The story of Knockmany
The passage tomb on Knockmany Hill was raised during the Neolithic, around 3000 BC, by farming communities who built monuments like it across Ireland. Originally the chamber was covered by a stone cairn and earth, forming the mound that gave the hilltop its profile. Thirteen sandstone orthostats, three to seven feet tall, form the chamber, and three carry carved decoration, comparable to the celebrated stones at Newgrange and Loughcrew.
Those carvings, concentric circles, spirals and zigzags, are what make Knockmany matter. Megalithic art of this quality is rare, and its survival in the open air for 5,000 years is remarkable. The tomb is also wrapped in legend: it is linked to the supernatural Queen Báine, later merged with the goddess Áine, and to the giant Fionn mac Cumhaill and his wife Oonagh, which is why locals long called it Áine's, or Annya's, tomb.
By the 20th century the exposed stones needed protection. In 1959 the Ministry of Finance for Northern Ireland built a concrete chamber and a new protective mound over the orthostats, sealing the carvings against the weather while keeping them in place. All 13 stones survive today, with their decorated surfaces intact, and the monument is held in state care.
The chamber is kept locked, with a gated view of the interior available at any time. To stand inside among the carved stones, you need the keyholder, which is what the Spirit of Knockmany guided tour provides.