High above Dublin lies Kippure. Its summit a beacon visible for miles. Kippure isn’t just a mountain. It’s a silent observer of history. A testament to human endeavor and nature’s enduring power.
Kippure the highest point in County Dublin stands at 757 meters. It’s a significant peak in the Wicklow Mountains. Straddling the border between Dublin and Wicklow its prominence is undeniable. It’s the 56th highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin scale. It’s also number 72 on the Vandeleur-Lynam scale.
For centuries Kippure stood untouched. A majestic landmark in the Irish landscape. Then came the Ordnance Survey. In the 1820s surveyors used Kippure as a triangulation point. They placed large poles on the summit. These poles helped them measure distances to other mountains. This is possibly where the local name “The Pole” originated. The locals weren’t entirely happy about this intrusion. They even removed an unguarded pole in 1827. Their reasons remain uncertain. Perhaps suspicion of land surveying. Or perhaps they considered the summit sacred.
Later in the mid-1950s Radio Éireann surveyed Kippure. They chose it for a VHF FM radio transmitter. By 1961 a 127-meter television and radio transmitter mast was erected. It became Ireland’s oldest television transmission site. Test transmissions featured slides of Ireland a test card and music by John McCormack. Telefís Éireann started transmitting from Kippure on December 31 1961. This was the first of five main transmitters. Kippure’s importance lessened in the late 1970s. New UHF transmitter sites offered better reception. Yet the mast remains a prominent feature of Kippure’s skyline.
Kippure’s slopes feed into the Liffey Head Bog. This bog is the source of the River Liffey. Two corrie lakes Lough Bray Upper and Lough Bray Lower are on Kippure’s northeast flank. The summit offers breathtaking views. On clear days you can even see Wales.
Kippure is more than just a transmitter site. It’s a mountain with a rich history and stunning natural beauty. A place where the past and present intertwine. A place to be explored and cherished. So take a moment to truly appreciate the grandeur of Kippure.