Knocknarea Travel Guide

Knocknarea (Cnoc na Riabh, meaning 'Hill of Stripes' or possibly 'Hill of the Kings' ) dominates the skyline west of Sligo town, rising to 327 meters (1,073 ft). This prominent limestone hill on the Coolera Peninsula offers commanding views of the Atlantic coast and surrounding landscape.At the summit lies Miosgán Meadhbha (Maeve's Heap), a large cairn about 55 meters (180 ft) wide and 10 meters (33 ft) high. Believed to date back to around 3000 BCE during the Neolithic period, it is one of Ireland's largest cairns and is thought to conceal a passage tomb. Though unexcavated, it shares features with classic passage tombs. Legend claims it is the burial site of Queen Maeve, a legendary warrior queen of Connacht, said to be interred standing upright, facing her enemies in Ulster.Knocknarea was a significant ritual and meeting place in Neolithic times. Remains of hut sites and a 1-kilometer-long embankment have been found. Today, marked trails, including the popular Queen Maeve Trail, guide visitors to the summit. While offering stunning views, the increasing number of visitors has led to concerns about erosion and damage to the cairn, a protected National Monument. Visitors are urged to respect the site by not climbing on the cairn or removing stones.