Nephin

Nephin
Néifinn
Nephin with Lough Conn
Highest point
Elevation	806 m (2,644 ft)
Prominence	c. 750 m
Listing	Marilyn, Hewitt
Coordinates	Coordinates: 54°00′43″N 9°22′05″W / 54.012°N 9.368°W / 54.012; -9.368
Geography
Nephin Location in Ireland
Location	County Mayo, Republic of Ireland
Parent range	Nephin Beg Range
OSI/OSNI grid	G103079

Nephin or Nefin (Irish: Néifinn), at 806 metres (2646 ft), is the second-highest peak in Connacht (after Mweelrea), Ireland. It is to the west of Lough Conn in County Mayo. Néifinn is variously translated as meaning 'heavenly' or 'sanctuary'.

It lies in the centre of Gleann Néifinne, a district bounded by Lough Conn to the east, the Windy Gap/Barnageehy to the south, and Birreencorragh mountain to the west. Its northern limit was in 1838 noted as the townland of Ballybrinoge in the parish of Crossmolina. However, a prose tract of the 14th/15th century makes clear that its northern and western borders were contracted during the later medieval era.

Nephin is mentioned in Cath Maige Tuired ("The Battle of Moytura") as one of the "twelve chief mountains" of Ireland. In the text it is called Nemthenn. This name may be related to nemeton, a term for a sacred space in Celtic polytheism.

The mountain's importance may be inferred by the decision at the Synod of Raith Bressail in 1111 to make Nephin the northern boundary of the diocese of Cong.

In early medieval times, the area was inhabited by the Gamarad, who were Kings of Connacht in prehistory. One of their kings, Ailill Finn, is stated to have held residence at Dun Atha Fene, now Caorthannan/Castlehill townland, in the parish of Addergoole and Crossmolina. The legend of the Táin Bó Flidhais tells the story of a cattle raid on Ailill Finn and his wife Flidais otherwise known as The Mayo Táin.