Malin Head

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Looking out into the North Atlantic from Malin Head.

Malin Head (Irish: Cionn Mhálanna) is the most northerly headland of the mainland of Ireland (it is not in Northern Ireland, though more northerly than any part of it). The most northerly point is actually a headland 2 km northeast of Malin Head, Inishowen Peninsula, County Donegal. It lies at latitude 55.38ºN.^[1] Malin Head gives its name to the Malin sea area. There is a weather station on the head.

Banba's Crown on Malin Head is Ireland's most northerly point.^[2] Banba was one of the mythical queens of Ireland. Banba's Crown is about 16 km (10 m) north of the village of Malin.

[edit] Locality

To the north-east can be seen Inistrahull Island. The first lighthouse on the island was put into operation in 1813, and the light flashes every 30 seconds.

Above Banba's Crown to the east lies Ballyhillion beach, a unique raised beach system of international scientific importance.^{[citation needed]} The very distinct shorelines show the changing relationship between the sea and the land from the time the glaciers began to melt, some 15,000 years ago. At that time County Donegal was depressed by the weight of an immense ice sheet, so the level of the sea, relative to today's shore, was up to 80 feet higher than today.

The largest sand dunes in Europe are at Lagg, along the north of Trawbrega Bay.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Wartime use

The Met Eireann station at Malin Head

During WWII, the Irish Government allowed the British to site two radio direction finders on the head. This top-secret operation was mentioned in the The Cranborne Report. The RDF equipment was used to monitor U-Boat and aerial activity in the North Atlantic.

After the war, the site became a weather station for the Irish Meteorological Service.

[edit] Ornithology

Malin Head is one of the few places in Europe where the elusive Corn Crake can be heard. It is also an ideal vantage point from which to view the Autumnal movements of seabirds such as gannets, shearwaters, skuas, auks and others, on their southward migration flights.

Coordinates: 55°23′N 7°22′W / 55.383°N 7.367°W / 55.383; -7.367