Etymology
Slieve Donard is named after Saint Donard, known in Irish as Domhanghairt or Domhanghart. Dónairt is a modernised spelling. He was a follower of Saint Patrick and founded a monastery at Maghera, north of Newcastle. According to tradition he was appointed by Saint Patrick to guard the surrounding countryside from the summit of Slieve Donard. He is supposed not to have died, but to have become a "perpetual guardian".
In pagan times the mountain was known as Sliabh Slainge—named after Sláinge mac Partholóin (Sláinge son of Partholón), who was allegedly the first physician in Ireland. According to Annála na gCeithre Máistrí (Annals of the Four Masters), he died in Anno Mundi 2533 (2533 years after the creation of the world) and was buried under a cairn on the mountain.
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