Villages in the hills include Rockchapel, Ballydesmond, Brosna, Gneevgullia, Mountcollins, Newmarket, Meelin and Tournafulla.

[3] The Mullaghareirk Mountains form part of the Stack’s to Mullaghareirk Mountains, West Limerick Hills and Mount Eagle Special Protection Area which, although large areas are under commercial conifer forestry, protects blanket bog, wet heath and dry heath.

A survey in 2005 found 45 breeding pairs, representing more than 20% of the total for the whole island of Ireland.

Other rare birds found here include breeding short-eared owl, merlin and red grouse, a species which is now listed as endangered in Ireland.

[4] The Mullaghareirk Mountains were used as a sanctuary by the Rockites, the "followers" of the mythical folk hero Captain Rock, in the Agrarian risings of 1821 to 1824, to hide from the authorities.