Carrickfergus Castle

Carrickfergus Castle stands on a rocky promontory on the northern shore of Belfast Lough in County Antrim. Built in 1177 by John de Courcy, it was the first Norman stronghold in eastern Ulster. The castle’s inner ward was a small bailey with a high curtain wall and east gate, commanding views over Carrickfergus Bay. Over time, land reclamation reduced the water that once surrounded three-quarters of its perimeter. The castle played a key military role for centuries, enduring sieges by the Scottish, Irish, English, and French. Its strategic importance made it a target for many conflicts. King John captured it in 1210, and Hugh de Lacy later expanded its defences with a new curtain wall. The east tower still shows cross-bow loops and a Romanesque-style chapel window. Marshal Schomberg took the castle in 1689, and King William III first landed in Ireland nearby in 1690. French forces under Francois Thurot looted it in 1760 before being defeated by the Royal Navy. Today, the castle remains one of Northern Ireland’s best-preserved medieval structures. Visitors find a restored banqueting hall and exhibits on medieval life. The east battery still holds six of the twenty-two guns used in 1811. The castle’s long history includes use as a prison, garrison, and air-raid shelter. Its Norman appearance was recovered by removing later additions in the early 20th century.