Article Summary
What this article covers: The history, inscriptions, views, walking routes and practical visiting details of the Knockagh Monument on Knockagh Hill above Greenisland in County Antrim.
Who this is for: Visitors to Belfast or Carrickfergus, hill walkers, and anyone researching the County Antrim War Memorial.
Key takeaway: The Knockagh Monument is the County Antrim War Memorial, a 110 foot basalt obelisk completed in 1936. It is free to visit by car or on foot from Greenisland.
Expert insight: “Most people know the Knockagh Monument as the obelisk they see from the shore road at Whiteabbey, and very few have stood beside it. Filming up there for ConnollyCove, with the wind coming off the escarpment, made the memorial feel far less distant than a printed roll of honour.”, Ciaran Connolly, Founder of ConnollyCove
Quick facts:
- The Knockagh Monument is the County Antrim War Memorial and is described by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council as the largest war memorial in Northern Ireland.
- The obelisk stands 110 feet high and was designed as a half height replica of the Wellington Monument in Phoenix Park, Dublin.
- The foundation stone was laid in 1922, the monument was completed in 1936, and it was rededicated on 5 November 2006 after a refurbishment.
High above Greenisland, on a basalt escarpment overlooking Belfast Lough and Carrickfergus and its medieval streets, the Knockagh Monument is one of the most visible landmarks in east County Antrim. It was raised for the men of County Antrim who died in the First World War, and later dedicated to the dead of the Second World War too. On a clear day the summit gives views across Belfast, the North Down coast and, at the furthest reach, towards Scotland.
ConnollyCove is an Ireland based travel and culture platform, and our coverage of County Antrim includes the coastal towns, castles and hill walks around Belfast Lough. This guide covers the history of the memorial and its inscriptions, what you can see from the summit, and how to get there by car or on foot.
Table of Contents
The Knockagh Monument at a Glance
The Knockagh Monument is free to visit, sits beside a small car park at the top of Monument Road, and is best seen on a clear, calm day. The table below gathers the practical facts visitors ask about most, and notes where published sources disagree.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Official name | County Antrim War Memorial, known locally as the Knockagh Monument |
| Location | Monument Road, Knockagh Hill, above Greenisland, County Antrim, BT38 8QG |
| Structure | Basalt obelisk on a broad square plinth of rough hewn stone |
| Height of obelisk | 110 feet (about 34 metres) |
| Height of site | Given as 390 metres by the local council, and as about 300 metres (935 feet) by war memorial researchers |
| Built | Foundation stone laid in 1922, completed in 1936 |
| Architect | Henry Seaver |
| Admission | Free, open air site |
| Facilities | Small car park, benches and information panels; no visitor centre or café |
| Nearest railway station | Greenisland, on the Belfast to Larne line |
The History of the Knockagh Monument
The Knockagh Monument took fourteen years to build, and the delay says a good deal about County Antrim after the First World War. The memorial was funded by public subscription and finished only after the death of the man who had championed it.
A Memorial Proposed After the First World War
A committee was formed after the First World War to create a single memorial for the men of County Antrim who had died in the conflict. The project was led by Henry Barton, High Sheriff of County Antrim. The committee chose Knockagh Hill because the escarpment is visible from much of the county and from the shipping lanes of Belfast Lough. Contemporary reports of the foundation ceremony, collected by the Ulster War Memorials project, name the architect as Henry Seaver.
The obelisk was modelled on the Wellington Monument in Phoenix Park, Dublin, designed by Sir Robert Smirke, and was built at half its height. The Imperial War Museums War Memorials Register records it as an obelisk of stone blocks on a broad square plinth. A stone inscription tablet sits at the front, with a later slate rededication tablet.
Fourteen Years From Foundation Stone to Completion
The foundation stone was laid in 1922, but money ran short as County Antrim felt the economic strain of the post war years. Ulster War Memorials records that when Henry Barton died in 1935, his will left £1,250 towards finishing the memorial. Antrim Rural District Council was then asked to adopt the Knockagh Monument and meet the remaining cost, and the work was completed in 1936.
According to the same archive, thirty eight letters were found to have been removed from the inscription in April 1937, with two more damaged. The newly finished stonework needed repair within months.
Rededication After the Second World War
After 1945, the memorial was dedicated to the people of County Antrim who died in the Second World War as well as the first. Both wars are now marked at Remembrance services on the hill. The obelisk was refurbished in 1985 with contributions from the county’s local councils. A second refurbishment in 2006 cost £50,000, with each council in County Antrim contributing £1,500, and the monument was formally rededicated on 5 November 2006. The slate tablet recording that ceremony is still on the plinth.
This ConnollyCove video, Knockagh Monument, County Antrim: Knockagh War Memorial, shows the obelisk and the plinth up close. It also gives a good sense of how close the memorial sits to the edge of the escarpment.
