Built in the early 1960s by geologist John Kemp, this cairn was constructed whilst he was conducting a geological survey of the mountain. Unlike the many prehistoric cairns scattered across Ireland’s landscape, this particular structure holds no archaeological significance; it’s simply a modern addition to one of the country’s most spectacular clifftops.

The cairn stands on Sliabh Leirg An Dachtáin, near An Seanbhaile in County Donegal, where the mountain reaches its highest point at over 600 metres above sea level. Slieve League boasts some of Europe’s highest sea cliffs, offering breathtaking views across the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding Donegal countryside. Kemp’s cairn has become an inadvertent landmark for hikers completing the challenging ascent, marking the achievement of reaching the summit.

Whilst it may lack the historical weight of Ireland’s ancient stone monuments, this modern cairn tells its own story about the ongoing human interaction with this landscape. It serves as a reminder that not all cairns are remnants of our distant past; some are simply the practical markers left by those who came to study and understand these wild places. For visitors making the trek up Slieve League today, it provides a focal point at the summit, even if its origins are more prosaic than mystical.