Carnmoney Hill

Carnmoney takes its name from Cairn Monadh 'the cairn on the boggy mountain' and is steeped in History.

Although, it is thought to have once been a burial chamber it is also known that there was a fort, named Dunanney (Fort of the Assemblies) built on the south face of the hill overlooking Belfast Lough.This prestige rath site, where in ancient times fairs and festivals were held, may date to Celtic times (around 500 BC).

In 1556 the Earl of Sussex, Lord Deputy to Elizabeth I, camped with his troops at Dunanney where he met with Irish chieftans and tried unsuccessfully to pacify the Irish.

Today unfortunately, there is a threat by business people who would wish to see Carnmoney Hill turned into a housing estate or even a golf club. Thankfully at present this danger has been kept at bay and the Woodland trust in partnership with the local council have made the Hill more accessable to the public and seemed to have stemmed the tide of people who wanted the Hill for their own personal gain rather than leaving it for the local community to enjoy.