Knockeyon

Lough Derravargh and Knock Eyon

Lough Derravargh and Knock Eyon

© Sean Magee

Lough Derravargh and Knock Eyon
© Sean Magee

Lough Derravargh and Knock Eyon

Lough Derravargh and Knock Eyon

© Sean Magee

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Knockeyon or the hill of St Eyon is located on the southern left - hand shore, rising steeply to seven hundred feet .

Located midway from the top of the hill is the ruins of an ancient chapel built by St Cauragh and dedicated to St Eyon. The chapel was cut out of the natural rock and had no roof. Beside the chapel was the ruins of St Cauragh's Well or the '' Wishing Well'' as it's waters were supposed be miraculous.

Legend has it that St Cauragh was expelled from the monastery of Kells by St Columbcille for breach of discipline. He thus wandered forth throughout the countryside eventually reaching Knockeyon. He selected this location far away from the eyes of the world to pass the remainder of his life in prayer and fasting. At some time he became seriously ill and was at the point of death. He prayed to God for a drop of water to quench his thirst, when suddenly he heard water trickling out of the rock above his head. He put out his hand and drank freely of the miraculous water with the result that he was cured, and it was after that that he built the chapel.

In ancient times thousands of people visited the well on the first Sunday of harvest undertaking the pilgrimage up the hill barefoot on what became known as '' Cauragh Sunday ''. Following the pilgrimage everyone adjourned to a green area at the foot of the hill where musicians played and everyone spent the remainder of the day eating, drinking and dancing .

Sir Edmund Dease in his book "The Westmeath Hunt " tells the story of how three men were hanged on the summit of the hill. Four men in total were sentenced having been found guilty of the murder of the residents of Streamstown House near the Faughalstown shoreline. Local legend claims that there is a spot on the hill where no grass ever grew again following the executions. The fourth man was hanged in Mullingar .