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The remains of Dunluce castle still remain to this day along the shores of Northern Ireland,
making it another historical landmark situated on a rocky cliff. Read on for the Dunluce Castle History.
Dunluce Castle History: Medieval Stronghold In
Ruins
Dunluce Castle history dates back to possibly the 1200s when The 2nd Earl of Ulster, Richard Og de Burgh built the
first structures on the site. The site is well protected, since it is accessible only by a bridge that connects it
to the mainland. Steep cliffs on either side of the island helps to protect it. The location and defensibility of
the site drew early Christians as well as Vikings. The name itself comes from the Irish words for "strong fort".
The location is in County Antrim between Portrush and Portballintrae.
Geologically, the Castle sits on the edge land where the White Rocks limestone formation meets a basalt outcrop of
dark rocks. Atop this land mass is the ruins of Dunlop. The connection to the mainland is walkway, slightly arched.
Below the arch is the entrance to the Mermaid's Cave. A vast cavern located under the castle itself. The height of
the cave is sixty feet high and it is more than three hundred feet long. The sea moves through the channel with a
roaring sound.
During the long history of the castle, the only daughter of Lord McQuillan, Maeve Roe was imprisoned by her father
in the Roe tower due to her refusal to marry Rory Oge as her husband. She and her lover Reginald O'Cahan attempted
to escape by descending to the cave and rowing to the mainland, but a wild storm caught the boat and they were lost
against the cliffs. This cave is just one of many along the Irish coast.
Although Dunluce is the site of Irish forts from the twelfth century on, the earliest documentation, from 1513,
shows that the castle was owned by the MacQuillin family. Images show two large drum-shaped towers about thirty
feet in diameter. These are the earliest remaining features of the structure. The MacQuillins became lords of the
district in the late 1300s.
Later, the structure was the home of the head of Clan MacDonnell of Antrim and MacDonald of Dunnyveg. John Mor
MacDonald was the 2nd son of John of Islay and Princess Margaret Stewart, daughter of Robert II. Perhaps the most
colorful character associated with the Castle was Sorley Boy MacDonnell. He took the castle and the Antrim Glens in
1584 and improved the structure in the style of Scottish homes. Sorley Boy was pledged to James IV of Scotland.
Queen Elizabeth I named his sun Randal MacDonnell first Earl of Antrim.
MacDonnell and his wife, Lady Katherine Manners, the Earl of Rutland's widowed daughter, built an elaborate and
well-equipped manor house within the walls of the Castle and lived in fine style. An inventory taken during the
period includes such items as exquisite curtains and tapestries, chairs of state, a library of books, gold and
silver-worked saddles, globes, telescopes and finely inlaid cabinets. The Lady Katherine is credited with having
established St. Cuthbert's Church and decorating in lavish style as well.
At one point, part of the castle, including the kitchen and seven cooks broke away and fell into the sea. There
supposedly was only one survivor who was in the part that remained intact. Following this disaster, the owner's
wife refused to stay in residence there.
At least three separate sieges have been laid against the castle. In 1584, Queen Elizabeth sent an army under Sir
John Perrott to arrest Sorley Boy MacDonnell. A three-day siege of Dunluce Castle ended when Dunluce surrendered to
Perrott. MacDonnell had slipped away and evaded arrest. One year later he returned and took the castle back when
Perrott left. In 1641 another siege took place by an Irish army. This time the siege was unsuccessful. In 1642
General Munro arrested and imprisoned the Earl. The General ransacked several castles owned by the Earl. After
1666, the Earl returned to the Castle and lived there until his death.
after the Battle of the Boyne, the MacDonnells were impoverished due to their support of James II. The seat of
power was moved to Ballymagarry House nearby, parts of which are still standing. In 1745, Ballymagarry was
destroyed by fire and the Earl moved to Glenarm Castle. Dunluce gradually fell into disrepair and parts of its
structure were scavenged to become construction materials for nearby buildings.
Today, Dunluce Castle history can be better understood by visiting the site and the visitor's center. It is
maintained by the Department of the Environment. The Earl of Antrim donated the site to the people of Ireland in
1928. The center is open year around and guided tours can be arranged in advance.
Dunluce Castle Histroy - Summary
The main branch of History extends
to when the castle was taken over by famous McDonnell's, under the leadership of Sorley Boye. This group of
individuals controlled the majority of Antrim around the 16th Century by reconquering the Dunluce castle in
tremendous style when, one of his disguised workers infiltrated as a kitchen workman, lifted his men up the side of
the cliff in baskets to enable an internal attack.
Sorley Boye repaired and upgraded the castle in 1588 following the wreckage inherited from the
Girona ship from the Spanish Armada. Sorley later concluded with peace to England from which his son Randall was
made Viscount & Earl of English Land as well as being provided with 300 000 acres of Prime Antrim Land
Approximately 50 years later, around the year 1639, the Dunluce Castle
unfortunately had problems due to its critical localization. Due to the openness of the castle to the natural
weather, a small segment of the castle depleted into the oceanic waves. This portion of the unsuspecting castle
maintained all the kitchen including servant staff who also fell into the sea. After this occurrence, MacDonnell
and his brigade abandoned the castle to migrate to more safer and securer lodgings, leaving the castle to its
current condition.
Regardless of the castle being neglected for centuries, the striking features still remain today
on the edge of the cliff, making it one of the most memorable tourist attractions in northern Portstewart and in
fact, Northern Ireland. Even now for tourists, this is a 'must see' attraction providing access to a cave created
by years of erosion.
Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge Ireland
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