The geography of Ireland features low-lying mountains surrounding a central plain, with several navigable rivers extending inland. Its coastline is famously rugged, particularly on the western seaboard facing the Atlantic Ocean, while the eastern coast is relatively smooth.
Our interactive Geography of Ireland Map allows you to pinpoint the island's most notable topographical extremes. From the towering heights of the MacGillycuddy's Reeks in County Kerry to the vast expanse of Lough Neagh in the north, you can explore the diverse natural landscape that defines the "Emerald Isle". Use the sidebar to locate highest peaks, longest waterways, and the extreme cardinal points of the landmass.
Ireland's geology is incredibly diverse. The island is often described as being shaped like a saucer, with coastal mountains like the Derryveagh, Mourne, and Wicklow Mountains ringing a largely flat limestone central plain. This central plain is heavily dotted with lakes (loughs) and extensive peat bogs.
The absolute extremities of the island are: North: Banba's Crown on Malin Head (Co. Donegal). South: Fastnet Rock (Co. Cork) or Brow Head on the mainland. East: Lambay Island (Co. Dublin) or Wicklow Head on the mainland. West: Tearaght Island (Co. Kerry) or Dunmore Head on the mainland.
County Cork is the largest county by land area, often referred to locally as the "Rebel County". The smallest is County Louth, affectionately known as the "Wee County", located on the east coast.
The exact geographic centre of Ireland is debated depending on the methodology used. Historically and mythologically, the Hill of Uisneach in County Westmeath is considered the centre. However, modern geographical surveys place the exact centre a bit further west, near Carnagh East in County Roscommon.
Lough Neagh, located in Northern Ireland, is by far the largest lake on the island of Ireland, and the largest freshwater lake in the UK. The largest lake within the Republic of Ireland is Lough Corrib in County Galway.
The tallest sea cliffs are the Croaghaun cliffs on Achill Island (Co. Mayo) dropping 688m, followed closely by the Slieve League cliffs (Co. Donegal). The tallest waterfall is Powerscourt Waterfall in County Wicklow, cascading down 121 metres.