ESCR - Slieve Gullion Ring - Cloghinny 'pillow lavas'

Earth Science Conservation Review

Summary Full report
Slieve Gullion Ring - Cloghinny 'pillow lavas'	Armagh

Site number:	1126
ESCC:	EO
Locality Type:	Crag, Crags	Status:	ASSI
Grid Reference:	J024180 Approximate
Google maps:	54.10141,-6.43462
County:	Armagh	Council area:	Newry, Mourne & Down District Council
Period:	Tertiary
Stages:	Palaeogene
Lithostrat:	Slieve Gullion Complex

Site Description
Description:
The 'pillow' structures occur in layer 2, sac-like masses of dolerite enclosed in granophyre. The curvilinear net-veining of the neighbouring crags are of a similar nature.
Importance:
This is one of the localities described by Reynolds and reinterpreted by Bailey and McCallien. The rock structures are now somewhat obscured by weathering and lichen growth.
Notes:
For reference list see; Key Site 1118 - Slieve Gullion Ring - Overview Another 'pillow lava' locality described by Reynolds and disputed by Bailey occurred on the western slopes of Slieve Gullion above the Longfield Road between Lislea and Forkill. The Grid Reference is J010206. A farm lane, E of the Longfield Road at Aughadanove, can be followed uphill to a disused cottage. At the bend of the lane just below the ruined building fresh broken rock shows the lobate and crenulate contact between dolerite and granophyre. These new exposures are not those examined by Reynolds and Bailey but they clearly demonstrate the mixing of two contrasting magmas.

Keywords
Rocks:	Dolerite, Granophyre
Structures:	net veins
Relations:	Intrusion

Access
Approach:	A badly overgrown farm lane leaves a farm track just N of a small roadside quarry at Cloghinney on the lower southerly slopes of Slieve Gullion Mountain. This lane is open as far as the second bend. Its straight course northwards passes a crag at the NW corner of the third field on its eastern side (Pillow lava locality) and at the northern end of the lane two crags either side of an E-W boundary fence on the western side of the lane show good net-veining.

Access

Approach:

A badly overgrown farm lane leaves a farm track just N of a small roadside quarry at Cloghinney on the lower southerly slopes of Slieve Gullion Mountain. This lane is open as far as the second bend. Its straight course northwards passes a crag at the NW corner of the third field on its eastern side (Pillow lava locality) and at the northern end of the lane two crags either side of an E-W boundary fence on the western side of the lane show good net-veining.


Map(s):	For site location see the 1:50,000 O.S. Sheet 29 (The Mournes) Discoverer Series.
Record type:	ESCR report
Entered by:	E M Porter

Enlander, I., Dempster, M. & Doughty, P., 2026. Slieve Gullion Ring - Cloghinny 'pillow lavas', County Armagh, site details. [In] Earth Science Conservation Review.
https://www.habitas.org.uk/escr/site.php?item=1126. Accessed on 2026-11-08.