilyn (hill)|Marilyn]], [[Hewitt (hill)|Hewitt]]
| translation = oratory
| language = [[Irish language|Irish]]
| location = [[County Donegal]], Ireland
| range = [[Derryveagh Mountains]]
| coordinates = {{coord|55.033|N|8.112|W|type:mountain_region:IE|display=inline,title}}
| map = Ireland | label_position = right
| map_size       = 
| grid_ref_Ireland = B928207
| topo = [[Ordnance Survey of Ireland|OSi]] ''Discovery'' 1
| type = 
| age = 
| last_eruption = 
| first_ascent = 
| easiest_route = 
}}
[[File:The_beautiful_mount_errigal.jpg|thumb|An aerial view of Errigal]]

'''Errigal'''<ref>Ordnance Survey Ireland — the name is 'Errigal', omitting the word 'Mount'.</ref> ({{lga|An Earagail}})<ref name=logainm>{{cite web | url = https://www.logainm.ie/en/1166085 | title = An Earagail/Errigal | work = Placenames Database of Ireland | publisher = [[Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht|Government of Ireland - Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht]] and [[Dublin City University]] | access-date = 24 April 2019}}</ref> is a {{convert|751|m|ft|adj=on}} mountain near [[Gweedore]] in [[County Donegal]], Ireland.<ref name="mountainviews" /> It is the tallest peak of the [[Derryveagh Mountains]] and the tallest peak in County Donegal.<ref name="mountainviews" /> Errigal is also the most southern and the highest of the mountain chain called the "[[Seven Sisters, Donegal|Seven Sisters]]" by locals. The other peaks of the Seven Sisters are [[Muckish]], [[Crocknalaragagh]], [[Aghla Beg]], [[Ardloughnabrackbaddy]], [[Aghla More]], and [[Mackoght]].

==Geography==

Errigal is the most southern, steepest and highest of the mountain chain, called the "[[Seven Sisters, Donegal|Seven Sisters]]". The Seven Sisters includes [[Muckish]], [[Crocknalaragagh]], [[Aghla Beg]], [[Ardloughnabrackbaddy]], [[Aghla More]], [[Mackoght]] and Errigal. The nearest peak is Mackoght (from Irish: Mac Uchta,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.logainm.ie/en/1396655|title=Mac Uchta/Mackoght|website=Logainm.ie}}</ref> meaning "son of the mountain-breast") which is also known as Little Errigal or Wee Errigal ({{lga|an Earagail Bheag}}).

Errigal is known for the pinkish glow of its [[quartzite]] in the setting sun.<ref name="mountainviews"/> Another noted quality is the ever-changing shape of the mountain depending on what direction you view it from. Errigal was voted 'Ireland's Most Iconic Mountain' by ''Walking & Hiking Ireland'' in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.walkingandhikingireland.com/irelands-iconic-mountains-number-1-errigal/|title=Walking Ireland's Iconic Mountains – Number 1: Errigal|date=24 October 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322161502/www.walkingandhikingireland.com/?p=3 |archive-date=22 March 2012}}</ref>

==Naming==
In legend Errigal is said to have been named by the [[Fir Bolg]] who, originating in Greece, came to worship Errigal as they had [[Mount Olympus]].<ref name=IrishTimes>{{cite news | last = Macerlean | first = Fergal | date = 15 August 2009 | title = A route less travelled | url = https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/travel/a-route-less-travelled-1.720048 | newspaper = [[The Irish Times]] | access-date = 24 April 2019}}</ref>

The name comes from the [[Old Irish]] ''airecal'', meaning "[[oratory (worship)|oratory]]". There are no remains of an oratory on the mountain, so it may refer to the mountain as a whole as a place of [[prayer]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.logainm.ie/en/1166085|title=An Earagail/Errigal Mountain|website=Logainm.ie}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dil.ie/1892|title=eDIL - Irish Language Dictionary|website=www.dil.ie}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last = Tempan | first = Paul | title = Irish Hill and Mountain Names | url = http://www.mountaineering.ie/_files/Paul%20Tempan%20Irish%20Mountain%20Placenames%20-%20Feb%202012.pdf | date = February 2012 | access-date = 2 June 2021}}</ref>

