Hill of Allen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hill Of Allen |
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| (Cnoc Alúine) | |
Hill of Allen
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 206 m (676 ft) |
| Naming | |
| Language of name | Irish |
| Geography | |
 Hill Of Allen
Location in island of Ireland
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| Location | Kildare, Republic of Ireland |
| Parent range | Chair of Kildare |
| OSI/OSNI grid | N759205 |
| Topo map | OSi Discovery 49 |
The Hill of Allen (also known as Cnoc Alúine in Irish) is a special hill in the west of County Kildare, Ireland. It's located right next to the village of Allen. This hill is actually an old volcano!
According to old Irish legends, the Hill of Allen was once the home of a famous hunter-warrior named Fionn mac Cumhaill. He lived there with his brave group of warriors, the Fianna. Today, a company owns part of the hill, and some of its shape has changed because of quarrying.
Contents
A Hill of Legends and History
The Hill of Allen sits at the very edge of a huge area of bogland called the Bog of Allen. This bog actually got its name from the hill!
Fionn mac Cumhaill's Home
Long ago, people believed that Fionn mac Cumhaill had a strong fort on top of the Hill of Allen. The flat lands around the hill were said to be where he trained his warriors. They practiced their skills and got ready for battles there.
The Battle of Allen
A very important battle happened near the hill in the year 722 A.D. This was called the Battle of Allen. The Leinstermen, led by their King, Murchad mac Brain Mut, fought against the forces of Fergal mac Máele Dúin, who was the High King of Ireland. It was a big event in Irish history.
The Mysterious Tower
Building the Tower
In 1859, a man named Sir Gerard George Aylmer started building a round tower on top of the Hill of Allen. He was a wealthy landowner from the area. The tower was finished in 1863. It was built as a "folly," which means it was a decorative building with no real purpose, often built just for fun or to look impressive. You can even find the names of the workers who built it carved into the steps!
A Strange Discovery
While the tower was being built, something very interesting was found. Workers dug up a large coffin that contained human bones. People said these bones belonged to the legendary hero, Fionn mac Cumhaill himself! The bones were carefully reburied right under the tower.
The Hill Today
Quarrying the Hill
As of 2008, most of the Hill of Allen is owned by a company called Roadstone Dublin Limited. A large part of the western side of the hill has been quarried. This means that rocks and materials have been dug out from the hill. The company has an agreement with Kildare County Council that allows them to continue quarrying for 50 years from October 15, 2008.
