| Keeper Hill / Slievekimalta | |
|---|---|
| Sliabh Coimeálta | |
 Viewed from the west | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 694 m (2,277 ft) |
| Prominence | 627 m (2,057 ft) |
| Listing | P600,Marilyn,Hewitt |
| Coordinates | 52°45′04″N8°15′36″W / 52.751°N 8.260°W /52.751; -8.260 |
| Geography | |
  Keeper Hill / Slievekimalta Location in Ireland | |
| Location | County Tipperary,Ireland |
| Parent range | Silvermine Mountains |
| OSI/OSNI grid | R823667 |
| Topo map | OSiDiscovery 59 |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Way marked from Doonane carpark through Ballyhourigan woods |
Keeper Hill orSlievekimalta (fromIrishSliabh Coimeálta, meaning 'mountain of guarding')[1] is a mountain with a height of 694 metres (2,277 ft)[2] in theSilvermine Mountains ofCounty Tipperary, Ireland. Traditionally, it was deemed to be part of theSlieve Felim Mountains.[3][4]
Keeper Hill, also known as Slievekimalta, gets its name from a little-known tale aboutSadb, daughter ofConn of the Hundred Battles, raising her childrenEogan and Indderb on this mountain after they had been rejected by their fatherAilill Aulom, king of Munster.[2]
The mountain is about 15 km east ofLimerick City. Keeper Hill is the highest mountain in the Silvermines (and the wider Shannon area) and the 58th highest in Ireland. There is astone circle in Bauraglanna townland on the northeastern slopes, known as Firbrega ('false men').[2]
There is a looped walk around the lower shoulders of Keeper Hill, to which the ‘hardy’ walker can add the ‘trek’ to the summit. This loop walk is part of the National Looped Walks and is marked using the standard purple National Looped Walk directional arrows.[5]
Historically, aLughnasadh gathering was held on the summit each August.[2]
On the slopes of Keeper Hill is a woodland of 3,300 hectares, mostly of non-native conifers. The 300 hectare summit is blanket bog andNardusgrassland, considered of ecological importance.Keeper Hill is designated aSpecial Area of Conservation.[6]
| British Isles |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland | ||
| Outside Scotland | ||
| England | ||
| Ireland | ||
| County tops | ||
| Northern Highlands (20) |    | |
|---|---|---|
| Western Highlands (20) | ||
| Central and Eastern Highlands (13) | ||
| Southern Highlands (15) | ||
| Islands (13) | ||
| Scottish Lowlands, England and Wales (13) | ||
| Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland (25) | ||