In recent years, there have been numerous erroneous references to Mount Errigal.<ref>{{cite news | last = Feeny | first = Seán P. | date = 21 August 2015 | title = When did they change Errigal's name? | url = https://donegalnews.com/2015/08/when-did-they-change-errigals-name/ | newspaper = [[Donegal News]] | access-date = 24 April 2019 | archive-date = 23 February 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190223034920/https://donegalnews.com/2015/08/when-did-they-change-errigals-name/ | url-status = dead }}</ref> In 2016, the [[Republic of Ireland]]'s State tourism authority, [[Fáilte Ireland]], apologised for using the name "Mount Errigal" in its brochure, rather than the proper name.<ref>{{cite news | last = Scanlon | first = Cronan | date = 25 August 2016 | title = Fáilte Ireland admits it got Errigal's name wrong | url = https://donegalnews.com/2016/08/failte-ireland-admits-it-got-errigals-name-wrong-again/ | newspaper = [[Donegal News]] | access-date = 24 April 2019 | archive-date = 22 February 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190222230121/https://donegalnews.com/2016/08/failte-ireland-admits-it-got-errigals-name-wrong-again/ | url-status = dead }}</ref> The official name is ''An Earagail'' or Errigal.<ref name=logainm/> Mount Errigal is the name of a hotel in [[Letterkenny]], County Donegal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.govisitletterkenny.ie/listings/mount-errigal-hotel/|title=Mount Errigal Hotel|access-date=22 February 2019|archive-date=7 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200107133026/http://www.govisitletterkenny.ie/listings/mount-errigal-hotel/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
* In the 1985 music video, "[[In A Lifetime]]" by [[Clannad]] and [[Bono]], several images of Errigal appear.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.clannad.net/concertoverview.htm |title=Clannad Concert Tour Program |access-date=2011-04-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010219002208/http://www.clannad.net/concertoverview.htm |archive-date=2001-02-19 }}</ref> 
* In 1990, Errigal features prominently in the music video for [[The Chills]]' song, "[[Heavenly Pop Hit]]".
* In the 1991 song by [[Goats Don't Shave]] called "[[Las Vegas (In the Hills of Donegal)]]" contains the line, ''"To stand on top of Errigal, would give me such a thrill"''.
* In the 2008 film ''[[Hunger (2008 film)|Hunger]]'', the main protagonist Bobby Sands describes Errigal as a ''"beautiful sight"''.
* In the 2011 movie ''[[Your Highness]]'', several scenes were shot on Errigal<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://homepage.eircom.net/~weebinnians2/webpages/Newsletters/Newsletter%2020090913_FestivalEdition.htm|title=Newsletter}}</ref>
* In 2012, Irish composer Vincent Kennedy, as part of his music for [[The Happy Prince and Other Tales#Adaptations|The Happy Prince]], titled a piece: "Snowfall on Errigal"{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}
* The song "[[Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair]]", written by [[Proinsias Ó Maonaigh]], begins with the lines:
::"Céad slán ag sléibhte maorga Chondae Dhún na nGall / Agus dhá chéad slán ag an Earagal árd / Ina stua os cionn caor 's call".

{{wide image|Sommet Mont Errigal.jpg|1500px|Panoramic view of Errigal's summit.}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Errigal_Snow.jpg|From An Chúirt.
Image:View From Errigal.jpg|The view from Errigal.
Image:Errigal - geograph.org.uk - 557434.jpg|Errigal as seen from Slieve Snaght.
Image:Ascending Errigal - geograph.org.uk - 1459252.jpg|Ascending Errigal.
Image:Donegal Carrickfin Airport - View to the east - geograph.org.uk - 1174831.jpg|Errigal as seen from [[The Rosses]].
Image:Preparing to land at Donegal - geograph.org.uk - 1159594.jpg|An aerial view of Errigal and Gweedore.
Image:Dunlewy - Derelict church near Poison Glen - geograph.org.uk - 1189699.jpg|Derelict church at the foot of Errigal.
Image:Donegal. A View Of Errigal Mountain From Crockmulroney Summit - geograph.org.uk - 1063714.jpg|Errigal as seen from [[Cloughaneely]].
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Commons category|Errigal}}

*[[Lists of mountains in Ireland]]
*[[List of Irish counties by highest point]]
*[[List of mountains of the British Isles by height]]
*[[List of P600 mountains in the British Isles]]
*[[List of Marilyns in the British Isles]]
*[[List of Hewitt mountains in England, Wales and Ireland]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.walkingandhikingireland.com/?p=3 Walking Ireland’s Iconic Mountains – Number 1: Errigal from Walking & Hiking in Ireland]

{{Mountains of Great Britain and Ireland|}}
{{British hills}}
{{Mountains and hills of Ulster}}

[[Category:Marilyns of Ireland|Errigal]]
[[Category:Hewitts of Ireland|Errigal]]
[[Category:Mountains and hills of County Donegal|Errigal]]
[[Category:Geography of Gweedore]]
[[Category:Highest points of Irish counties]]
[[Category:Mountains under 1000 metres|Errigal]]
[[Category:Pyramidal peaks]]