The Inscriptions on the Knockagh Monument
The inscriptions on the Knockagh Monument are short, and a lot of what is written about them online is wrong. The original tablet uses lines from a First World War hymn, while the later slate tablet records the 2006 rededication.
The Original Arkwright Inscription
The main inscription is adapted from “O Valiant Hearts”, a hymn written by John Stanhope Arkwright during the First World War. The council gives the wording as “Nobly you fought, your knightly virtue proved, your memory hallowed in the land you loved.” The hymn was widely sung at Remembrance services between the wars. Several websites attribute the line “They shall not grow old” to Arkwright, but that line comes from Laurence Binyon’s poem “For the Fallen”, known as the Ode of Remembrance.
Names, Tablets and Common Mistakes
Earlier versions of this ConnollyCove article, along with other online sources, repeated claims that do not stand up. The memorial was not designed by Sir Charles Lanyon, who died in 1889, and it was not unveiled in 1935. The War Memorials Register describes a single obelisk on a plinth with two tablets, so descriptions of four surrounding columns carrying service emblems should be treated with caution. Anyone researching a family member should confirm names through the War Memorials Register and local council archives.
Views From Knockagh Hill Over Belfast Lough
The view is the main reason most people drive up, and on a clear day it covers a large part of eastern Ulster. The obelisk stands on the lip of the escarpment, so the ground falls away in front of you towards Greenisland and the water. The ConnollyCove 360 degree video of the summit lets you look around before you go.
Looking Across Belfast and North Down
To the south and south west, the city of Belfast spreads along the head of the lough, with the shipyard cranes and the harbour clearly visible on a good day. Behind the city you can pick out the Belfast Hills, including Cave Hill above north Belfast. On exceptionally clear days the Mourne Mountains appear far to the south.
Directly across Belfast Lough lies the North Down coast, from Holywood and Helen’s Bay to Bangor. Visitors also report seeing the Copeland Islands off the tip of the Ards Peninsula, which mark the point where the lough opens into the North Channel.
Looking Towards Carrickfergus and Scotland
Below you to the east is Carrickfergus, and the Norman stronghold of Carrickfergus Castle on the shore of the lough is easy to spot. Further out, the coastline of south west Scotland can be seen across the North Channel when visibility is good, although haze over the water often hides it in summer.
This ConnollyCove video, Knockagh Monument County Antrim: Sunrise Over Belfast, NI, was filmed at dawn. It shows how the early light moves across the lough and the city below.
Getting to the Knockagh Monument
Most visitors reach the Knockagh Monument by car, because the summit is at the end of a narrow country road with no bus service. Walking up from Greenisland or Woodburn is also possible, and whichever way you travel, plan for wind and cold, as there is no shelter at the top.
Driving and Parking on Monument Road
Use the postcode BT38 8QG for satellite navigation. The final approach is along Monument Road, which is marked at its junction near Woodburn by a brown tourist sign. Visitors regularly describe the road as narrow and winding, with oncoming traffic in places, so drive slowly and be ready to pull in. In winter, frost and ice can linger on the higher stretches after the roads below have cleared.
There is a small car park immediately beside the fenced compound around the monument. It fills quickly on bright weekend afternoons and on Remembrance Sunday, so an early morning or weekday visit is easier, and larger vehicles will struggle on the approach road.
Reaching the Monument Without a Car
There is no public transport to the summit. The nearest railway station is Greenisland, on the NI Railways line between Belfast and Larne, and timetables are published by Translink. From the station you can walk the whole way up on minor roads, or take a taxi from Greenisland or Carrickfergus to the car park and walk back down. Check the time of the last return train before you set off, because the walk takes longer than most people expect.
Walking Routes up Knockagh Hill
There are three ways up on foot, ranging from a few minutes on level ground to a half day climb. None uses a dedicated footpath for its whole length, so take good footwear, water and a waterproof layer, as there are no shops or toilets at the summit.
The Short Walk From the Car Park
From the car park, a short walk on firm ground brings you to the base of the obelisk and the viewpoint along the fence line. It suits families and anyone short of time. Dogs should be kept on a lead, because livestock graze the surrounding fields.
Greenisland Station to the Knockagh Monument
The longest approach starts at Greenisland railway station and climbs through the village and farmland to the summit. AllTrails lists the Greenisland to Knockagh Monument route as a 16.3 kilometre out and back walk with 436 metres of ascent, taking around four and a half hours. The route is entirely on roads and has no pavement once you leave the main road, so wear something visible and walk facing oncoming traffic.
“If you have the legs for it, walk up from Greenisland rather than driving. The road climbs past farms and forestry, and the obelisk keeps appearing above you until the last bend.”, Ciaran Connolly, Founder of ConnollyCove
The Woodburn Forest Approach
A quieter option starts from the public car park beside Woodburn Presbyterian Church near Carrickfergus, which is signed, oddly, as an anglers’ car park. From there, a short stretch of road leads to the junction with Monument Road, which climbs steadily to the summit. Local walkers favour this approach because the obelisk comes into view slowly as you rise above Woodburn Forest.
