Croghan Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Croghan Hill |
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| Cnoc Cruacháin / Brí Éile | |
Croghan Hill, from the southwest
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 234 m (768 ft) |
| Prominence | 159 |
| Listing | Marilyn |
| Geography | |
 Croghan Hill
Location in island of Ireland
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| Location | Offaly, Ireland |
| OSI/OSNI grid | N482331 |
| Topo map | OSi Discovery 48 |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Carboniferous |
| Mountain type | Extinct volcano |
| Last eruption | ±350 MYA |
Croghan Hill (known in Irish as Cnoc Cruacháin or Brí Éile) is a special hill in County Offaly, Ireland. It stands 234 meters (about 768 feet) tall. This hill is actually the remains of an extinct volcano! It rises up from the flat Bog of Allen area, making it easy to spot.
For a long time, people have thought of Croghan Hill as a sacred place. It's even mentioned in old Irish mythology stories. At the very top of the hill, there's an ancient burial mound. This mound has never been dug up by archaeologists. People believe it was once the place where kings of the Uí Failghe kingdom were crowned.
On the eastern side of the hill, you can find an old graveyard and the ruins of a medieval church. At the western base of the hill, there are also remains of an old settlement, another church, and a castle. A very old bog body, called Old Croghan Man, was found not far from here. The small village of Croghan is located at the southern foot of the hill.
Ancient Secrets and Legends
Croghan Hill has always been seen as a very special and holy place. At the top of the hill is an ancient burial mound. This mound has never been excavated, but experts think it dates back to the Bronze Age or even earlier.
From the sacred Hill of Uisneach, the sun at midwinter appears to rise right over Croghan Hill. In old Irish stories, Croghan Hill is called Brí Éile or Cruachán Brí Éile. Éile is said to be a magical woman or goddess who lives inside the mound. People believed this hill was a secret doorway to the Otherworld.
One old story, The Boyhood Deeds of Fionn, says that every Samhain (an ancient festival), men from all over Ireland would go to the hilltop. They wanted to meet this beautiful maiden. The story also says that someone would mysteriously die each year during this event.
The Mystery of Old Croghan Man
A very old bog body was discovered near Croghan Hill in 2003. This body is now known as Old Croghan Man. He lived and died sometime between 362 BC and 175 BC. Experts believe he was a king or a very important person. He appears to have died as part of an ancient ceremony.
Churches and Holy Sites
On the eastern slope of Croghan Hill, you can find an old graveyard and the remains of an early medieval church. This church is named after Bishop Mac Caille, who is thought to have been connected to Saint Patrick. The hill also has links to Saint Brigid. It is said she was born nearby and performed a miracle here. This miracle helped her cross the difficult bogs around the hill.
The hilltop might have been the place where the Ó Conchobhair (O'Connor) kings of Uí Failghe (Offaly) were crowned. At the western base of the hill, you can see the ruins of an O'Connor castle. There are also remains of a medieval settlement and another church. Several holy wells are also found around the hill.
