Knockeyon


Knockeyon is a hill in County Westmeath, Ireland in the townland of Streamstown.

Location

The hill is on the southeastern shore of Lough Derravaragh and oversees much of the north Leinster countryside.

Chapel

The ruins of a chapel, are halfway up the hill. A devotional pattern was held annually around 1 August or the nearest Sunday to it.
Annotated as 'Chapel' on the OS maps this structure is situated within a dense hazel and oak historic woodland. Only the footings of this building remain. Depicted on the 1911 ed. OS 25-inch map as a small rectangular building aligned on a NW-SE axis standing at the intersection point of four woodland pathways.

Habitat

Knockeyon and other surrounding hills support deciduous woodland which mostly consists of native species. Hazel, rowan, ash, and oak are abundant. Exotic species occur occasionally, such as horse chestnut and other species introduced including beech.
The neighbouring Knockbody Wood is inhabited by wild pheasant and is a popular attraction for local pheasant hunters. On occasions, the Common pochard population, which is one of the largest in Ireland, has exceeded the threshold for international importance..


Wild fowlWinter 96
Little grebe42
Great crested grebe34
Cormorant34
Mute swan159
Whooper swan102
Greenland white-fronted goose409
Wigeon207
Teal52
Mallard195
Pintail6
Shoveller12
Pochard3,129
Tufted duck1,073
Goldeneye46
Coot1,358
Golden plover158
Lapwing1,079