Knockanaffrin [Cnoc an Aifrinn]

About Knockanaffrin [Cnoc an Aifrinn]

Rising steeply above the Nier Valley, this prominent peak marks the north-western edge of the Comeragh plateau. Its sharp, rocky ridge offers a more rugged character than the nearby flat-topped summits. Walkers are rewarded with a dramatic perspective on the deep glacial coums that bite into the range's eastern escarpment.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is derived from the Irish 'Cnoc an Aifrinn', which translates to 'Hill of the Mass'. This refers to the peak's use during the Penal Times, when Catholic services were held in secret, remote locations to avoid detection by the authorities.
• •Though often overshadowed by its taller neighbour, Fauscoum, this summit is widely considered the more dramatic of the two due to its narrow, defined ridge and the sheer drop-offs into the corries below.
• •From the summit, the view to the east looks directly down into the spectacular Coumshingaun, a massive glacial amphitheatre often cited as one of the finest examples of a corrie in Western Europe.
• •To the west, the horizon is dominated by the long, dark profile of the Knockmealdown Mountains, while the fertile Golden Vale stretches away to the north towards the Galtee range.
• •Given the hill's name, it is perhaps the only summit in County Waterford where you might feel a twinge of guilt for skipping a Sunday service, though the steep 755-metre climb is surely a sufficient act of penance.