Knocknarea Cairn — Attraction in County Sligo

Visiting Queen Maeve’s grave at Knocknarea with creative director Jason Ó Fionnáin was a journey into the depths of Ireland’s mythological past. Perched atop Knocknarea Mountain in County Sligo, this ancient site, believed to be the final resting place of the legendary Queen Maeve, offers a profound connection to the country’s rich Celtic heritage. his extensive knowledge and flair for storytelling, led us up the mountain trail with a palpable sense of anticipation. As we ascended, he regaled us with tales of Queen Maeve, the formidable warrior queen of Connacht, whose exploits are vividly recounted in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. His dynamic narration made the climb feel less strenuous, filling each step with the weight of history and legend.

Reaching the summit, we were greeted by the impressive cairn believed to be Queen Maeve’s tomb. This massive stone structure, standing tall against the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean, exudes an aura of mystery and grandeur. Jason explained that the cairn has never been excavated, adding to its enigmatic allure. According to legend, Maeve is buried upright, facing her enemies to the north, a testament to her indomitable spirit.

Our tour of Queen Maeve’s grave at Knocknarea was more than just a hike; it was an exploration of Ireland’s mythic past, brought vividly to life by a guide who truly embodies the spirit of his heritage. His storytelling, knowledge, and passion made the journey unforgettable, leaving us with a deep appreciation for the legends and...

Out for a little stroll on a Saturday afternoon, shur what else would ya be at?!?!

“Dad, how high is it?”

Quick google:

“It’s only 327 meters… piece of cake!”

Holy mother of sweet divine Jesus, I discovered after about 10 minutes how unfit I am.

Fifty One. 51 years old. I wanted to die.

The trail is stunning, it’s a feat of engineering built unobtrusively into the beautiful hillside, with non slip metal loops built into every step.

Every, Single, Step.

Thank Fook there are plenty of places to stop along the way, to let your heart recover from trying to beat out through your chest wall. While sitting pretending to admire the views, you recover enough to pretend that you’re not dying to the people on the way down the trail. Would you believe that some people do this for fun?!?!

Weave your way up through meadows and trees, meandering up the hill, looking out over the bay as you rise higher and higher… if I wasn’t nearly dead, it would be stunning.

The last bit, where the steps get closer together and a little higher of a rise is a sick twisted joke on behalf of whoever built them… I bet they grin every time they think of the poor unfit weaklings that are trying their best to get to the top!

Anyway. At the top there were some views. Kind of nice really. *I’d nearly say it was worth it.

Took a couple of photos.

Followed my 12 year old down. He bloody jogged. 😡

RIP me.

*it IS worth it. It’s utterly magnificent. Please, do it,...

The Knocknarea Mountain walk is an easy 1 hour (2.5 km) walking route to the summit Cairn at 327m which is steeped in Irish Mythology and known as Queen Meaves Grave or Tomb. This easy mountain walk is located 4 miles west of Sligo Town on the Strandhill Peninsula, Ireland and is a great introduction to hill walking with spectacular views of the Sligo and Wild Atlantic Way coastline from the summit.This place is very beautiful . From the car park, this easy walk follows a clear path to the summit in under 1 hour. Years later, Queen was killed by Furbaide (son of a murdered enemy) while bathing in a pool on Inchcleraun (Inis Cloithreann), an island on Lough Ree. It is said that she is buried upright facing her enemies in Ulster. Her home in Rathcroghan, County Roscommon is also a potential burial site, with a long low slab named 'Misgaun Medb' given as the most likely location. It's a 6 km long track. It looks very beautiful on the top. According to Irish Mythology and Folklore, it was built for the mythical Iron Age Queen Maeve in 100 AD. There are plenty of routes, so find a route that is right for you or your group. Plan your walk by estimating you walking time, checking the weather and the sunrise sunset times and experience from each one of route is beautiful...