Knockdrum Stone Fort is a circular hilltop cashel situated near Castletownshend in West Cork. Its positioning gives views inland but also to the south overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The fort is 29 metres in diameter with impressive 3-metre-deep walls reaching to around 2 metres in height. The enclosure contains the stone foundations of a rectangular building with a souterrain in one corner. The souterrain was discovered in 1875 and is recorded as having three chambers and a funnel-shaped ‘chimney’. The entry point to the fort is through a narrow passageway on its north-east, there is a small guard chamber to the right, and then on your left once you enter the fort is a pillar stone with a deeply incised Greek Cross. Prior to the entryway is a boulder on the stone with a variety of cup-marks in its surface.
There was a detailed study completed on the fort in 1930 by Vice Admiral Henry Boyle Somerville who came to some interesting conclusions. Somerville came to the conclusion that the site on which the stone fort is situated may have held importance prior to its construction and is situated on a solar alignment as documented in The Journal of The Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland (1931).
“This conception of the earlier use of the site of the cathair [the stone fort] for purposes which may perhaps be termed “religious,” seems to be borne out by the following fact. At a horizontal distance of about 600 yards to the E.S.E of the cathair, and at 210′ difference of level below it, there is a small rocky ridge standing up from the surrounding grass land. The name of the ridge is “Peakeen Cnoc Dromin,” The little peak of the white-backed hill . . .
Somerville pointed out two collapsed large stones to the south of the fort, with what he imagined were intentional indentations, which he believed may had had once been upright and stated, “The fact remains that when the stones were erect, the sight-line over those two curved notches directed the eye to the point on the hill above which is now the centre of the stone ring of the cathair, and that this is direction is that of sunset on Lá Bealltaine”. Somerville goes on to state he viewed this himself on May 6th 1930.
Knockdrum is situated in a very picturesque position and is well signposted though parking nearby is difficult. It’s a decent hike to the fort which only makes it seem all the more impressive.
GPS: 51.52652, -9.19364