The hill is on the southeastern shore of Lough Derravaragh and oversees much of the north Leinster countryside.
Chapel
The ruins of a chapel (national monument WM012-206 ), are halfway up the hill. A devotional pattern was held annually around 1 August or the nearest Sunday to it.[citation needed]
Annotated as 'Chapel' on the OS maps this structure is situated within a dense hazel and oak historic woodland.[2] Only the footings of this building remain (pers. comm. Aidan Walsh). Depicted on the 1911 ed. OS 25-inch map as a small rectangular building aligned on a NW-SE axis standing at the intersection point of four woodland pathways.
Habitat
Knockeyon and other surrounding hills support deciduous woodland which mostly consists of native species. Hazel, rowan, ash, and oak are abundant. Exotic species occur occasionally, such as horse chestnut and other species introduced including beech.
The neighbouring Knockbody Wood is inhabited by wild pheasant and is a popular attraction for local pheasant hunters. On occasions, the Common pochard (Aythya ferina) population, which is one of the largest in Ireland,[3] has exceeded the threshold for international importance. (i.e. 3,500 individual fowl).[4]
