Dún Ailinne

Dún Ailinne is an Iron Age hilltop fortress featuring nested circular earthen banks and ditches arranged in concentric rings around Knockaulin Hill. Multiple defensive structures create a layered layout that remains visible today across the open hillside landscape.

The site was built starting around 400 BCE and underwent several major renovations and reconstructions over roughly 8 centuries. Archaeological evidence suggests it served as a center of power and influence throughout the Iron Age period.

This location served as a ceremonial gathering place where the Kings of Leinster held important meetings and rituals in ancient times. The shape and layout of the site reflect how people used it for communal purposes beyond everyday settlement.

The site sits on private farmland and you need permission from the landowner before visiting as livestock graze on the hillside. Plan your visit early in the day when lighting is best for seeing the earthwork details and the hill is quieter.

Saint John's Well sits on the north side of the hillfort, a natural spring that locals have traditionally associated with healing properties. This water source likely influenced why this particular hilltop was chosen as a ceremonial and political center in ancient times.

Location: County Kildare

GPS coordinates: 53.10730,-6.77544

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:44