 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello. First of all - I've just discovered this forum so I feel like I'm very late to the party.
I have spent an inordinate amount of time trawling weather apps trying to work out where and when it might be possible to go for a ski in Ireland. I'm based in NI and managed to get a few runs in down the Mournes way back in 2013. Since then, I've been trying to find another opportunity with no luck. I've found some shaky footage of people skiing Mount Errigal, and heard reports that Slieve Gallion holds a bit of drifted snow, but other than that very little.
Has anyone here skied anywhere in Ireland in the last few seasons?? Please tell me your stories. I want hope that I can get some turns in without getting on a plane this year.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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There was a small group on FB called Irish Backcountry but I don't think it's been active for a while. Sad reality is that opportunities for skiing in ireland are now as rare as hens' teeth.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Stormont’s got a nice slope to it. 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I get the feeling that if this thing was ever built, they'd probably have some rule that prevented you from bringing skis on it anyway. Would be class if we accidentally ended up with a ski resort in the Mournes though
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| ster wrote: |
| Stormont’s got a nice slope to it. |
Have skied Stormont in the winter of 2010/2011 and 2013!
Would love to a new proper dry slope in NI. I grew up skiing Knockbraken in South-East Belfast. Very jealous of the facility that the Ski Club of Ireland have, shame it is on the wrong side of Dublin for us northerners.
The stupid Slieve Donard gondola would be much improved if there was a way down on skis!
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Had some fun days on Tonlagee and Kippure in the Wicklow and Dublin mountains both summits are over 750m. You really need touring gear and the opportunities are rare but definitely possible, you need to have lots of energy as well! This is what's possible, after Beast from the East when snow all blown onto west faces. https://www.facebook.com/share/r/182LT6DZvR/
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I slid down ‘Mount’ Callan in Clare on a snowboard a few years back. It had drifted to the leeward side which faces west so the view to the sea about five miles away was awesome. Steep enough for the first pitch, then walk back up. The slide down the forestry roads at the end of the day was surprisingly fun, and not too much damage done to my rockhopper board.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I've seen people skiing on the hill in Stormont & at Barnett's Demesne in the past. I've even skied at Barnett's myself, but not in at least 30 years.
The Ulster Ski Club used to take a portable rope tow up into the Sperrins to a place called Moneyneany, but again that was a few decades ago now.
Keeping everything crossed for a bit of the white stuff.
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I also remember skiing Knockbraken slope in the snow a few times in my youth.
Wish someone with a bit of money would set up another good artificial slope in the North!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| NoMapNoCompass wrote: |
| I also remember skiing Knockbraken slope in the snow a few times in my youth. |
The problem with artificial slopes of the upturned toothbrush kind, is that snow makes them dangerous. The speed difference between being on snow and on the plastic is a recipe for sudden stops, twists and sprains.
I know when I taught there, there was some sneaky "off piste" done on the golf course too when the snow came, but it was frowned upon buy the golf course folk 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Divis sometimes holds a bit of snow on the eastern side, depending on the wind. It can drift quite deep and it's often possible to get a few turns in down toward the tarmac path. The road up can become a bowling alley though as everyone heads there when it snows. The hill under Malone House is good craic if there's a proper fall of snow and cold temps, probably the best skiing I've had in NI. It gets a lot of sledging traffic and I've seen it like a nice piste before. Soft grass underneath so very forgiving. It's unusual to get enough snow though. The Mournes in my experience are just so rocky everywhere that it takes a crazy amount of snow to make any of the nice pitches skiable, aside from wonky drifts along the wall. I've often looked at the NW face of Commedagh, but never seen it with enough snow to cover the massive boulders everywhere. The top plateau on Commedagh can be skiable and is a modest gradient. However, a fall could be problematic, given how close it is to the cliffs.
I drive the Glenshane pass fairly regularly and there are a few North and North West facing slopes visible from the road that look promising, but I've never been up. Look to have a decent combo of a bit of altitude, nice pitch, close to the sea to catch northerly weather, good aspect, look grassy from a distance. Google maps tells me it's the NW face of 'White Mountain'. Worth keeping an eye on.
Report back if you find anything!
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You know it makes sense.
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This has all been very insightful.
General consensus is that we need a big snow event like 2013, Beast from the East etc. but I'm hoping to find somewhere good for a slide after even a modest snowfall (given that this Winter is looking like a mild one). Walls and fences do seem to work - I've previously skied a drift of snow down Slieve Meelmore but it was pretty crusty and turning wasn't really an option so was just a case of really hoping it was deep enough to cover the rocks.
Will definitely now be researching some of the places mentioned here. Going to keep this thread open and updated on any skiable patches I find this season!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Not a fan of this - but done right at Kilbroney it could be used as an upload for MTBing. At least there would almost be a point to it unlike in Donard park.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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There was another guy on here, john I think was his name who was farming in Antrim and was into it. There is a superb video on youtube of lads skiing some quite nice lines in the mournes.
I've skied fire road in tibradden in dublin mountains during covid, and a bit of kippure after a heavy fall. It's fun but you need to move fast and be willing to work for it, and snow is obviously often sub optimal.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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