Conavalla () at , is the 69th–highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin scale, and the 85th–highest peak on the Vandeleur-Lynam scale.Mountainviews, (September 2013), "A Guide to Ireland's Mountain Summits: The Vandeleur-Lynams & the Arderins", Collins Books, Cork, The summit of Conavalla sits just off the main "central spine" of the Wicklow Mountains, as it runs from Kippure in the north, to Lugnaquillia in the south. Conavalla's large massif to the north-east is described as a "wet and boggy barren plain" whose various shoulders dominate the head of the Glendalough valley, and the upper east-side of the Glenmalure valley.
Naming Irish academic Paul Tempan notes that the "pass" element of Conavalla's name likely refers to the various routes from the Blessington lakes area (e.g. the R756 road to the Wicklow Gap) in the west that crossed parts of Conavalla's boggy massif to get into the Glenmalure valley in the east (note that the Wicklow Gap can be used to access the neighboring Glendalough valley without having to cross Conavalla's massif). (see below).
Geography Convalla is situated in the southern section of the Wicklow Mountains, and forms a horseshoe on a "boggy" massif, at the head of the Glenmalure valley, with its neighbours, Table Mountain , and Camenabologue .
Conavalla also sits in another broad horseshoe around the Glendalough valley, with the hydroelectric station at Turlough Hill , and the mountains of Camaderry , Lugduff , and Mullacor . Conavalla's large "boggy massif" dominates the head of the Glendalough valley stretching from its summit at the far-west side of the head of the valley, to Lough Firrib on the east-side. The massif also includes Three Lakes to the north of the summit of Conavalla.
Conavalla's prominence of does not qualify it as a Marilyn, but it does rank it as the 39th-highest mountain in Ireland on the MountainViews Online Database, 100 Highest Irish Mountains, where the minimum prominence threshold is 100 metres.Mountainviews, (September 2013), "A Guide to Ireland's Mountain Summits: The Vandeleur-Lynams & the Arderins", Collins Books, Cork,
Art O'Neill On Conavalla's northern slopes lies Art's Cross and Art's Plaque, dedicated to Art O'Neill, son of Shane O'Neill, who died of exposure in January 1592 helping Hugh Roe O'Donnell to escape from Dublin Castle to the stronghold of Fiach McHugh O'Byrne in the valley of Glenmalure. The escape is commemorated annually in the Art O'Neill Challenge, which crosses over Conavalla.
Bibliography
Gallery
See also
Wicklow Way Wicklow Mountains Lists of mountains in Ireland List of mountains of the British Isles by height List of Hewitt mountains in England, Wales and Ireland
References
External links MountainViews: The Irish Mountain Website, Conavalla MountainViews: Irish Online Mountain Database The Database of British and Irish Hills , the largest database of British Isles mountains ("DoBIH") Hill Bagging UK & Ireland, the searchable interface for the DoBIH