Looking for a place to go walking Ireland at the start of this new year, we crossed the border into Galway. Knockma Wood is small, but very nice indeed, comprised mainly of Oak, Ash, Hazel and other broadleaf trees. The wood occupies a low hill in the otherwise flat north Galway plains. As gaeilge, it’s name is possibly Cnoc an Mhaigh, the ‘hill of the plain’.
Damaged cairn in Knockma Wood
A limestone outcrop, the hill boasts some excellent neolithic cairns on top, two of which are reputed to be the burial places of Queen Maebh of Connacht and of Finnbhearra, King of the Connacht fairies. Some meddling with the cairns by the 19th Century landlord has resulted in altered forms, including what appear to be steps up and walls along at least one of them.
Being of limestone, it is interesting that Knockma is said to house the cairn of Finnbhearra, as it was believed that the fairies inhabited the ‘Otherworld’. This ‘Otherworld’ connected with Ireland at various points, such as caves, cracks in the earth and other passageways, like springs. At its summit, the hill has many Burren-like cracks in its limestone scalp.
” The Tuath Dé Danann went into the hills, the region of the Sídhe [fairies], then, and they submitted to the Sídhe under the ground. ” [Ancient Irish Tales, by Tom Peete Cross]
By the entrance to the wood stands Castle Hacket(t), a 13th Century tower house whose external walls are still in reasonable condition. Across the road is the more recent Castlehacket(t) House, a very large ‘big house’ from the 19th Century. The Kirwans, one of the famous tribes of Galway, were the local landlords. This house, like many other landed mansions, was burnt down in the 1920s but, unusually, was actually rebuilt and occupied, I understand, until the 1980s.
From the carpark at the tower house, the walk is a pleasant 4km loop, with lovely views across the north Galway plains and, in winter, the many turlough lakes that dot this landscape, before disappearing once more as summer approaches. Among the fine specimen trees, we encounter some areas where efforts have been made to remove invasive laurel. The extensive thickets that remain and the new growth elsewhere demonstrate the work that is yet to be done. Surprisingly, quite a number of non-native conifers remain. Why the NPWS has left these in situ, I do not know. Bat boxes are to be seen on many trees, as the Wood holds Pipistrelles.
Polypody Fern on Oak Tree
But it is especially the Oaks and the relative ‘naturalness’ of the Wood that attract the visitor to Knockma. Having no deer to contend with, this is a wood that is free to regenerate, with a good variety in age of trees and a healthy understorey. With your children, you can spend an enjoyable 90 minutes here, exploring the wood and its wonderful archaeology.
Learn more about Knockma Wood and area, situated a few km west of Tuam, north Co. Galway, on the R333. Get out and about walking Ireland in this new year of 2013.
I read with interest your article dated 4th Jan 2013. You say that the wood has no deer to contend with. As someone who lives in the area I can confirm that there are deer in the wood and surrounding scrub /woodland. Up to about 3 years ago there were approximately 30 deer in the area. However quite a lot have been shot by hunters and at this time I would say that there are only about a dozen or so left. Whether the hunting is legal or not, I do not know but it goes on fairly often. The slain deer are usually hung up and gutted there in the field with the entrails being left for the scavengers to clear up. The wood also had a healthy population of foxes, but their numberss have also fallen.
Hi Tony,
Thank you for your comment and correcting me on the deer situation around Knockma. If you have concerns abut deer shooting in the area, I would suggest you contact the local NPWS ranger.
Regards, Barry.