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Uncover the history of Knocknarea
Knocknarea, County Sligo
Not many people know about the wonderful landscapes of County Sligo. Those who have heard of them may be familiar with the county’s unique tabletop mountain, Ben Bulben. But there’s another Sligo mountain that flies under the radar and that’s Knocknarea, otherwise known as the Hill of Kings.
Knocknarea
L-R: Queen Maeve’s cairn © Shutterstock; view from the top of Knocknarea; the Queen Maeve Trail; horses in front of Knocknarea
Knocknarea stands proudly on the Coolera Peninsula overlooking Strandhill, a popular coastal town in County Sligo. Knocknarea gained the nickname the “Hill of Kings” as it was where the ancient kings of Connacht were said to have been crowned – understandably so, as the views over the province and beyond are just unbeatable. Look out on a clear day and you’ll see the Ox Mountains, Lough Gill, Slieve League in County Donegal and Croagh Patrick in County Mayo. It’s not just views that make Knocknarea an impressive spot – at the mountain’s 327-metre peak, you’ll find an ancient cairn where the Warrior Queen Maeve of Connacht is said to be buried standing up so she can watch over the province she once ruled.
The Slish Wood to Inishfree boardwalk, County Sligo
Welcome to Yeats Country
Sligo’s gorgeous countryside inspired Irish writer William Butler Yeats. He wrote numerous verses about landmark locations here, including Knocknarea!
Fancy a hike? The Queen Maeve Trail is one to try. This 6km looped walk is graded as strenuous and covers various terrain including gravel paths and a wooden bog bridge as it leads across the 300 million-year-old Sligo landscape to the cairn at the top of Knocknarea. The cairn was built using more than 40,000 tonnes of stone – it’s the largest unopened cairn in Ireland and is said to lead to a Neolithic passage tomb. If that’s caught your attention and you want to learn more about the historical significance of this tomb, head to the nearby Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery and Visitor Centre.
View of Knocknarea from Portavade Beach, County Sligo
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