County Armagh’s rolling green hills conceal an ancient volcanic system. The volcano dates back to 58 million years ago, and today, the eroded roots are visible, giving tourists and residents the chance to see the geological features that have helped to shape Northern Ireland.
Our Love of Volcanoes is Evident
Volcanoes are prevalent in modern media. The movie Pompeii shows the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 and the devastating impact it had on the local area. Romain Gavras’ Sacrifice, which stars Chris Evans and Anya Taylor-Joy, uses a volcano to set the theme of a dark comedy about a movie star who is taken hostage. Both movies draw on how destructive volcanoes can be.
The theme also appears in iGaming. Slingo bingo games like Slingo Cash Eruption use a volcano as the backdrop, combining the unpredictability of volcanic eruptions with the randomness of slots. More factual accounts include Lava Academy by Lava Show. This goes into the history of volcanoes and the research that is being done to understand them better.
Hiking through County Armagh’s Volcanic Remains
The Ring of Gullion was formed through volcanic activity. Ground collapses and magma intrusions have also helped to form the local landscape. 58 million years ago, a magma chamber collapsed, and this created a number of fractures. Molten rock surfaced, resulting in a ring that forms the arc of the hills around Slieve Gullion. Geologists have described the root zone as being a volcanic caldera.
The central mass contains rock that’s been formed by magma intrusions, rather than being the remains of the cone of the volcano. Interestingly, the Ring of Gullion was also the first ring dyke in the world to be mapped geologically.
The ring also forms Mourne Gullion Strangford, which is a UNESCO Global Geopark. You can find out more about that on the Discover Northern Ireland website. The long-distance and circular walking route covers 38 miles and takes people through the volcanic landscape and past old churches. It’s also possible to go through a number of historical sites. The area is incredibly rich in history, with Neolithic tombs. The highest remaining passage tomb in the country can also be found towards the southern summit.
Dedicated walking routes across the area give people the chance to explore it at ground level, and the surrounding rocky hills are also highly visible from local farmland. Tough Soles has some guides online for those who want to explore on foot.
Hikes show the volcanic landscape that County Armagh is known for, and it also shows how millions of years of erosion have affected the landscape. Those who want to go on the more demanding mountain routes can do so; however, they are only recommended for experienced hikers.
The Ring of Gullion Heritage Coach Tour is a good way to see the surrounding area and departs from Newry. Local experiences like Mountain Ways Ireland are also popular and offer wellness-based forest bathing sessions. Experience Gullion Tours also cover 15 scenic spots and archaeological sites, which allow people to explore the local area while finding out more about its rich history and fascinating surroundings.
