Slieveanard (Sliabh an Aird) is a peak in County Tipperary, Ireland, within the Galtee Mountains of the Southern Hills and Vales in the wider British Isles and Northwest European Highlands. It rises to 438 m and is one of the lower named summits in its range.
It lies in the municipality of The Municipal District of Cahir — Cashel. Within the Galtee Mountains, it ranks as the 27th highest of 32 named peaks, with Galtymore Mountain the main high point of the range some distance to the west.
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Slieveanard sits in the Galtee Mountains, part of the Southern Hills and Vales in Ireland, and more broadly the British Isles and Northwest European Highlands. Administratively it is in County Tipperary, within The Municipal District of Cahir — Cashel. It is a modest summit in a hill landscape shaped by open uplands, rounded ridges and neighbouring tops rather than a single isolated cone.
By elevation it is 27th highest of 32 named peaks in the Galtees. The surrounding terrain rises and falls toward higher ground to the west, while lower tops and shoulders lie closer by. This gives the mountain a position on the eastern side of a larger upland group, with the main heights of the range set farther away.
The nearest named summits and passes give a clear sense of Slieveanard’s setting among the Galtees:
The nearest higher peak is Sliabh an Aird NE Top, only 1.4 km away to the NE. Higher ground then builds quickly to the west, where several much taller Galtee summits lie.
From Slieveanard, the main high points within 25 km are concentrated in the Galtees and nearby uplands. The most prominent summit in that wider view is Galtymore Mountain, 918 m, about 11.5 km W. Other major peaks include Lyracappul, 825 m, 14.8 km W, and Knockmealdown, 792 m, 18.6 km S.
Also within that radius are Sugarloaf Hill, 663 m, 16.1 km S; Knockshanahullion, 653 m, 15.4 km S; and Knocknafallia (Dillon GR), 667 m, 21.0 km SE. These peaks show how Slieveanard sits on the edge of a broader upland scene rather than among the highest summits itself.
Slieveanard belongs to the Galtee Mountains, the highest range in its immediate area. The range’s highest peak is Galtymore Mountain at 918 m, about 11 km W of Slieveanard. The Galtees contain 32 named peaks, and Slieveanard is ranked 27th by elevation among them.
The range lies in Ireland and forms part of the broader uplands of the Southern Hills and Vales. Slieveanard is therefore a lower summit within a larger mountain group whose main heights are set to the west, with the range’s principal crest and highest ground well above it.
NASA POWER climate estimates for 2001–2020 suggest that conditions at the summit are cool and wet through the year. The warmest month is July, at about 13 °C, while the coldest is January, at about 4 °C. Mean temperatures stay above freezing in every month, so winter visits can still feel cold, damp and windy rather than deeply frozen.
Annual precipitation in the surrounding area is about 1,100 mm. The wettest month is November, at about 115 mm, and the driest is April, at about 70 mm. Cloud, drizzle and soft ground are common concerns, especially outside the drier spring period.
For a straightforward walk, the most comfortable period is usually the warmer part of the year, when summit temperatures are around the low teens and the ground is less saturated than in late autumn and winter. April is the driest month in the climate figures, while July is the warmest, so late spring through summer is generally the easiest window.
Even then, conditions can change quickly on an Irish upland peak. A visit should still allow for wind, cloud and wet ground at any time of year. In colder months, the summit remains above freezing on average, but the combination of damp air and exposure can make it feel much colder than the numbers suggest.
The Galtee uplands are typically a mix of open grassland, rough pasture, heather and exposed rocky ground, with wetter hollows and stream lines lower down. On a mountain like Slieveanard, vegetation is usually low and wind-shaped rather than wooded near the top. The landscape is shaped by broad slopes and neighbouring ridges rather than steep cliffs.
Wildlife in this kind of Irish upland commonly includes hill birds, small mammals and grazing animals, with activity varying by season and weather. In the wetter months, the ground can be soft and muddy, and in warmer periods ticks can be a consideration in grassy areas. Normal care on open mountain ground is the main concern.
Slieveanard is a short mountain outing in a high, exposed setting, so sturdy footwear is sensible even on an easy approach. Expect wet grass, muddy patches and uneven ground, and carry a layer for wind on the summit. In warmer months, check for ticks after walking through long grass or rough vegetation.
Because the mountain is in open upland country, navigation can become harder in cloud or poor visibility. For mountain rescue in Ireland, call 112 or 999 and ask for the Gardaí, who will contact the volunteer mountain rescue teams.
Slieveanard is also known as Sliabh an Aird. It stands at 438 m and is the 27th highest of the 32 named peaks in the Galtee Mountains. Its nearest higher peak is Sliabh an Aird NE Top, only 1.4 km to the NE.
The mountain is part of a range whose highest point, Galtymore Mountain, lies about 11 km W. That makes Slieveanard a lower eastern summit in a larger westward-rising mountain group, rather than one of the dominant high points of the Galtees.
How high is Slieveanard? It rises to 438 m.
Where is Slieveanard? It is in County Tipperary, Ireland, in the Galtee Mountains and the Municipal District of Cahir — Cashel.
What is the nearest higher peak? The nearest higher peak is Sliabh an Aird NE Top, 1.4 km NE of Slieveanard.
What is the highest peak in the range? Galtymore Mountain is the highest peak in the Galtee Mountains, at 918 m.
What other peaks are close by? Nearby summits include Sturrakeen, Laghtshanaquilla, Greenane, Cnoc an Staicin, Greenane West and Binnia.
What kind of weather should walkers expect? Cool, wet upland weather, with about 1,100 mm of annual precipitation and temperatures around 13 °C in July and 4 °C in January at summit level.
What emergency number should I use? In Ireland, call 112 or 999 and ask for the Gardaí.
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