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Leinster's District of
Dún Ailinne
Ceann mor:
Position is currently vacant
Dun Ailinne - A gathering place for the
Province of Leinster. Most probably, this
site was used for fairs, festivals and
ceremonies, as there is no evidence of
"permanent" human habitation.
 
Situated on the hill of Knockaulin in the southern part of today's County Kildare, Dún Ailinne is the largest "hillfort" in Ireland. Measuring some 500 meters in a north-south direction by almost 400 meters wide, the low embankment encloses over 34 acres. Material for the bank was scraped from the inside, rather than the outside of the wall, suggesting the structure was not meant for defensive purposes. Also, there is no evidence of habitation at any period in its history. Archaeologist assume this was then, a center for ritual gatherings in the Province of Leinster. From the alignment of certain "notches" in the embankment, some experts theorize that this site may have been used for solar and lunar observations.Located within the embankment, at the crown of the hill, there is evidence of at least four smaller structures, layered one atop another. It would appear that the old structure was burned (ritually?) and leveled, and then a new structure was erected shortly thereafter. Why should this be? Since we know little of the actual functioning of the Pagan religion, we can only guess. One possibility might be that the site was offered up as a sacrifice in time of drought or famine. Or, it could be that the place was destroyed by a rival group from a neighboring province. However, considering the general reverence given the Druid class, this seems less likely. Whatever the reason and the history, Dún Ailinne was seasonally occupied from the Neolithic period until the late Iron Age. Map, text and graphics by MacMorna Niafer Guide to Celtia
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