Dunluce Castle

Location

Co. Antrim , Northern Ireland

History

Dunluce Castle, in Dunluce, Co. Antrim, is thought by some to be the most picturesque of all Irish castles . Situated in the most north-easterly tip of Ireland and first built by Richard de Burgh, Earl of Ulster in the 13th century, the ruins of the castle are a huge tourist attraction . The castle is surrounded by terrifyingly steep drops at either side, which would have been essential features to the Vikings and early Christians who were drawn to this magnificent place where an early Irish ring-fort once stood. It is situated on a 100 foot high basalt stack with a sea cave underneath. The earliest features of the castle, the two large drum towers, about nine metres in diameter, can still be seen on the eastern side.

The MacQuillan clan became lords of the area in the late fourteenth century. The castle often came under siege and in 1584, Sorley Boy McDonnell captured it. Sorley Boy came into some booty (some of which can be seen in the Ulster Museum in Belfast ) in 1588 when the Spanish Armada treasure ship Girona was wrecked off the Giants Causeway . The money was used to modernise the castle but local folklore says that in 1639, the kitchen fell into the sea and that the cooks and kitchen servants were carried away with it. Not long after this, the MacDonnell clan abandoned it.

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Opening Times

Opening times not available

Visit Length

2hr

Admission

Admission Fees unavailable

Information

Leaflets: Yes Guided Tours: Yes Audio Visual: Yes Exhibition: Yes

Facilities

Restaurant: Yes Car Park: Yes Coach Park: Yes Disabled Access: Yes