![]() The middle-ward curtain wall was later reduced to ground level in the eighteenth century, save along the seaward side, where it survives with a postern gate and the east tower, notable for a fine array of cross-bow loops at basement level. In 1217 the new constable, De Serlane, was assigned one hundred pounds to build a new curtain wall so that the approach along the rock could be protected, as well as the eastern approaches over the sand exposed at low tide. Following its capture, constables were appointed to command the castle and the surrounding area. It was then Ulster’s premier strategic garrison. The castle first appears in the official English records in 1210 when King John laid siege to it and placed Carrickfergus under royal authority. It was at this time that he established the nearby St Nicholas’ Church. This helped to defend the original entrance into the inner ward. De Lacy oversaw the final construction of the castle, which included the gatehouse, drum towers and outer ward as an extension of the original curtain wall. John de Courcy ruled as a petty king until 1204 when he was ousted by another Anglo Norman adventurer, Hugh de Lacy, as authorized by King John. ![]() Carrickfergus Castle seen across the harbor. Archaeological excavations close to the walls’ foundations have yielded many artefacts that have helped historians piece together a picture of the lives of the 12th and 13th century inhabitants. Segments of the town wall are still visible in various parts of the town and in various states of preservation. Also accessible from within the ward was the massive tower or ‘keep’ used by De Courcy and his wife Affreca. The castle was further defended by a ditch cut into the rock, effectively making it an island.įrom its strategic position on a rocky promontory, originally almost surrounded by sea, the castle commanded Carrickfergus Bay (later known as Belfast Lough), and the land approaches into the walled town that developed beneath its shadows. The historical walled town originally occupied an area of around 97,000 square meters, which now comprises the town center, bordered by Albert Road to the west, the Marine Highway to the south, Shaftesbury Park to the north and Joymount Presbyterian Church grounds to the east. ![]() There would also have been accommodation for the garrison and stables for their horses. It had several buildings, including a chapel, kitchens and the great hall. Initially, de Courcy built the inner ward, a small bailey at the end of the promontory with a high polygonal curtain wall and east gate. The castle was built by John de Courcy as his headquarters in 1177 after he had conquered eastern Ulster. According to one tale, his ship ran aground on a rock by the shore, which became known as “Carraig Fhearghais” – the rock of Fergus. The British peerage title of Baron Carrickfergus, which had become extinct in 1883, was bestowed upon Prince William on his wedding day in 2011.Ĭarrickfergus is said to take its name from Fergus Mór (Fergus the Great), the legendary king of Dál Riata. Today it is maintained by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency as a state care historic monument, The name Carrickfergus is derived from the Irish Carraig Ḟergus or “cairn of Fergus”, the name “Fergus” meaning “strong man”. It was strategically useful, with ¾ of the castle perimeter surrounded by water. Besieged in turn by the Scottish, Irish, English and French, the castle played an important military role until 1928 and remains one of the best preserved medieval structures in Northern Ireland. It is County Antrim’s oldest town and one of the oldest towns in Ireland as a whole. The town had a population of 27,903 at the 2011 Census. It sits on the north shore of Belfast Lough, 11 miles (18 kilometers) from Belfast. Carrickfergus Castle is a Norman Irish castle in Northern Ireland, situated in the town of Carrickfergus in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
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