INTRODUCTION. Ivii 
District IV.—DunKerRon Nortu. 
Approx. area, 1154 sq. m. Flora, 515. 
This division is wholly inland, and has for its dominant 
feature the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks with their outlying spurs. 
This imposing range, with its continuation the Purple and 
Tomies Mountains, rising from low level at the Killarney 
Lakes, reaches 2,739 feet on the summit of the Purple Mountain 
and sinking thence to 795 feet at the Gap of Dunloe again rises 
steeply west of this to a narrow ridge which for six or seven 
miles rarely falls much below 3,000 feet and at several points 
exceeds it. At Carrantuohill, 3,414 feet, the highest point in 
Ireland, the ridge divides into two, one arm reaching 3,314 feet 
at Beenkeragh, while the other forms the fine range of cliffs 
above Coomloughra and reaches 3,200 feet at Caher. In 
addition to these lofty mountains, the summits about Broagh- 
nabinnia south of the Reeks, rising to 2,572 and 2,440 feet, as 
well as the northern slopes of the Mullaghanattin range, reach- 
ing 2,539 and 2,468 feet, fall within the limits of this Barony. 
Lakes and mountain tarns are numerous and include portions 
of Caragh Lake and of the Upper and Lower Killarney Lakes. 
Of the others, more than 50 in number, the highest is Cummeen- 
oughter at an elevation of 2,338 feet in the Reeks, while the 
largest are the low-lying Cloon Lough and Lough Acoose each 
with a length of about a mile. The Laune and Caragh, two 
of the largest rivers in the county, with the Owenreagh, the 
Gearhameen and Cottoner’s Brook belong to this division. 
Rather extensive native woods occur about the Killarney 
Lakes as well as in the lower portion of the Glencar valley, 
while a few small patches are to be found on the northern 
slopes of the Reeks. 
Of the nine Kerry Baronies this is the least affected by 
human influences. No railway crosses its borders nor does it 
contain any town or even village. Much of its surface is above 
the limit of cultivation, and habitations are rare or quite absent 
over large areas. Its inland position, moreover, frees it from 
the influences connected with piers or harbours. 
In spite of the large amount of elevated ground and the 
many fine ranges of suitable cliffs, the alpine flora of this 
division is very disappointing. No less than six out of the 
seventeen alpine species known to occur in Kerry are absent 
from the Reeks although they are found growing on Brandon.* 
* This comparative richness of the Brandon range is most probably due 
to its more persistent moisture which appears to counterbalance the ad- 
vantages possessed by the Reeks in their greater elevation and extent of 
cliffs ; it furnishes a good instance of the influence exerted by humidity in 
attracting or protecting these northern plants. 
