Knocksheegowna

The Cross on top of Knocksheegowna

Knocksheegowna Hill

Knocksheegowna near Ballingarry is a Sídh in North Tipperary. In Irish Mythology a Sídh is a fairy mound or hill in which the fairies are thought to reside. As part of the mythological invasion cycles, when the Milesians invaded Ireland from Iberia, the early Gods or residents of Ireland, the Tuatha De Danann, agreed to retreat into the hills, mounds and under lakes. Knocksheegowna is one of these, translating as the Fairy Hill of the Una, a fairy Goddess.

It is now home to Bike Park Ireland and it is surprising that no ancient remains have been found up here because it certainly looks like it should.

Prof Ronald Hicks (who has carried out extensive research on the Sídhs or Fairy Mounds of Ireland) has this to say on it "Another hill. This one is Síd Ebhna (Knockshigowna) near Ballingarry, County Tipperary, ruled over by Queen Eabhna (or Una), the banshee guardian of the O'Carrolls. The only antiquity known on the hill is a small castle built as a summer house in the late 18th or early 19th century."

Castle built as summer house in the 18th / 19th Century

In the Festival of Lughnasa (pg 216) it is mentioned that on 2nd Sunday of July, known as Garland or Fraughan Sunday, it was custom to go to the top of the hill picking fraughans or bilberries.
It also disputes any link to the translation as being linked to a "fairy cow" or Cnoc Sídhe Gamhna (the Calf's Fairy-hill). It goes on to mention some of the folklore mentioned in the Schools Manuscripts - "stories are told of fairy revels seen there at night, of the disappearance of men who tried to watch the revels, and a disaster following an attempt to plough a field by the hill".

View from the hill to the North

Some folklore from duchas.ie

http://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922124/4854512/4951515
"There is a field near Knockshegowna, and many years ago the people who owned it would not plough it because he said it was a place for the fairies to dance at night. The people of the village said that it as only supersition, and one man said that he would plough it and see what would happen. The he had the field ploughed.
The next morning when he went all his animals and all that he had were dead and the crop that he had sown never grew."

http://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922124/4854515/4951519

"About four miles from Riverstown is a very ancient hill. It is called Knockshegowna. The people living near called it "Fairy Hill" no one living near the place would not go up the hill late at night. One time a man lost some sheep and he could not find them anywhere. He was going home after giving up the search, when he thought he heard one of them bleating. He plucked up courage and decided to go up. When he got to the top where there are the ruins of an old castle, he heard music being played. He crept over to see what was going on. He was surprised and frightened when he saw a lot of small people dancing.
He stole away from the place and made for home as quickly as he could. He told his neighbour what had happened. The next night five or six men went up very bravely and were never heard of afterwards."

"Another time a man was going to a fair to sell some pigs and it very late when he was coming home. Just when he was nearing Knockshegowna he heard a terrible noise and he became very frightened. Then a big black cat jumped up on the car. The man hit it with his stick the jumped up again and said tell ? that ? is dead. The man made the horse run home and he told his wife what had happened and his cat heard him and said it is time you thought of telling me and the cat ran off and was never seen again."

http://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922132/4854912/5009778

"There are some forts about four miles from the school in a place called Knockshegowna. Some of these forts are circular in shape and long ago it is said that the fairies used to dance on moonlight nights around the forts. These raths are also surrounded by trees.
There is a story told about the fairies of these forts and a man who lived in the neighbourhood and this is it:
On moonlight nights when the fairies used to come out to dance they used to frighten all the animals in death and the owner of the cattle was too much afraid to mind them.
One evening as the farmer was coming home from the hill a man name Larry Houlihan met him and asked him "Why do you look so gloomy" and the farmer answered, "I cannot mind my cattle because the fairies are hunting them off the hill".
"Never mind that" said Larry. If I mind your cattle will you pay me well, and the farmer answered "If you mind my cattle for a week I will give you good pay and you will be my friend for ever" So he went home that night very happy.
Next evening Larry went up on the hill and took his pipes with him. About eleven o'clock the fairies came out and began to dance and Larry played his pipes.
When the fairies saw him they went and told the king. The king came to Larry in the form of a cat and tried to frighten him but still he kept on playing. Then the king turned into a white calf but still Larry had no fear and he jumped on the calf's back.
With one bound they were across the Shannon. When they had crossed, the calf turned into his true shape and said to Larry. "You are a brave man, will you come back the way you came" and Larry answered "I will if you let me".
Then the fairy turned into a calf again and once more they were (turned) back on the hill. All the fairies greeted him and they told him as long as he lived he could keep cattle on the hill and they never would interfere with them.
Some years after, this man died and he was buried in a green valley some distance away from the hill."