Far West of the Bann
They’re Northern Ireland’s answer to Wuthering Heights. The Sperrins are the Province’s largest mountain range. Barnes Gap is one of many scenic highlights: a waterless fjord. Spring lambs dot the intensely green fields of Vinegar Hill above.
It’s a remote location and a population drop of 10 percent over the last 100 years in County Tyrone has only added to the sense of isolation.
The Sperrins get their name from the Irish Gaelic phrase “Na Speiríní” which means “spurs of rock”. It may sound like a person’s name but “Barnes” actually means “gap” in Irish. Barnes Gap: a linguistic representation of the Province’s dual heritage.
