[1][2][6] The highest of the Mourne Mountains,[7] it is near the town of Newcastle on the eastern coast of County Down, overlooking the Irish Sea.

[8] The Mourne Wall – built in the early 20th century – runs up the western and southern slopes of the mountain, joining a small stone tower at the summit.

Slieve Donard sits at the northeastern edge of the Mournes, overlooking Newcastle and Dundrum Bay.

The most popular route begins at Donard Forest on the north side of the mountain and follows the Glen River and then the Mourne Wall to the summit.

[11] Irish folklore holds that it is bad luck to damage or disrespect such tombs and that deliberately doing so could bring a curse.

[16] Irish mythology identifies the Great Cairn as being the tomb or abode of mythical figures, and an entrance to the Otherworld.

[17][19] Beann Boirche means 'Boirche's Peak', referring to a mythical cowherd and king who had seemingly supernatural powers.

According to the Annals of the Four Masters, he died in Anno Mundi 2533 (2533 years after "the creation of the world") and was buried in the passage tomb.

According to tradition, he was a fifth-century follower of Saint Patrick and founded a monastery at Maghera, a few miles north of the mountain.

[30] In 1826, as part of the Principal Triangulation, the Royal Engineers used Slieve Donard as a base to map Ireland.

[32] The Mourne Wall was built in the early 20th century and passes over fifteen mountains, including Slieve Donard.

[34] In April 2021 there was a major gorse fire on the eastern slopes of Slieve Donard, devastating the habitat and badly affecting wildlife in the area.