O’Haughan’s Cave and the Outlaws of Knockagh
Knockagh Hill has a story two centuries older than the memorial, and few visitors hear it. The cliffs below the summit are linked to Naoise O’Haughan, an early eighteenth century highwayman, and his gang.
Naoise O’Haughan (in Irish, Naoise Ó hEocháin) was born around 1691 at Skerry in the Braid valley and became an outlaw after a violent clash with his family’s landlord. His gang robbed travellers on the roads around Templepatrick, Carnmoney and Belfast, and folk accounts describe dragoons from Carrickfergus Castle chasing them up onto the Knockagh. His brother Shane Óg was hanged at Gallows Green in Carrickfergus in 1718, and Naoise followed him to the same gallows in 1720.
Samuel McSkimin’s History and Antiquities of Carrickfergus (1811) described three caves cut into the southern brow of Knockagh. The most westerly is still known locally as O’Haughan’s Cave. It appears on Ordnance Survey maps, but OpenStreetMap notes that access is very difficult and that the right of way below the cliff is currently impassable. Enjoy the story from the summit and do not try to reach the cave.
A Place of Remembrance in County Antrim
The Knockagh Monument remains a working war memorial, and visitors should treat the compound with the same respect as any cenotaph. A Remembrance service is held on the hill each year in November, and wreaths are often left at the base of the plinth. Outside those dates the site is usually quiet.
For many County Antrim families, the memorial is a link to relatives who served in the two world wars. Local history groups and schools also visit to learn about the county’s part in both conflicts. The information panels at the base give a short account of the site’s history.
Exploring County Antrim Around the Knockagh Monument
The Knockagh Monument works well as part of a longer day in east County Antrim. Carrickfergus is a short drive away, and the Antrim coast road begins a little further north. For families, Carnfunnock Country Park near Larne has woodland trails, gardens and a maze. Further north, the nine Glens of Antrim run down to the sea along the Causeway Coastal Route. The clifftop ruins of Dunluce Castle on the north coast make a full day out from Belfast.
On the coast nearer Knockagh, our film of Whitehead and Blackhead Lighthouse follows the cliff path to the lighthouse. For more history, the Ulster Folk Museum at Cultra sits on the opposite shore of Belfast Lough. In Belfast itself, a weekend visit to St George’s Market is a good way to finish the day.
The Best Time to Visit the Knockagh Monument
The best time to visit the Knockagh Monument is a dry, clear day with little wind, and late spring and early summer usually give the best chance of one. May and June bring long evenings and mild temperatures, but visibility matters more than the season, because low cloud can hide the whole view.
Photographers often come up at sunrise, when the light comes in low over the lough and catches the city, or in the last hour before sunset. Winter visits can give the clearest air of the year, but the road and the summit are exposed, so check the forecast and allow for ice. Drone pilots should check the current Civil Aviation Authority rules and keep well away from people at the memorial.
Explore More of County Antrim With ConnollyCove
ConnollyCove covers travel destinations and cultural stories from Ireland and across the world, and County Antrim is one of the areas we return to most often. Our complete guide to County Antrim gathers the coast, the glens and the towns in one place for planning a longer trip. For video tours of Knockagh Hill and other sites around Belfast Lough, visit the ConnollyCove YouTube channel.
FAQs
What is the Knockagh Monument?
The Knockagh Monument is the County Antrim War Memorial, a 110 foot basalt obelisk on Knockagh Hill above Greenisland. It commemorates the people of County Antrim who died in the First and Second World Wars.
Where is the Knockagh Monument?
The memorial stands on Monument Road, Knockagh Hill, between Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus in County Antrim. The postcode for satellite navigation is BT38 8QG.
When was the Knockagh Monument built?
The foundation stone was laid in 1922 and the monument was completed in 1936. It was refurbished in 1985 and 2006, and rededicated on 5 November 2006.
How tall is the Knockagh Monument?
The obelisk is 110 feet, or about 34 metres, high. It is a half height replica of the Wellington Monument in Phoenix Park, Dublin.
Is the Knockagh Monument free to visit?
Yes, there is no admission charge and no booking is needed. The site is open air, with a small free car park beside the monument.
Can you walk to the Knockagh Monument?
Yes, you can walk up from Greenisland railway station or from Woodburn near Carrickfergus. The Greenisland route is about 16 kilometres there and back on roads without pavements.
Can you see Scotland from the Knockagh Monument?
Yes, the coast of south west Scotland is visible across the North Channel on clear days. Haze over the sea often hides it in summer.
Are dogs allowed at the Knockagh Monument?
Dogs are welcome, but they should be kept on a lead. Livestock graze the fields around the hill, and the memorial compound should be kept clean.
