| Clermont Carn | |
|---|---|
 Clermont Carn summit. | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 510 m (1,670 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 312 m (1,024 ft)[1] |
| Coordinates | 54°04′48″N6°19′17″W / 54.0801°N 6.3215°W /54.0801; -6.3215 |
| Naming | |
| Native name | Carnán Mhaighréid Náir |
| Geography | |
  Clermont Carn Location in Ireland | |
| Location | County Louth, Ireland |
| Parent range | Cooley Mountains |
Clermont Carn (Irish:Carnán Mhaighréid Náir, meaning 'cairn of noble Margaret'),[1] also known asBlack Mountain, is a mountain that rises to 510 metres (1,670 ft) in theCooley Mountains ofCounty Louth, Ireland. It is at the border with Northern Ireland, and is also the location of the Clermont Carn transmission site. The mountain's name refers to an ancient burialcairn on its summit, and toLord Clermont ofRavensdale.[1]
The 'carn' in the mountain's name refers to an ancient burial monument on its summit,[2][3] also known as 'Black Mountain Chambered Cairn' or 'Ravensdale Park Cairn'. This cairn is 21 m (69 ft) in diameter and over 4 m (13 ft) high, with the remains of another trapezoidal cairn 3.5 m (11 ft) long in the southwest part. Threelintels are in position and the rear part iscorbelled. Surrounding this was a court (5.5 × 7 m) and a gallery containing at least two burial chambers.[4]
It was built in the earlyNeolithic, c. 4000–3500 BC, and forms part of theClyde-Carlingford group ofcourt cairns. In recent decades the site has been disturbed by quarrying and blasting.[5][6] It is a protectedNational Monument.[7][8]
TheClermont Carn transmission site is situated at the summit of Clermont Carn and was opened in 1981 to provide UHF television coverage for the northeast of the Republic of Ireland, counties Louth,Meath, and NorthCounty Dublin.
With the site being less than two kilometres (1.2 mi) from the border it was clear that this transmitter would be used to provideRTÉ services into Northern Ireland. Initially the two channelsRTÉ One andRTÉ2 were carried on Ch52 and Ch56 withTV3 on Ch66 andTG4 on Ch68 following later. FM radio transmission was also added providing coverage of the five national channels to its service area, and in 1982, a 2MAmateur Radio Repeater was installed.[9] In 2002, a new 120-metre-tall (390 ft) cable-stayed mast was erected and this greatly improved coverage into Northern Ireland. The original self-supporting tower was truncated, and is now only used for microwave links and the Amateur Radio Repeater.
Digital terrestrial television (DTT) trials started in 2008, and in common with all2RN transmitters in Ireland, analogue television transmissions from this site ended on 24 October 2012.[10] Uniquely, Clermont Carn is the only main television transmitter in Ireland that is verticallypolarised, and does not service anyrelay transmitters. Today the Irish digital television serviceSaorview is broadcast from here to a sizeable area including a large tract of Northern Ireland, with a good signal being received inBelfast and beyond. This overspill has been welcomed by the UK'sOfcom who have provided information for viewers in Northern Ireland about receiving the RTÉ channels andTG4 both from within Northern Ireland on the UK'sFreeview service, and via theSaorview overspill.[11]
| Frequency | UHF | ERP | Multiplex | Pol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 642 MHz | 42 | 160 kW | 2RN 1 | V |
| 666 MHz | 45 | 160 kW | 2RN 2 | V |
All services ceased October 24th, 2012.[12] (PAL-I UHF)
| Frequency | UHF | kW | Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| 719.25 MHz | 52 | 250 kW | RTÉ One |
| 751.25 MHz | 56 | 250 kW | RTÉ Two |
| 831.25 MHz | 66 | 250 kW | TV3 |
| 847.25 MHz | 68 | 250 kW | TG4 |
Ceased on 31st of March, 2021.[13]
| Frequency | Block | kW | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 227.360 MHz | 12C | 5 kW[14] | DAB Ireland Mux 1 |
| Frequency | ERP | Service |
|---|---|---|
| 87.8 MHz | 40 kW | RTÉ Radio 1 |
| 95.2 MHz | 40 kW | RTÉ lyric fm |
| 97.0 MHz | 40 kW | RTÉ 2fm |
| 102.7 MHz | 40 kW | RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta |
| 105.5 MHz | 80 kW | Today FM |
| 107.9 MHz | 4 kW | Newstalk |
| Frequency | ERP | Service |
|---|---|---|
| 145.675 MHz (Output) 145.075 MHz (Input) CTCSS 110.9 Hz | 15 W | EI2CCR 2m 12.5 kHz Repeater (Dundalk Amateur Radio Society www.ei7dar.com) |
