Knockmannon Hill

About Knockmannon Hill

Rising above the rolling farmland of County Kilkenny, this modest but prominent summit offers a quiet escape on the Castlecomer Plateau. As a Marilyn, it commands a disproportionate view for its height, overlooking the Dinin River valley and the distant, rugged profiles of the Blackstairs Mountains to the east.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is derived from the Irish Cnoc Mhanainn, meaning the 'Hill of Manann', a name often associated with ancient territorial tribes or personal names in the region.
• •Despite its modest height of 313 metres, the hill possesses 161 metres of prominence, qualifying it as a Marilyn and making it a significant topographical landmark in the local landscape.
• •From the summit, the view extends across the Dinin River valley toward the town of Castlecomer, an area famous for an anthracite coalfield that was worked for over 300 years.
• •To the east, the horizon is dominated by the sprawling granite ridge of the Blackstairs Mountains, with the distinctive summit of Mount Leinster clearly visible over the Carlow border.
• •Its status as a Marilyn ensures it receives occasional visits from dedicated peak-baggers, though you are far more likely to share the summit with local livestock than with other walkers.