Bencollaghduff

Bencollaghduff at 696 m, is the 93rd–highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin scale, and the 115th–highest peak on the Vandeleur-Lynam scale. Bencollaghduff is situated near the centre of the core massif of the Twelve Bens mountain range in the Connemara National Park in County Galway, Ireland. It is the 3rd tallest mountain of the Twelve Bens range, after Benbaun 729 m, to which it is connected by the northern col of Maumina; and after Bencorr 711 m, to which it is connected by a high southeast rocky ridge.

Bencollaghduff's prominence of 191 m qualifies it as a Marilyn, and it also ranks it as the 56th-highest mountain in Ireland on the MountainViews Online Database, 100 Highest Irish Mountains, where the minimum prominence threshold is 100 metres.

Naming
According to Irish academic Paul Tempan, "Bencollaghduff" most likely means "peak of the black hags", however, the hags in question are cormorant birds and not witch-like characters. Tempan notes that the Ordnance Survey Ireland form of "Binn Dhubh" is a prescribed standard modern Irish form. Cartographer Tim Robinson's maps of Connemara uses "Binn Dubh", which represents the local dialect.

Hill walking
Bencollaghduff is often climbed as part of the popular 16–kilometre 8–9 hour Glencoaghan Horseshoe, considered one of Ireland's best hill-walks. Bencollaghduff is also climbed as part of the even longer Owenglin Horseshoe, a 20–kilometre 10–12 hour route around the Owenglin River taking in over twelve summits;

In literature
The Irish novelist Joseph O'Connor in his award-winning novel Star of the Sea, cites the quarzite shale on the slopes of Bencollaghduff.