Knock Iveagh

Knock Iveagh is a hill near Rathfriland, County Down, Northern Ireland. The multi-period artefacts, landscape, and linguistic changes from within the area are examined. This holistic approach to demonstrating the site’s importance is very much a template for community archaeology groups in all parts of the world.

Knock Iveagh is a hill near Rathfriland, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is topped by an ancient burial cairn and was part of a longue durée ritual landscape, with important multi-period artefacts having been found within the area. In 2017 this State Monument featured heavily in both local and British news media due to the erection of a wind turbine on the summit endangering the site. This caused a groundswell of support and protest from the community, led by Veronica Kelly, Anne Harper and Arlene Pattison, as Friends of Knock Iveagh. This robust and emotive community initiative reminded many Irish heritage specialists and archaeologists of the importance of the site from both an artefactual and landscape perspective, as it reflects the long, shadowy prehistory of Ireland and its turbulent medieval past.  This volume includes modern re-examination of the Neolithic pottery of the cairn, for the first time since 1954; the Iron Age Ardbrin Horns are examined in a practical way to highlight the ritual aspect of the landscape, while a top Irish palynologist explains the landscape changes and how it affected the creation of the area. The topography is examined using drone technology to complement this. Language and townland names illustrate the landscape as a constantly reworked intangible heritage feature, reflecting the changing languages and occupations of the inhabitants. The importance of objects, landscape, language and folkways to the sense of place, identity and well-being is also discussed, as a form of decolonising the past and building an authentic community heritage for the future. This holistic approach to demonstrating the site’s importance is very much a template for community archaeology groups in all parts of the world.

Foreword, by Rev. Alan Harper, O.B.E

Chronology of Irish archaeology

“This Land Is Made for You and Me”: Knock Iveagh as a Community Memoryscape
   Rena Maguire

Maps, Muck and Music; A Personal Introduction to the Campaign to Save Knock Iveagh
   Veronica Kelly, Anne Harper and Arlene Pattison

Geology and Topography of Knock Iveagh, County Down
   Alastair Ruffell

An Environmental History of the Knock Iveagh Area
   Gill Plunkett, Helen Essell, Lisa Coyle Mcclung and David M Brown

Uí Eachach Coba: The Relevance of Placenames in the Understanding of Landscape History
   Ciaran Mac Murchaidh

The Ardbrin Trumpet
   Simon O’dwyer

A Re-Evaluation of the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Ceramics from Pat Collins’ 1954 Excavation at Knock Iveagh, County Down
   Cormac Mcsparron

Recovering Place: Cultivating an Ethic of Care for Ancient Sites and Monuments
   Claire Nolan

Notes on Contributors

Acknowledgements

• Edited by Rena Maguire
• Edited by Veronica Kelly
• Edited by Arlene Pattison
• Edited by Anne Harper

For untold millennia the sun has set on Knock Iveagh; the wind has eroded, the snow settled, and the rain has refreshed this amazing historical site close to Rathfriland in County Down. It seemed that this site would sit as an archaeological jewel on the island of Ireland forever. However, a failure in Government to understand its importance led to a wind turbine, access road and substation being built on the hill. An act of historical vandalism, sanctioned by Ministers, that may have irreparably damaged the site.

To understand the importance of Knock Iveagh you need only know that parts of the site, the burial cairn, date to around 4000BC. That is older than the Parthenon in Athens, the Colosseum in Rome or great Pyramids of Giza. Later it was used as the inauguration site of the Magennis Chiefs and the site of a medieval church. There is even a possible link to the Patron Saint of Ireland, St Patrick, yet to be researched and explored. The hill has many secrets to be discovered yet.

Knock Iveagh is a site of historical and archaeological importance, and cultural heritage. The need to protect and promote this site is, without question, of critical interest. Yet only a small group of dedicated campaigners have stood up and took the fight to the heart of the devolved Government to right the wrong that has been inflicted on Knock Iveagh.

The campaign, by the Friends of Knock Iveagh, has been long; they have faced legal threats, intransigence from officials and hostility from those opposed to retuning the site to its former glory.  Yet they continue, undaunted by the challenge they face, to preserve this historical site, safeguard our past to ensure future generations inherit the stories etched in stone. 

— Doug Beattie MC MLA, Northern Ireland

Located in the heart of County Down, Knock Iveagh - Cnoc Úibh Eachach - is nestled within the historic parishes of Drumballyroney and Annaclone. The site has long been a focal point for many of the earliest communities in this part of Ireland.

Even standing today at the cairn at the summit of Cnoc Úibh Eachach provides a spectacular vantage point, reinforcing the site as a pivotal feature in an ancient and powerful landscape, which undoubtedly merits further research, and calls for much stronger state protection.

A trial excavation at the site in 1954 uncovered a wealth of arrowheads, pottery and axes, with cremated remains dating to 3700BC. In the excavation report, the then-Inspector of Ancient Monuments of Northern Ireland recommended that there be further investigation of the area. Regrettably this has never occurred; instead, a litany of unlawful private developments has occurred on, or adjacent to this national treasure.

In recent years I have been privileged to meet, and work alongside the ‘Friends of Knock Iveagh’ who have selflessly been raising public awareness of the urgent need for a site of such unique and rich historical, ritual and archaeological significance to be returned to the community via enhanced state care.

In keeping with that great spirit of collective endeavours, this collection of writings will not only add great depth to our understandings of the site and the adjoining landscape but will undoubtedly help inspire many new voices to the cause of Cnoc Úibh Eachach! 

— Chris Hazzard MP, South Down