Mount Leinster (, ) is a mountain in the Republic of Ireland. It straddles the border between Counties Carlow and Wexford, in the province of Leinster. It is the fifth-highest mountain in Leinster after Lugnaquilla , Mullaghcleevaun , Tonelagee , and Cloghernagh , and the highest of the Blackstairs Mountains. A 2RN transmission site tops the peak with a mast height of .
Summit access The mountain is most often climbed from the Nine Stones, a landmark point at the foot of Mount Leinster, about 8 miles east of Borris. From Borris there is a road to a visitor car park on the mountain. From there the steep 2RN access road leads to the summit. This road is closed to normal traffic and 2RN have now fenced off the transmitter mast from public access to prevent vandalism.
The Nine Stones and the car park lie on the saddle between Mount Leinster and the nearby Slievebawn (Sliabh Bán; ; ). There are in fact ten stones. They are arranged in a line and the largest is about high. The origin of the stones is uncertain.
Other sports Cycling Mount Leinster has been used in stages of the Tour of Ireland and on many occasions in the FBD Insurance Rás (Rás Tailteann). It may be climbed from the Borris side in County Carlow or the Bunclody side in County Wexford. Ascending from Borris the climb is long and has an average gradient of 6.9%. The last are very tough reaching a gradient of almost 16%. Although the climb from Bunclody is slightly longer at its average gradient is 5.9%. The last of this climb is difficult with a gradient of 16.3%. The mountain is also used by The ML Syndicate (mountain biking club) who use the area for trail riding and MTB sporting events .
Hang gliding The transmission site is a popular launch location for hang gliding and for radio-controlled gliders. In 2003, a hang glider pilot died from injuries sustained in the crash landing of his flight launched from the mountain.Irish Examiner report, 1 May 2004. Retrieved 2008-07-21 There is a memorial at the peak of the mountain.
Plane Crash
On Wednesday 7 September 1983 a Cessna 182Q Skylane light aircraft crashed below the summit while on a flight from Birmingham to Kilkenny. The four people aboard all died.
Transmission site The Mount Leinster transmitter is owned and operated by 2RN and at ASL. It is the highest transmission site in Ireland, and was one of the original five main Telefís Éireann television transmitters when it opened on low power in December 1962. It became fully operational on 12 June 1963 with a 625-line service on VHF Band III Channel F. The RTÉ Radio FM service was added in 1966, and RTÉ's second television channel RTÉ 2 was carried on VHF when it started in 1978. UHF television transmissions from Mount Leinster began in 1996 with the introduction of Teilifís na Gaeilge, now known as TG4. The original 1962 mast was replaced in 2010 with a taller one of in preparation for digital television transmissions. In common with all the other 2RN sites, analogue television transmissions from Mount Leinster ceased on 24 October 2012. Today the site provides the Irish digital television service Saorview, and eight FM radio stations to a large area of South East Ireland.
Current transmissions
Digital television FrequencyUHFkWMultiplexPol490 MHz23160Saorview 1H514 MHz26160Saorview 2H
FM radio FrequencykWServiceNotes89.6 MHz200RTÉ Radio 1Since 198591.8 MHz200RTÉ 2fm94.9 MHz Before 198599.2 MHz200RTÉ lyric fmSince 199994.0 MHz200RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta90.4 MHz Before 1985101.4 MHz200Today FMSince 1997102.0 MHz4Beat 102 103Since 2003107.2 MHz20NewstalkSince 200695.6 MHz4South East RadioSince 1989
Mount Leinster relay transmitters
DTT RelayCountyMux 1Mux 2kWPolArklowWicklow21240.25VCahirTipperary28250.06VClonmelTipperary42460.5HForth MountainWexford33360.5VGallows HillWaterford22250.25VGoreyWexford41440.01HKilmacthomasWaterford46430.01VSuir ValleyKilkenny33362V
See also
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
References