LiDAR survey of Knockma Hill

In the spring of 2024, the Donaghpatrick Kilcoona Heritage Society were awarded a grant from the Heritage Council through the Community Heritage Grant Scheme to complete a LiDAR survey of Knockma Hill, a method of remote detection to examine the surface of the hill and map its royal and ritual landscape.

Known locally as ‘The Fairy Hill’, Knockma holds an important place in the heart of the community living around it and the Society were keen to highlight its significance on a national level, concerned about nearby quarrying and its potential to threaten undocumented and unexamined features of this important site.

Together with Dr Jessica Cooke, an acclaimed research scholar in medieval studies, who has been studying the early history of Magh Seóla (the Barony of Clare) for the last fifteen years, the society were successful in their application and started work on the survey during the summer.

Onboard the project was Dr Paul Naessens of Western Aerial Surveys, a highly experienced archaeologist and landscape surveyor, who conducted the drone survey using the very latest remote technology.  As well as Claire Loader, a local photographer, who captured key sites of the hill to supplement the aerial findings.

The survey collected an immense amount of raw data which Paul, Jessica, and Irene McGoldrick (Chair of Annaghdown Heritage Society) are currently working with to create and interpret visual maps of the hill to identify known and unknown features in the landscape.

As part of this project, the Society has hosted two talks, the first “Knockma of the Great Kings” by Dr Jessica Cooke, and the second “Knock LiDAR Survey Presentation” featuring Jessica Cooke and Paul Naessens.  Both of which were recorded and are available on their YouTube Chanel: https://www.youtube.com/@DonaghpatrickKilcoonaHeritage

The Society has also recently become a member of the Galway Community Heritage Website and will be making available any updates and findings from the survey here over the coming months:  https://heritage.galwaycommunityheritage.org/content/category/places/donaghpatrick-kilcoona-heritage-society-places

The initial survey of Knockma was conducted during the summer when tree foliage was high, and the Society are very excited that Paul Naessens has agreed to return to the hill during winter to take an additional survey of the surface to gather any data that was missed.

Members of the community can follow the progress of this project on both Facebook and Instagram or email donaghpatrickkilcoonahs@gmail.com to be added to the Society’s mailing list.

The data produced by the survey is also open to the public for anyone who would like to help in better understanding Knockma Hill.  Contact the Donaghpatrick Kilcoona Heritage Society via email to learn more: donaghpatrickkilcoonahs@gmail.com