Shelli's blog: Carrickfergus Castle

Now this is a castle.

The Gate House

Located in Carrickfergus, the Carrickfergus Castle was built in stages the initial Inner Ward building was started between 1177 and 1181 by John de Courcy. It consisted of high curtain wall enclosing the Keep and a small bailey. The surface of the courtyard consisted of large basalt boulders deliberately laid down to give a firm base. The castle is the best preserved medieval castle in Ireland. It was also the longest garrisoned and was only handed over to civilian control in 1928.

Within the courtyard are the remains of the Hall. It was a two story building with fine windows overlooking the sea.

John de Courcy was the youngest son of a Somerset knight. He led an army of 22 knights and 300 foot soldiers from Dublin to Ulster. His goal was to capture as much land from the Irish as possible. John's choice of Carrickfergus as his principle base secured his communications with his allies in Northern England and the Isle of Man. He began construction of the castle soon after his arrival. Work was thwarted by the native opposition to an Anglo-Norman settlement..

Shortly after the defensive walls were built an accommodation was reached with the local families. He was then left in peace to continue his building. He brought his wife Princess Affreca, of the Isle of Man to live in the castle. They founded several monastic houses in Ulster and the castle Dundurm. John de Courcy was forcefully ejected from the castle in 1205 by another powerful Anglo-Norman knight Hugh de Lacy

The Hall

Affreca, wife of John de Courcy, daughter of the King of Isle of Man

The four story Keep

original gate in the Inner Ward

fresh spring well located in the Keep

Solar room - ruling families quateres

King John on the privy

banquet hall

Servery - Samuel and Sarah

"Hugh de Lacy took over as resident lord and antagonized the Crown of England to the extent that King John himself came over to Ireland to curtail him. King John put the castle under siege in 1220. Hugh escaped the castle before it was captured. It remained a crown possession until 1228. It was during this period of Royal control that the Middle Ward was built. In 1228 Hugh de Lacy was able to win back the Anglo-Norman Earldom of Ulster including the castle at Carrickfergus. His lordship from 1228 until 1242 was probably when the Outer Ward, including the gate house was added and the castle finally occupied the full promontory."

Middle Ward looking towards Bangor across the water

Middle Ward

In 1315 Edward Bruce, brother of Robert the Bruce, and Scottish forces invaded Ireland. They defeated the Irish army at the Battle of Connor and the Irish retreated to Castle Carrickfergus. Edward besieged the castle for one year. The fortifications held out but the food did not. Finally driven by hunger they surrendered the castle in September 1316. Carrickfergus remained Edward's base in Ireland until his death in battle at Dundalk, October 1318.

Outer Ward

Gatehouse gate

Tudor Rose Cannon

The castle was besieged by King William III in 1689.
The French army captured the castle in 1760.
Throughout the First World War the castle is used to store weapons, ammunition and artillery. Anti submarine guns were mounted within the castle to protect Belfast harbour from submarine attacks.
During WWII the ammunition rooms were used as bomb shelters during the Belfast Blitz.