Mount Leinster

Mount Leinster
Stua Laighean
Mount Leinster with its TV transmitter
Elevation	796 m (2,612 ft)
Prominence	725 m (2,379 ft)
Listing	Hewitt, Marilyn
Location
Location	Counties Wexford and Carlow,  Ireland
Range	Blackstairs Mountains

At 796 metres Mount Leinster (Irish: Stua Laighean) is the fifth highest mountain after Lugnaquilla 925m, Mullaghcleevaun 849m, Tonelegee 817m, and Cloghernagh 800m, in the province of Leinster, Ireland. It is the highest of the Blackstairs Mountains at 796 metres (2,605 ft). A tall RTÉ television transmitter tops the peak with a mast height of 122 m.

The TV transmitter site is a popular location for hang-gliding enthusiasts to launch from. In 2003, a hang-glider pilot died from injuries sustained in the crash landing of his flight launched from the mountain.^[1] There is a memorial at the peak of the mountain.

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 RTÉ access road leads to the summit. This road is closed to normal traffic and RTÉ have now fenced off the transmitter tower from public access to prevent vandalism.

Cycling: Mount Leinster has been used in stages of the Tour of Ireland and on many occasions in the 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 11 km long and has an average gradient of 6.9%. The last two kilometres are very tough reaching a gradient of almost 16%. Although the climb from Bunclody is slightly longer at 13 km its average gradient is 5.9%. The last kilometre of this climb is difficult with a gradient of 16.3%^[2]

See also

• List of mountains in Ireland

Aircraft:- Rheims/Cessna F182

Registration:- G-BKGY

Pilot-In-Command:- N. R. Harper

Passengers:- 3 passengers – including Stephen Harris who held a PPL with an assistant flying Instructor rating

1 Male passenger

1 Female passenger

Injuries:- 4 Fatal

Intended Flight:- Birmingham – Kilkenny

Alternate Dublin.

The aircraft departed Birmingham at 0745 hrs GMT. At 0905 hrs GMT the aircraft contacted Shannon ATC and advised that he estimated Kilkenny at 0935 hrs GMT. At 0915 hrs GMT he advised Shannon that he was leaving 6,000 ft descending to 3,000 ft. At 0918 hrs GMT the pilot advised that he was ten miles east of the coast and passing through 4,000 ft. That was the last message received from G-BKGY.

At 21.00 the aircraft wreckage was discovered at Mt. Leinster, 30 ft from the summit which is 2,409 ft. There were no survivors.

References

1. ^ Irish Examiner report, 1 May 2004. Retrieved 2008-07-21
2. ^ http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Leinster-Mount&qryMountainID=7208

Coordinates: 52°37′01″N 6°46′41″W / 52.617°N 6.778°W / 52.617; -6.778