Slieve Foy

Slieve Foy is one of two ridges which make up the Cooley Mountains{{Cite journal|last1=Meade|first1=F. C.|last2=Troll|first2=V. R.|last3=Ellam|first3=R. M.|last4=Freda|first4=C.|last5=Font|first5=L.|last6=Donaldson|first6=C. H.|last7=Klonowska|first7=I.|date=2014-06-20|title=Bimodal magmatism produced by progressively inhibited crustal assimilation|journal=Nature Communications|language=en|volume=5|issue=1|pages=4199|doi=10.1038/ncomms5199|pmid=24947142|issn=2041-1723|doi-access=free|bibcode=2014NatCo...5.4199M }} and is separated from the rest of the range by the Windy Gap. It is an elongated mountain running northwest–southeast and includes the lesser summits known as The Foxes Rock, The Ravens Rock, The Eagles Rock, and Barnavave.

The name {{lang|ga|Sliabh Feá}} means 'mountain of the woods'. Locally the name is understood as {{lang|ga|Sliabh Fathaigh}}, 'mountain of the giant', because its outline is said to resemble a sleeping giant. Local lore has it that the giant Finn McCool, representing summer, stood on the mountain while fighting his rival Ruscaire, representing winter. Finn is said to have beaten Ruscaire by throwing a boulder across the lough at him, which became the Cloughmore (The Big Stone) on Slieve Martin.{{cite web |title=Finn McCool and The Cloughmore |url=https://carlingfordandmourne.com/directory/finn-mccool-and-the-cloughmore-carlingford-and-rostrevor/ |website=Carlingford & Mourne |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225023620/http://carlingfordandmourne.com/myths-and-legends/finn-mccool-and-the-cloughmore-carlingford-and-rostrevor |archive-date=25 December 2016}}

The mountain also appears in the Táin Bó Cúailnge (Cattle Raid of Cooley). The army of Queen Medb (Maeve) is said to have dug a pass through the mountain, which became known as Barnavave ({{lang|ga|Bearna Mhéabha}}, "Maeve's gap").Gosling, Paul "[https://www.academia.edu/10829315/The_Route_of_T%C3%A1in_B%C3%B3_C%C3%BAailnge_Revisited The Route of Táin Bó Cúailnge Revisited"]. Emania Issue 22, 2014. p.157

A local businessman began organising leprechaun-related tourist activities in the area in 1989, including a "leprechaun hunt" to find hidden ceramic figures. In 2009, with support from local councillors, the mountain was formally declared a "Designated Area of Protection for Flora, Fauna, Wild Animals and Little People" under the EU Habitats Directive.{{cite news |title='Little people' are protected by EU |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/news/little-people-are-protected-by-eu-26941431.html |accessdate=21 March 2019 |work=The Argus |publisher=Independent.ie |date=24 February 2010 |location=Dublin, Ireland |language=en }}; {{cite news |last1=McGarry |first1=Patsy |title=In a Word . . . Leprechaun |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/in-a-word-leprechaun-1.2744050 |accessdate=28 August 2019 |date=13 August 2016 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}; {{cite news |title=Support our Leprechauns! |url=https://www.dundalk.ie/news/24032014/support-our-leprechauns |accessdate=28 August 2019 |work=Dundalk Chamber of Commerce |date=24 March 2014}}

{{Commons category|Slieve Foye}}

• Lists of mountains in Ireland
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Category:Mountains and hills of County Louth

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